Treatment Risks & Important Information
Treatment outcomes, recovery and risks vary between individuals. The information below provides a general overview of important risks associated with treatments offered at The Ruthy Clinic. It does not replace an individual consultation, clinical assessment or informed consent discussion.
Your treating practitioner will assess whether a treatment is suitable for you and discuss the expected benefits, limitations, alternatives, material risks, recovery and aftercare relevant to your circumstances before treatment
Cosmetic Injectable Treatments
Cosmetic injectable treatments can cause temporary pain, tenderness, redness, swelling, bruising, bleeding, itching, asymmetry or an outcome that differs from what was expected. Headache, temporary weakness or altered movement can occur with some treatments depending on the product and treatment area.
Less common but potentially serious complications can include infection, allergic or inflammatory reactions, prolonged swelling, nodules or lumps, tissue damage, scarring, altered sensation and vascular complications where blood supply is affected. In very rare circumstances, vascular complications involving some injectable treatments can result in significant tissue injury or visual impairment.
Recovery varies according to the treatment and area treated. Swelling, bruising or tenderness may persist for several days and some reactions may take longer to settle. Results vary between individuals and cannot be guaranteed. Effects may be temporary, may develop progressively and may require further treatment or review.
Collagen-Stimulating Treatments / Biostimulators
Collagen-stimulating treatments may cause pain, redness, tenderness, swelling, bruising, bleeding or temporary unevenness at treatment sites. Results develop gradually and the degree and duration of change vary between individuals.
Other potential complications include infection, inflammatory reactions, persistent swelling, palpable or visible nodules, lumps, asymmetry and an outcome that does not meet expectations. Some complications may develop weeks or months after treatment and may require additional medical treatment.
Recovery varies between individuals. Bruising, swelling or tenderness may occur for several days, while delayed inflammatory reactions can occur later. Suitability, expected results, product-specific risks and maintenance requirements will be discussed during consultation.
Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP)
PRP involves collecting and processing a sample of your blood before the prepared plasma is introduced into the treatment area. Temporary pain, tenderness, redness, swelling, bruising, bleeding or itching may occur at blood collection and treatment sites.
Other potential risks include infection, inflammation, temporary headache, dizziness or fainting associated with blood collection, prolonged swelling, altered sensation and an outcome that differs from expectations.
For hair treatment, PRP does not treat every cause of hair loss and improvement in hair density or quality cannot be guaranteed. Skin and hair responses vary between individuals and may require a course of treatment and ongoing maintenance. Recovery is usually short but redness, tenderness, bruising or swelling may persist for several days..
Thread lifting
Thread lifting can cause pain, tenderness, bruising, swelling, temporary tightness, dimpling, puckering, asymmetry or visible or palpable threads during the early recovery period.
Potential complications include infection, prolonged inflammation, thread migration, extrusion or breakage, persistent contour irregularity, scarring, altered sensation, nerve irritation, vascular injury and an outcome that differs from expectations. Further treatment or removal of a thread may occasionally be required.
Recovery varies according to the treatment area and number of threads used. Swelling, bruising, tenderness or temporary contour irregularity can persist while tissues settle. Results and duration vary between individuals and cannot be guaranteed.
Fat-Reduction Treatments
Depending on the treatment used, fat-reduction procedures can cause pain, tenderness, redness, bruising, swelling, numbness, firmness, temporary lumps or unevenness in the treated area.
Other potential complications can include infection, inflammation, prolonged swelling or numbness, contour irregularity, nerve irritation or weakness, tissue injury, skin changes and an outcome that differs from expectations. Some complications may require further assessment or treatment.
Changes can develop gradually and results vary between individuals. More than one treatment may be required. Your practitioner will discuss the specific treatment method, expected recovery and risks relevant to the proposed treatment area before you proceed.
Dental Veneers
Veneer treatment can involve permanent removal or alteration of natural tooth structure. Once enamel has been removed, it does not grow back, and the treated tooth may require ongoing restorative care.
Risks and limitations can include temporary or persistent sensitivity, discomfort, gum irritation, changes to the bite, colour or shape differences, fracture, chipping, debonding or loosening of a veneer, decay around restoration margins and the need for repair or replacement. In some cases, further dental treatment such as root canal treatment may become necessary.
Veneers are not lifetime restorations and their longevity varies according to the tooth, bite, habits, oral hygiene, material and other clinical factors. Grinding or clenching may increase the risk of damage. After preparation or placement, temporary sensitivity, gum tenderness or awareness of changes to the bite may occur and adjustments can sometimes be required.
Alternatives can include monitoring, whitening, orthodontic treatment, composite bonding or other restorative options depending on the reason treatment is being considered..
Teeth Whitening
Tooth whitening can cause temporary tooth sensitivity, which can sometimes be significant. Whitening gel can also irritate or cause chemical burns to the gums and other soft tissues if it comes into contact with them.
Results vary according to the natural teeth, type of discolouration and treatment used. Whitening does not change the colour of fillings, crowns, veneers or other restorations, which can result in colour differences after treatment.
Some types of staining respond less predictably than others, and the final shade cannot be guaranteed. Whitening may not be suitable where dental disease, significant sensitivity or other oral-health concerns are present. Sensitivity or gum irritation generally settles after treatment but recovery varies between individuals.
Dental Implants & Bone Grafting
Dental implant treatment involves surgery and healing varies between individuals. Expected short-term effects can include pain, swelling, bruising, minor bleeding, tenderness and temporary difficulty chewing.
Potential complications include infection, delayed healing, failure of the implant to integrate with bone, gum or bone loss around the implant, loosening or fracture of implant components or restorations and the need for additional treatment or implant removal.
Depending on the location of treatment, other risks can include nerve injury or altered sensation, sinus involvement and damage to neighbouring teeth or structures. Bone grafting may involve additional risks, including graft infection, graft loss, exposure or incomplete integration.
Smoking, certain medical conditions, oral hygiene, grinding or clenching, available bone and other factors may influence outcomes. Implants require ongoing maintenance and are not guaranteed to last for life. Recovery time depends on the procedure performed and whether grafting or other additional treatment is required.
Dental Extractions & Wisdom Teeth
Dental extractions can result in pain, swelling, bruising, bleeding, jaw stiffness and temporary difficulty eating. Other potential complications include infection, dry socket, delayed healing, damage to adjacent teeth or restorations, retained root fragments and the need for further treatment.
Depending on the tooth and its position, extraction can also involve nerve injury resulting in altered or reduced sensation, or sinus complications involving upper teeth. These effects may be temporary or, less commonly, persistent.
Recovery varies according to the tooth, complexity of the extraction and individual healing. Swelling and discomfort may increase during the first few days before improving. Your dentist will assess whether monitoring, extraction or referral is appropriate and discuss risks relevant to the particular tooth.
Root Canal Treatment
Root canal treatment aims to retain a tooth affected by inflammation, infection or damage but does not guarantee that the tooth will remain indefinitely.
Temporary discomfort or tenderness can occur after treatment. Other risks and limitations include persistent or recurrent infection, difficulty treating complex canals, instrument separation, perforation, fracture of the tooth or restoration and the need for retreatment, endodontic surgery or extraction.
A final restoration such as a crown may be recommended depending on the tooth and remaining structure. Prognosis varies according to the condition of the tooth, root anatomy, infection, restoration and surrounding tissues.
Crowns, Bridges, Fillings & Other Restorations
Dental restorations can cause temporary sensitivity or discomfort. Risks include changes to the bite, fracture or chipping of the restoration or underlying tooth, loosening or debonding, wear, gum irritation, recurrent decay and the need for adjustment, repair or replacement.
Where a tooth has extensive damage or preparation is close to the dental pulp, inflammation can occur and root canal treatment may subsequently be required. Restorations have a finite lifespan and require ongoing dental care.
Orthodontic Treatment & Clear Aligners
Orthodontic treatment can cause pressure, discomfort and temporary changes in speech or eating. Other potential risks include gum irritation, enamel demineralisation or decay if oral hygiene is difficult, gum recession, changes to tooth roots, altered bite and relapse or movement after treatment.
Tooth movement and treatment duration vary between individuals. Teeth may not move exactly as predicted and additional aligners, attachments or other treatment may be required. Retainers are generally required after active treatment to reduce the risk of relapse..
Microneedling & Skin Treatments
Microneedling and other skin treatments can cause temporary redness, tenderness, swelling, dryness, flaking, pinpoint bleeding or increased skin sensitivity.
Other potential complications can include prolonged redness or irritation, infection, acne or inflammatory flare-ups, changes in pigmentation, allergic or inflammatory reactions and, less commonly, scarring. Some treatments can temporarily increase sensitivity to sunlight.
Where adjunctive topical or biologic products are used, additional product-specific risks may apply. Treatment response and recovery depend on the procedure, treatment depth, skin condition and individual factors. Specific aftercare and sun-protection advice will be provided where relevant.