Dermal filler injections can do a number of improvements to your face: from restoring lost volume, to reconstructing your contour, to filling out creases, fine lines, and other signs of aging. But for those with naturally thin lips or lips that have lost volume with time and aging, dermal fillers can act as a lip filler. These minimally-invasive treatments can result in plumper and fuller lips.
So how long do the side effects of getting lip fillers last? Just like any other facial filler injection, minor side effects fade away within a couple of days, while bruises can take up to 2 weeks to fully heal. There’s more that clients should know about the side effects of lip fillers, as well as aftercare tips to minimize the pain and discomfort of lip filler injections, so it’s best to consult with a trusted provider to get the procedure with the best value for money and the least amount of side effects.
Read More: Can My Upper Lip Get Swollen After Bellafill Filler and PRP Injection?
Aesthetica can assist you with all your beauty needs, helping you achieve your maximum beauty and aesthetic potential. Call or contact us today to learn more about our cosmetic services.
Most dermal filler providers use a topical numbing cream to minimize the pain and discomfort felt during the injection. Hours after your lip filler injection when the effects of the numbing cream wear off, you may experience immediate pain and discomfort from the injection site. This can wear off within several hours.
Over the next few days, it’s common for patients to experience these side effects:
Like other injectable treatments, most of these side effects are your body’s inflammatory response to the lip filler procedure. Dermal fillers are injected on an intradermal level, which means it is a superficial injection that only reaches your dermis. However, there are less layers in your lips than in your facial skin, and your lip skin cell’s barriers are thinner than your regular skin cells.
Bruising from lip fillers may occur as a result of the injection needle damaging or breaking capillaries located in the dermis layer’s soft tissue. For most patients, the blood should be absorbed and the discoloration should fade within a week, but it can take up to two weeks for the discoloration to completely disappear. Ideally, after your treatment you should avoid activities that increase your blood pressure to prevent bruising from getting worse.
These side effects are minor and are no cause for alarm. You can use over-the-counter pain relievers, ice packs, and any other pain-relieving home remedies to manage the pain.
Though most of the common side effects aren’t usually cause for alarm, there are rare side effects that may require medical attention. Some of these may include lip infections, cold sores, allergic reactions, or even vision changes. If these symptoms take too long to resolve on their own, then by all means seek the help of a medical professional.
You’ll need to see a doctor to receive oral or topical antibiotics to treat your infection. There are three ways you can develop a lip infection. First is if the injection sites weren’t properly sterilized prior to the injection. To avoid this, it’s best to get your filler done by a reputable med spa and an experienced provider.
Second, you could develop an internal infection if you have an existing skin infection near your lips like acne. You shouldn’t get dermal filler injections if you have an active skin infection or if you’re taking medication for infections. Wait for your infection to fully heal before scheduling a lip filler treatment.
Finally, you can get an infection if you have a tendency to touch the injection site after your treatment. After getting lip filler injections, you should avoid touching your lips with unwashed hands as it can be a way to transfer bacteria on your hands to the injection site.
Dermal fillers can trigger a cold sore outbreak around your lips, so your provider will ask if you have a history of developing cold sores before receiving treatment. If you develop cold sores, talk to your doctor to receive antiviral treatment.
Your lip filler provider should discuss your allergy history before proceeding with the treatment. While there are various types of dermal filler materials, hyaluronic acid fillers are the only recommended filler material used for lip fillers. Your body produces hyaluronic acid naturally, so the risk of an allergic reaction is low.
However, you may have an allergic reaction to the synthetic materials or any other ingredient used in different hyaluronic acid-based fillers like Juvederm, Restylane, or Belotero. Your lip filler provider should discuss more of this with you during your initial consultation.
In extremely rare cases, an inexperienced lip filler provider may inject dermal filler substance into an artery or blood vessel. If this disrupts the blood supply going to the retina, this can cause temporary or permanent blindness. This is rare for lip fillers since only capillaries are in your lips. As long as you’re getting your lip fillers from a qualified and experienced professional, the risk of major reactions like this is very rare.
Learn More: The Side Effects of Dermal Fillers
Hyaluronic acid dermal fillers are the only type of fillers made commercially that are recommended for lip fillers. Autologous fat injections (a filler that’s made from your own extracted fat) are also an option, though the filler is made right before your injection.
Hyaluronic acid dermal fillers can last between 6 to 12 months. Because your body produces hyaluronic acid naturally, it’s much easier to metabolize the filler substance so that it dissolves. Factors like your metabolic rate and the movement of your lips can affect how long your lip fillers last.
Alternatively, you can also opt for fat injections which can last for a lifetime. However, this is much more expensive than lip fillers and can involve more invasive fat extraction methods to collect donor fat.
To minimize the pain, discomfort, and other side effects like bruising during your healing process, here are some tips you can follow.
People who want to look their best and stand out with fuller and plumper lips definitely need lip filler treatments that are suited for their profiles and proportions. But like any other cosmetic treatment, lip fillers can come with minor side effects. However, with the right aftercare practices and a highly-experienced provider, you’ll get and maintain the results that you’ve always wanted.
At Aesthetica, we help our patients achieve their beauty goals and take the necessary steps to make them feel and look their best through non-invasive lip treatments. Schedule an initial consultation with us today to get started or explore your options for fillers by visiting our website.
Aesthetica can assist you with all your beauty needs, helping you achieve your maximum beauty and aesthetic potential. Call or contact us today to learn more about our cosmetic services.
