From reversing age-related volume loss to balancing facial features, there are plenty of reasons to embrace dermal fillers. Prior to scheduling your first appointment, you’ll want to know what to expect before and after receiving lip fillers. This guide will walk you through how to prepare for treatment and the side effects you may experience during the healing process.
What are lip fillers?
Lip fillers are injections that add volume to the lips in order to smooth fine lines around the mouth and create a more youthful appearance.
Types of lip fillers
Dermal fillers are one of the most popular ways to achieve fuller, more voluminous lips. These products, which include Juvederm, Restylane Kysse, and Revanesse Versa, are primarily composed of hyaluronic acid. They add instant volume, enabling real-time adjustments during the treatment process.
Other fillers like Radiesse are made of calcium hydroxyapatite. Thanks to their thicker consistencies, they’re typically reserved for treating nasolabial folds and other deep wrinkles.
While not considered true dermal fillers, biostimulators trigger collagen production for natural-looking results that last longer than dermal fillers. Additionally, autologous fat injections are surgical augmentation procedures that use your body’s own fat reserves to shape and plump the lips.
How do they work?
Hyaluronic acid attracts and binds to water molecules, creating a plump, hydrated appearance almost instantly. After integrating with your natural tissue, your body will gradually begin metabolizing these cells. Unlike other lip enhancement procedures, traditional dermal fillers are completely reversible.
Who’s a good candidate for lip fillers?
Dermal fillers are intended for people who want to address volume loss from aging or naturally thin lips without plastic surgery. The ideal patient is in good overall health with no active infections near the mouth, such as a cold sore outbreak.
Those who are pregnant or breastfeeding, have certain autoimmune disorders, or have allergies to any ingredients are generally not great candidates.
What to expect from lip fillers before your treatment
Before basking in the after-effects of treatment, it’s essential to prepare your body and mind for lip fillers. Here’s what to expect as you approach your appointment:
The consultation process
Every lip enhancement journey should begin with a consultation. Your healthcare provider will review your medical history, assess your lips, and ask about your goals to determine the right treatment plan. During this time, you can ask any questions you have about pricing, products, and what to expect before, during, and after lip fillers.
Pre-treatment preparation
Starting one to two weeks before your lip filler appointment, stop using retinoids and limit alcohol consumption. Unless medically necessary, avoid blood-thinning medications like aspirin, ibuprofen, and fish oil supplements, which can increase the risk of bruising.
On the day of your session, drink plenty of water, avoid caffeine, and eat a light meal beforehand. Arrive with a clean, product-free face.
What to expect during your treatment
Lip filler treatments are quick; they usually last 30 to 45 minutes. When you arrive, your provider will take a few pictures, so you can compare your results from before and after lip fillers. The area is gently cleansed, and a numbing cream is applied on and around the lips. Once it has taken effect, your injection specialist uses either a fine-tipped needle or a blunt cannula to carefully inject the filler into your lips.
Immediately after injecting lip fillers, your provider will gently massage the area to distribute the solution evenly before assessing the results from multiple angles and adjusting as needed.
What to expect from lip fillers after treatment
Let’s explore the side effects of lip fillers and what you can expect after receiving lip fillers.
Immediate swelling
Swelling after lip fillers is completely normal and occurs for two reasons. Your body interprets the initial injections as an injury and responds by creating inflammation as part of the natural healing process. At the same time, the hyaluronic acid in your lips is absorbing water from surrounding tissues, making that inflammatory swelling even more pronounced.
In most cases, this swelling peaks within 24 hours after lip fillers before gradually subsiding. However, it may take up to two weeks to see your final results.
In the early recovery stages, you can apply a cold compress, keep your head elevated, and avoid heat to minimize inflammation.
Bruising
Not everyone bruises after lip fillers, but it’s common enough that most injection specialists recommend scheduling appointments at least two weeks before any major events. Purple or blue discoloration may appear within hours to several days, slowly dispersing as your body breaks down these blood cells.
Settling period
It takes time for dermal fillers to integrate with your natural lip tissue. As this process unfolds, inflammation is skewing the results, making it hard to determine where the filler stops and the swelling begins. Before you panic, here’s a general recovery timeline after lip fillers:
- Days 1 to 3: Peak swelling. Lips may appear over-filled or uneven.
- Days 4 to 7: Swelling begins to subside, visible lumps smooth over.
- Days 7 to 10: Most inflammation has faded, and lips are moving normally, but some residual settling occurs.
- Days 10 to 14: The final results reveal themselves as remaining swelling disappears.
Enhance and define with dermal and lip fillers at The Wellness Club!
Whether you’re considering an upper lip flip using Botox or you’re wondering what your face would look like with a little more volume, The Wellness Club can make it happen. Discover the perfect solution today!