LIP FILLER AFTERCARE: THE ESSENTIAL TIPS
Lip filler is a minimally invasive procedure that involves injecting dermal fillers, often made up of hyaluronic acid, into the lips.
There are many things you should do before and after your filler appointment, and it’s important that you follow the before and aftercare tips to prevent long-lasting swelling, bruising and infections.
So, what aftercare tips should you follow after your lip filler appointment? Read our guide to find out!
Why is Aftercare Important?
When we provide you with aftercare advice, we aren’t telling you to avoid alcohol to ruin your fun… honestly! It’s because alcohol can thin your blood and interfere with your body's healing process by increasing swelling and bruising.
Aftercare is important as it helps with your body’s healing process and ensures the filler stays in the right place.
This is why we advise all of our clients to avoid touching the treated area (unless advised otherwise). So, what’s the aftercare for lip fillers? Here are some tips for you to follow:
| What to Avoid | Reason | How Long? |
|---|---|---|
| Smoking and Vaping | Smoking after your appointment can reduce blood flow, slow down the healing process, increase the risk of infections and impact the results. | 48 hours |
| Alcohol | Drinking after your filler appointment causes your blood vessels to expand, which can increase swelling and bruising, delay the healing process and increase risks of complications. | 24-48 hours |
| Excessive Exercise | This can cause your heart rate and blood pressure to rise, which can increase swelling and bruising and affect the healing process. | 48 hours |
| High temperatures (steam rooms & saunas) | The heat from high temperatures can increase swelling. | 48 hours |
| Flying | The pressure from flying can cause any swelling and bruising to worsen. | 1 week |
What to Do After Your Lip Fillers
Now that you have a better understanding of what you should avoid after your lip filler appointment, here are some things you can do to aid the healing process:
- Drink Plenty of Water: This helps with the healing process.
- Apply Topical Creams: A study from 2015 shows how Arnicare cream, Aloe Vera, and Vitamin K creams can help with bruising.
- Sleep With Your Head Elevated: Doing this can help reduce swelling by encouraging any built-up fluids to drain away from the treated area.
Following these aftercare tips allows your body to heal quicker and your filler to last longer.
When Should You Contact Your Practitioner?
Once you have received lip fillers, you’re going to experience some side effects, such as:
- Bruising
- Swelling
- Redness at the injection site
If you experience any of the above, don’t worry! These are all common side effects and should resolve themselves within the next few days. However, there are some more serious side effects that you should look out for, including:
- Severe pain
- Blanching of the skin
- Signs of an infection (your lips feel warm to the touch and may appear red)
- Swelling that doesn’t resolve after a week
Make sure to contact your GP and aesthetic practitioner immediately if you experience any signs of an infection, severe pain or blanching of the skin, as this could indicate a vascular occlusion.
If you experience swelling that doesn’t resolve after a week, get in touch with your practitioner to see what the issue may be and how it can be resolved.
When Will You See the Final Results?
Many people tend to panic straight after their lip filler appointment as their lips appear swollen and bigger than they expected. However, don’t worry because this is completely normal and isn’t how your lips will look when they have settled!
There are different swelling stages you will experience after your appointment, and you will see the final results after 2 weeks.
Still have questions about lip fillers? Find out if it hurts… Check out our blog post!
Enhance Your Lips at Hannah McCoy!
Here at Hannah McCoy, we don’t just do your lip fillers and send you on your way… No, we make sure you leave your appointment with excellent results and enough knowledge regarding the dos and don’ts after lip filler.
All of our practitioners come from medical backgrounds and can provide you with all the answers to any questions you may have.
Book an appointment with one of our medically trained practitioners, and start your lip filler journey today!