You’ve just had your lips done and they’re swollen, right? But you didn’t want your lips to be this big. What are you going to do? Let us answer that for you… You’re going to remain calm! Why? Because this is totally normal! 

There are many reasons why our lips swell immediately after lip filler, such as injection technique, tissue trauma due to the injections and the type of filler used. So, how long will the swelling last and what should you expect? Read our blog to find out!

What Are Lip Fillers?

Lip fillers (also known as dermal fillers) are made from hyaluronic acid, which is a naturally occurring substance found in the human body. They are used to enhance the shape and volume of your lips.

When injected into the lips, hyaluronic acid attracts water molecules, which allows the lips to look smoother, firmer and more hydrated.


What to Expect From Your Lip Filler Procedure?

We offer a free consultation to discuss your goals, concerns and side effects you should be aware of. 

This way, you can make an informed decision as to whether you want to go ahead with your treatment. However, if you wish to book a consultation and receive treatment on the same day, this will cost £30.

Lip Filler Swelling Stages

Once you have received lip fillers, you are more than likely going to notice swelling, some redness, and possibly bruising. However, swelling isn’t a bad sign; it’s simply a healing process.   

Swelling after lip fillers can occur because the skin and tissues are reacting to the injections, which increases blood flow to the area to encourage healing. Swelling varies from person to person and depends on their healing response. Here’s what to expect during the healing process:

Day 1: Your Lips Will Appear Very Swollen 

During day 1, your lips may feel puffy, firm or even uneven. However, this shouldn’t be anything to worry about and should resolve itself within a few days. During this day, try to avoid:

• Strenuous exercise 
• Excessive heat (sunbeds and saunas)
• Alcohol
• Smoking
• Caffeine

This is because they can slow down the healing process and increase swelling and bruising.

Day 2: Swelling is Still Noticeable

As it’s only been 2 days since your appointment, your lips will still appear swollen and possibly bruised. You may be worried because your lips are still swollen; however, this is completely normal and not a cause for concern. 

You may start to ask yourself, ‘What have I done… Are my lips going to look this big forever?!’ Don’t worry! Your lips won't stay like this forever; it’s just a common side effect of lip fillers and they will begin to settle down within a few days.

Days 3-4: Swelling Starts to Calm Down

During days 3-4, you should begin to notice a decrease in swelling as your body accepts the filler and realises it’s not a foreign substance. You may find that your lips seem uneven as the swelling begins to settle; again, this is nothing to worry about.

Days 5-7: Visible Changes

The swelling after lip filler is usually worse during the first 24-48 hours after treatment. During days 5-7, you should notice a significant reduction in swelling. Who knows, you may even miss how big your lips looked during the swelling stage! 

Day 14: Your Lips Should Have Settled by Now

After 2 weeks, your lips should have settled, and any lumps, swelling or bruising should have resolved themselves. At this point, the final shape of your lips should become apparent. 

If you have any concerns or issues with your lips during this time, make sure to get in touch with your practitioner so they can assess your lips and come up with a solution. 

4 Weeks Later

By now, your filler should’ve completely integrated with the tissues and your lips should have completely healed! Make sure you leave enough time in between your filler appointments so you don’t cause any migration in the future from excessive filler. 

We would recommend you leave a few months in between each appointment.

How to Manage the Swelling Process

The swelling process after any sort of filler is unavoidable; however, there are some things you can do to reduce the swelling and manage the process. Here are some tips for you to follow:

• Maintain an elevated position at night: Doing this reduces swelling and bruising by promoting circulation and preventing fluids from building up in the treated areas.
• Drink plenty of water: Staying hydrated is key to reducing swelling. This is because it supports circulation and lymphatic drainage.
• Avoid blood-thinning medications: These can increase bruising and swelling.
• Apply a cold compress: This can help with swelling and inflammation.

When Does Swelling Become a Concern?

As briefly mentioned before, swelling after fillers is a normal side effect and should be expected after your treatment. However, there are a few side effects you should look out for during this process, such as:

• Swelling that doesn’t resolve within a week: Contact your practitioner for advice.
• Discolouration of the skin: Make sure to contact your practitioner if you experience this, as it could be a sign of a vascular occlusion and requires immediate attention.
• You can still feel lumps after 2 weeks: This will need to be assessed and resolved with your practitioner.

Book Your Next Lip Filler Appointment at Hannah McCoy

Here at Hannah McCoy, we offer a range of aesthetic services, including lip fillers. All of the practitioners here at Hannah McCoy come from medical backgrounds with years of experience, so you can rest assured you’re in safe hands.

So, if you would like to book in for lip fillers or to receive your consultation, don’t hesitate to contact us today at 0151 332 3333. We look forward to hearing from you!

• Share on Facebook
• Tweet about it

Have you ever thought about getting lip fillers but are worried about the pain? If so, you’re not alone. You may be wondering, ‘How do the injections feel?’ and to put it simply, we would describe the feeling as a slight sharp pinch followed by some pressure. 

Everyone's pain threshold is different, so we can’t provide you with a straight answer. However, we can provide you with information regarding how you can reduce any pain and whether we believe lip fillers hurt, based on our experience as aesthetic practitioners from medical backgrounds.

Read our blog to find out everything you need to know about lip fillers, including how painful the procedure is and much more. 

A Lip Filler Overview

Before we jump into whether lip fillers hurt, let’s explore what lip fillers are. Simply put, lip fillers are made from hyaluronic acid, which is a naturally occurring substance found in the body. There are many different brands of lip fillers, including:

• Juvederm 
• Restylane
• Revolax

Is Lip Filler Painful?

So, does lip filler hurt? As briefly mentioned before, everyone is different, which means everyone will tolerate lip fillers differently. Lip filler can be uncomfortable, however, it isn’t a long procedure, and topical numbing cream is applied to reduce any pain and discomfort.

Some patients describe the pain as a pinch, whereas others don’t feel it at all.  Most fillers nowadays contain lidocaine (a numbing agent used in dentistry), which numbs the lip beneath the skin for a more comfortable experience during treatment.

What Affects the Pain?

The main factor that determines whether or not lip fillers will hurt comes down to the aesthetic practitioner and their technique.

This is because a skilled practitioner, such as our team at Hannah McCoy, knows how to minimise discomfort through proper injection techniques and patient care.

This is why it’s important to do your research and read reviews before choosing a practitioner. Don’t be put off by the cost… just remember the more expensive a practitioner is, the more experience they have. 

Don’t take our word for it… Make sure you check this by researching the practitioner and asking around.

What Can You Do to Reduce the Pain?

There are a few things you can do to help with the pain, such as:

• Avoid caffeine and alcohol 24 hours before your appointment: This is because they can both increase sensitivity and bruising.
• Drink plenty of water: Staying hydrated is key to a smoother procedure. It allows for healthier, more elastic skin, which makes the injecting process easier.
• Try to relax: Although this can be difficult, staying relaxed during your appointment means your practitioner can finish your treatment quicker.

What to Expect After Lip Filler

Once you’ve had your lips done and realised the pain wasn’t as bad as you thought it would be… what should you expect after your treatment, and is it normal to have pain after lip fillers?

Simply put, it’s normal to experience mild pain at the injection sites for up to 24 hours after lip filler. However, if you are still experiencing any pain or discomfort after this, make sure to contact your practitioner to identify why. 

Bruising, swelling and redness are normal side effects after lip fillers; however, here are some uncommon side effects you should look out for:

• Severe pain
• Swelling beyond the lips (an indication of an allergic reaction)
• Blanching of the lips- your lips may appear pale or white (signs of a vascular occlusion)
• Rashes (an indication of an allergic reaction)
• Lumps that last longer than 2 weeks

If you experience any of these side effects (especially blanching of the lips, severe pain, rashes and swelling beyond the lips), make sure to contact your practitioner immediately.

Book Your Next Lip Filler Appointment at Hannah McCoy

Here at Hannah McCoy, we understand that you may be nervous before your appointment, which is why we are here to help.

We want to make sure that you feel as comfortable and relaxed as possible during your treatment.

We offer consultations so that you have a thorough understanding of what to expect during your appointment, so you can make an informed decision.

If you have any questions, concerns or desired results, these will all be addressed during your consultation.

For more information on the services we provide or to book a consultation, don’t hesitate to contact us at 0151 332 3333. We look forward to hearing from you!

• Share on Facebook
• Tweet about it