Getting lip fillers poses some risks, including: Bleeding and pain at the injection sites. Cold sore reactivation. Discoloration or tenderness.
It is possible to have temporary changes in the appearance of your lips or face after dermal fillers, but irreversible damage can happen too. Necrosis, which means filler was injected into a blood vessel causing tissue death, can have long term effects.
Late-onset inflammatory reactions are rare complications, which may occur following injection of HA dermal fillers. Their cause may be infectious or immune-mediated in origin, and their outbreak can be triggered, for example, by a flu-like illness.
If You're Allergic to Any of the Components Within Fillers
“Some dermal fillers contain lidocaine, which some people can be allergic to,” explains Dr. Sejal Shah, a New York city physician. It is always important to ask your physician if the Dermal filler you are receiving contains lidocaine.
When fillers are injected by a highly trained and experienced physician, the risk of injecting filler that would end up in your bloodstream would be incredibly remote.
Unless you go to extremes with lip fillers or choose a very unskilled injector, your lips won't be permanently stretched. This means that if you choose to stop having lip filling injections, your lips will likely return to their normal proportions.
The theory is that when fillers like collagen and Restylane are repeatedly injected into flesh, over time this can weigh down and loosen the skin. And so, each subsequent trip to the doctor would require more volume of filler to fill that already stretched-out skin.
As well as stretching of the skin, excessive use of fillers can result in longer term damage including wrinkling of the lip and disturbance of the attachment of the facial fat pads and some degree of irregularity and ageing of the skin, he explains.
It typically takes about 2 weeks for the lips to fully heal after fillers. However, it's important to remember that this recovery process can vary depending on the patient, and much of the recovery process occurs within the first few days.
Patients often notice that their lips feel lumpy, bumpy, and/or overly inflated following lip filler injections. This is a normal phenomenon and is to be expected. Over the next 14 days, as the fillers settle and soften, the lips should become much smoother and more even.
“It's customary to provide an 18 to 20 percent gratuity for any spa service, no matter if it's sugaring or a Biologique Recherche facial,” Angela Rosen, owner of Penelope & The Beauty Bar in Seattle and Daphne in New York City, tells Allure.
Vascular compromise and blindness are reported but rare complications of facial soft tissue filler injections. Stroke is an even rarer complication resulting from intraarterial injection of fillers.
You are not allowed to smile for a few days after a lip filler. Facial expressions such as smiling, laughing, or frowning should have zero impact on your lip filler. It is actually better for you to smile and gently massage your lips, to help spread the product and produce a more natural end-result.
Avoid tweezing, bleaching, waxing, and even hair removal cream around the lips. Day before: Don't drink alcoholic beverages one day prior to lip injections, and avoid any blood thinning over the counter drugs such as Aleve, ibuprofen, aspirin, Motrin, and so on.
For someone desiring a more defined border or slight plump, 1 syringe is usually enough. For those desiring voluminous lips often depicted on Instagram, more than one syringe will be needed. How many depends on the size of your lips to begin with and your desired outcome.
Because your lips will retain their natural texture and softness a few days after injected, your fillers cannot be felt by you or your partner when kissing!
Will my lips look saggy or stretched out after injections wear off? Nope! You don't need to worry about dealing with a “deflated” look as the hyaluronic acid fades. The skin on your mouth and lips will return to their normal appearance without any sagging or stretching.
Swelling is the most common side effect and is most apparent in the first 24 hours after getting your injections. Swelling should subside within 2 weeks, and be completely unnoticeable after four weeks. Bruising at the injection site is another common side effect and will also decrease within the first 2 weeks.
The third day after your lip filler appointment is when you'll start to get an idea of what your lips will look like. You should start to feel more comfortable as the swelling should be gone, and it should feel much more normal and comfortable eating and talking.
This will help the newly injected filler stay in place. Apply an ice pack or cold wash cloth for 5-10 minutes every 2 hours for the first day, then apply 1-2 times daily for 2 more days. DO NOT apply pressure (unless instructed by your physician.) Tylenol or extra strength Tylenol can be taken for discomfort.
The Next Few Days After Your Lip Filler Appointment
It's common to experience a little swelling around the injection site and edges of your lips. To help minimize excessive swelling and reduce any discomfort, it's fine to apply ice immediately after your appointment and in the days following, as needed.
The most serious risk associated with dermal fillers is accidental injection into a blood vessel. Filler that enters a blood vessel can cause skin necrosis (death of tissue), stroke, or blindness.