Lip Filler Aftercare: Everything You Need to Know About Taking Care of Your New Lips

Lip fillers are increasingly popular. They make it possible to plump your lips without surgical intervention. It’s normal for the lips to become thin and wrinkled with age. Fillers can temporarily turn back the aesthetic clock and give your lips a youthful plumpness.

The effects of fillers are not permanent. However, they are long-lasting. Many people notice the results for up to 18 months after each appointment.

We recommend scheduling maintenance appointments each year to continue enjoying full, shapely lips. You can also do things in the days, weeks, and months after your appointment to optimize your results. Here’s everything you need to know about lip filler aftercare and taking care of your new lips.

How Are Lip Fillers Administered?

The most common type of lip filler used to shape the lips is hyaluronic acid filler. This filler treats fine lines and wrinkles while shaping and plumping the lips. Your provider will numb your lips with a topical anesthetic during your appointment. This will help you feel more comfortable throughout the treatment. If you’re allergic to standard numbing cream, your provider may inject a nerve block into your lips. This helps block nerve signals, so your body doesn’t register pain in the treated area.

Once you’re sufficiently numb, your provider will inject lip filler through a thin needle into portions of your lips. The needle only penetrates a couple of millimeters into the skin. The most common injection areas include:

The Cupid’s bow (center of the upper lip).
The edges of the lips.
The mouth corners.

It is natural for the eyes to water during this part of the procedure, but any discomfort should be mild.

Your provider may periodically apply ice to your lips to minimize discomfort and prevent excessive swelling or bruising. The full lip filler procedure could take 30 minutes to a couple of hours. The total time your appointment takes depends on how many areas you’re having treated and the skill of your provider. Once you’re all finished, your provider will give you detailed aftercare lip filler instructions.

What Should I Know About Lip Filler Aftercare?

Lip fillers are minimally invasive and don’t cause any downtime. But you may be a little sore and swollen after your treatment. Your provider will give you instructions for aftercare after lip fillers. However, there are some basic things everyone should do after receiving this type of treatment. The first 48 hours after your appointment are very important. What you do during this timeframe can impact your treatment outcome. Here are some basic Dos and Don’ts for lip filler aftercare:

LIP FILLER DOS

Eat consume easy-to-eat foods for a few days after your injections
Wait at least 24 hours before wearing makeup
Use gentle skincare products
Avoid touching your lips for at least 24 hours
Carefully apply Aquaphor to keep your lips hydrated
Apply ice to the lips to minimize pain and swelling

LIP FILLER DON’TS

Don’t drink through a straw for at least 24 hours
Don’t smoke for at least 24 hours
Don’t exercise or engage in strenuous activities for 48 hours
Don’t kiss for at least 24 hours
Don’t massage your lips or apply pressure to them for at least 24 hours

What Are the Benefits and Risks of Lip Fillers?

Anytime you consider receiving a medical or aesthetic service, it’s important to weigh the benefits and risks. Fortunately, lip filler treatments are safe and effective to use1. They also come with a low risk of complications. Here are some of the benefits and risks of this popular procedure.

Benefits

Lip fillers offer several notable benefits. They can:

Correct the shape of asymmetrical lips
Restore previous lip size if you have lost volume due to age
Smooth lip wrinkles for a more youthful appearance
Boost confidence levels
Plump the lips in a natural-looking way
Help you customize the appearance of your face

For the best results, make sure you’re following proper aftercare for lip fillers instructions. Typically, lip fillers last anywhere from 12 to 18 months. Younger people have faster metabolisms, and their bodies may break fillers down faster than older people. Therefore, teenagers and young adults may need to touch up their lip fillers more frequently than older adults.

Risks

Complications and side effects from lip fillers are not very common, especially with good lip filler aftercare. However, they do happen occasionally. Here are some of the risks associated with lip fillers:

Lip asymmetry (this is typically avoidable with an experienced injector)
Bleeding, bruising, and pain at the injection sites
Lip filler migration (when the filler bleeds into other areas of the face)
Tenderness and discoloration at the treatment site
Tissue death
Cold sore reactivation
Infection

If you happen to experience any complications from your procedure, notify your provider as soon as possible. To minimize your likelihood of experiencing post-procedural side effects, practice proper aftercare of lip fillers.

How Can I Avoid Bruising After Lip Fillers?

Bruising isn’t always possible to avoid after lip fillers. If you experience bruising, it should go away after a few days. To reduce bruising and swelling, consider taking an Arnica supplement. This herb can help reduce swelling, bruising, and pain. You may want to take it 24 hours before your appointment and continue taking it for up to three days after your appointment.

You should also avoid heat for at least 24 hours after treatment. This means avoiding hot showers, baths, and saunas. Stay hydrated so your body can manage inflammation more effectively. Keep your head elevated at night to reduce swelling and bruising further. Finally, avoid touching or massaging your lips until your injector says it’s safe to do so.

Schedule Your Lip Filler Appointment for the Perfect Pout

Plumper, more symmetrical lips could be just one appointment away. If you’re ready to improve the youthful appearance of your lips, hyaluronic acid lip fillers like Juvéderm and Restylane are great options. Schedule an appointment with New Beauty and Wellness today by calling (203) 883-5112. We are a primary provider of lip fillers in Westport, CT, and our other location, New Canaan, CT.

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