How Long Does It Take for Lips to Stop Hurting After Getting Fillers?

Lip fillers are known to be non-surgical cosmetic treatments that plump up and rejuvenate the lips. These have risen to popularity as alternatives to lip implants or surgery; most lip fillers aren’t permanent and get flushed out by the body eventually. While getting lip fillers is generally more comfortable than getting traditional lip enhancements, a certain degree of pain is common after your lip filler injection.

So how long does it really take for the lips to stop hurting after getting a filler? This pain is temporary and is usually due to minor bruising that may have occurred during the procedure. It could also be due to an infection that happens rarely and only in the hands of an inexperienced injector. If the pain persists for way too long, it’s best to consult with a medical professional.

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How Long Does It Take for Lips to Stop Hurting After Getting a Filler

The pain in your lips should recede and stop hurting in about 1 or 2 days after the injection. While the swelling should also go away in 24 to 48 hours, it can take up to a week to completely disappear. If you’re planning to get a lip filler for an occasion, make sure you get it at least 2 weeks in advance to ensure that it will completely recover before the event.

Why Do Lip Fillers Tend to Hurt?

The most common negative effect of lip filler injections is bruising. When a needle punctures the skin, it can cause small blood vessels to rupture and leak. A bruise develops as a result of the leakage. Filling the lips with filler is a delicate technique, and even the most skilled injectors can result in bruising. This bruising can cause intense pain in and around the lip region. Lip fillers are more prone to bruising due to the number of vascular veins that are present in the region.

While it’s rare, your lips could also be hurting because of an infection. An infection can lead to your lips becoming red and they will hurt really bad. It’s always recommended to consult with a medical professional if your lips hurt for more than 1 or 2 weeks. Lip fillers when injected into an artery can cause a condition called vascular occlusion. This can cut off blood flow to adjacent tissue, causing them to die and your lips to hurt as a result.

Side Effects of Lip Fillers

Despite being a minimally invasive procedure, lip filler injections still have a fair share of side effects that can manifest during or after the injection. Most of these are nothing to worry about and should go away after 2 weeks.

Swelling: Swelling is the most prevalent adverse effect, and it usually manifests itself within the first 24 hours after receiving your filler injection. Within two weeks, the swelling should reduce; it should be totally gone after four weeks. Swelling or bruising present outside the injection site could indicate an allergic region to the filler gel which could also cause your lips to hurt.
Bruising: As explained earlier, bruising is a common side effect of getting lip filler injections. Swelling and bruising can both cause your lip to hurt a great deal but should recede within 2 weeks.
Redness or itchiness: Your lips can become red and itchy after getting a lip filler injection. This redness may even be accompanied by a pricking pain in your lips. A mild level of pain is to be expected.
Overfilling: This is a concern if the swelling doesn’t recede in 4 weeks. This is a sign that excess filler product has been injected. This can be treated by using hyalase injections to dissolve the filler product.
Lumpiness: A trained injector can avoid lumpiness, but mild unevenness is usual in the first week after injections when swelling and pain are still high. The time taken for the lumpiness to fade can vary from person to person. Lumpiness may even fade in some parts of the lips before fading in others.

The Do’s and Don’ts to Minimize Pain After Getting a Lip Filler

If your lips hurt and you’re experiencing swelling after getting a lip filler, then it’s highly recommended that you follow some of these guidelines that can help minimize the pain.

Refrain from using makeup, cosmetics, or other lip products that weren’t recommended by your doctor for the first couple of days following your injection.
Treat the area that hurts and the injection site with an ice pack. This will cause the area to become numb and restrict blood flow which will help reduce pain in the lips. Applying an ice pack in 10-minute intervals can help minimize pain and inflammation. Ensure that the ice pack or cube is wrapped in a cloth to prevent your lip from sticking to the ice.
Make sure you sleep in a position where your head is elevated by a pillow for 1 week following the injection.
Avoid any strenuous activity that can aggravate your pain or unsettle the lip filler for the first 48 hours. This is because exercise and physical exertion can elevate your blood pressure which can cause your pain and swelling to worsen.
Protect the area that hurts from high temperatures or steam until the swelling subsides.
Refrain from consuming sodium-rich foods. It can also be beneficial to consume hydrating fruits and vegetables as this will help the swelling to reduce.
Don’t consume alcohol or blood-thinning drugs (NSAIDs like aspirin, herbal vitamin supplements, etc.) before the injection and until the bruising subsides.
Refrain from disturbing the region for at least a week. Don’t massage the lips without consulting with your doctor.
Stay hydrated by drinking lots of fluids to help accelerate the healing process.
Apply aloe vera, arnica, or vitamin K creams on the bruised area to help provide pain relief.
Avoid air travel for the first couple of weeks following your lip filler injection, as the increased air pressure can make your lips hurt more.
Avoid using straws for at least 24 hours. Puckered lips can cause irritation or pain in the lip filler.
Wait until after the topical anesthetic or nerve block injection has worn off before eating to avoid accidentally biting your lips and disturbing the filler.

Longevity of Results of Lip Fillers

Lip fillers aren't meant to be long-term solutions. They gradually fade over time, usually 12 to 18 months depending on your metabolism. To maintain the volume you want, you may need touch-up treatments on a regular basis. It also depends on your age as younger people can break down calories much faster which can cause the lip filler to wear out sooner.

When Should You Be Concerned?

Most anti-pain measures will be taken by your doctor after the injection to minimize pain and the risk of swelling. Mild pain is normal and doesn’t have to be a cause for concern as long as it doesn’t exist way past a couple of weeks. Your doctor may gently massage the injection site and treat the area with ice packs to reduce the pain.

Note whenever you feel dizzy or nauseous; observe if there’s any bleeding on your lips. If you continue to feel pain, then you can book a follow-up consultation appointment with your doctor. Meanwhile, swelling outside the site of injection is also definitely a cause for concern. This could be an allergic reaction or infection that causes you pain and it should be identified and treated by your provider accordingly.

You should only opt for this procedure if you’re in good physical health and don’t have active oral infections such as cold sores. Changes in skin color, white patches on your lips, or intense discomfort that lasts more than a few days are all signs that you should see a doctor. If you have a history of cold sores, then it’s highly recommended that you consult with your doctor to obtain antiviral medication to prevent the reactivation of these viral outbreaks.

Get High-Quality Lip Filler Injections and Cosmetic Treatments at Aesthetica

A woman who had lip filler treatment in a beauty clinic.

If you want to keep a more youthful appearance and fix any areas that you’re self-conscious about, getting a lip filler treatment is an excellent option. Lip fillers can achieve this effect by adding volume to your lips, restoring your original lip size, decreasing the size of your philtrum, and reducing the intercommissural distance. It doesn’t stop the aging process but it can reconfigure your lips’ appearance.

Aesthetica is a prominent medical spa that offers aesthetic operations to improve your appearance and well-being. Aesthetica has a team of talented professionals who are dedicated to offering safe, effective, and cutting-edge aesthetic treatments, ranging from fillers to laser skin resurfacing. We have helped countless patients look and feel their best. Start your journey now by booking an appointment with us today.