Site Logotype
Dermal Fillers

How to Massage Lumps out of Lip Fillers

Lumps or granulomas have become a prevalent complaint associated with fillers in various cosmetic procedures, including filling wrinkles, correcting asymmetries or scars, contouring, volume replacement, and rejuvenation. The market is flooded with different fillers; most use bio-organic or bio-synthetic materials. A lump may occur in the treated region after using any filler. This article explains how to massage lumps out of lip fillers and commonly asked questions regarding fillers.

Bruises are a common cause of lumps, although they heal independently. There will be a decrease in puffiness in the injection area. Either the substance was injected with a greater deposit in one region, or the product migrated, creating a huge deposit in one spot. Injections of dermal filler into the upper lip, the cheeks, the chin region, and along creases and folds might cause a lumpy sensation in the skin days after the procedure. Most cases clear up in a few weeks.

What Should I Do If I Feel Lumps When Injected with Lip Filler?

Before proceeding, ensure you are not dealing with an infection (which manifests with redness, soreness, swelling, discomfort, and pus). It is best to consult a cosmetic expert before using antibiotics or other therapies. The most important thing to remember about lumpiness is that it is quite normal in the days after treatment and usually subsides within a week or two. If the bumps are visible, do some light massage (if your cosmetic doctor says it is okay) and consult a specialist if the lump is still visible after two weeks.

Instructions for Massaging Lip Filler Bumps

Take Your Time

Patience is a vital virtue for massaging lumps caused by lip fillers. The patients should wait at least seven days after getting needle injections before scheduling a massage. Tampering with fillers before the swelling and bruises subside might cause pressure; pressure makes the lips migrate to other areas. The trauma from injections is the most prevalent cause of lumps in the lips following injectable fillers. If the patient massages it too quickly, it might hurt more. According to Savva et al. (2021), any remaining lip filler lumps after 5–7 days are likely due to the filler rather than swelling in the injection site. Therefore, one needs patience until the substance absorbs into the tissue fully before initiating a massage.

Clean with a Warm Towel

The next step is to clean your hands thoroughly. Use a warm compress made from a clean dish towel or washcloth. Before massaging in the filler, prepare your lips by holding the warm cloth against them for 2 minutes.

Careful Massage

Put your thumb in your mouth, and using your index finger, massage the hump on your lip in a circular, kneading manner for two to three minutes. You may always switch the positions and try your thumb on the lip and your index finger inside your mouth instead. Because of its effectiveness in smoothing out bumps in the top lip following filler, this method is recommended for massaging the upper lip.

Action to Take in the Case of Persistent Lumps

According to Lin et al. (2020), lip filler lumps often disappear within three weeks or with lip massage. Please contact your injector if you are unsatisfied with the outcomes of your filler or if they are worsening. According to Pan et al. (2021), lip filler lumps that persist after several months may be treated with the enzyme hyaluronidase because the lump may have embedded in the deeper cell tissues; gentle massaging is unlikely to remove deeply embedded lumps. A modest quantity of hyaluronidase may dissolve the filler clump. The link between filler materials and skin cells can be broken with hyaluronidase injection. If you dislike how your fillers turned out, your injector may use this enzyme to dissolve them in a few hours.

Frequently Asked Questions about Lip Fillers

Do Lumps Usually Form After Getting Lip Filler?

Lip fillers have risen in popularity because they plump up lips and reduce the onset of wrinkles and fine lines around the lip area. While lip augmentation is a safe procedure, it could have some side effects or complications if done wrongly. According to Kochhar et al. (2022), lip fillers do not leave a lump if correctly done; any lumps left after the treatment will disappear after a while.

How Long Does It Take for Lips to Recover After Fillers?

The lips take about two weeks to heal; the recovery process could vary based on the type of filler used and the aftercare given to the lips. Swelling and bruising that last beyond two weeks may indicate infection or complications that require immediate attention to reverse.

When Massaging Filler Lumps, How Hard Should I Go?

For lip filler lumps, a little massage will do the trick. Too much pressure might lead to consequences, including discomfort, bruising, and product migration. So, massage the filler lumps with light, circular strokes.

To What Extent Should I Massage My Lip Filler?

Lip massage might take 1-2 days to get rid of lumps that are still visible 5-7 days after therapy. Massage your lips twice daily until the bumps vanish and the texture becomes smooth and uniform.

Conclusion

One may achieve a long-lasting outcome from lip filler therapy and minimal swelling and pain with proper aftercare. Massaging the lump may indicate an allergic response to the filler if it does not alleviate the discomfort. A new strategy is required at this stage since granuloma development has begun. Steroid medication (both orally and intravenously) is used to alleviate the symptoms of an allergic response. For the best treatment outcome, pay attention to the provider’s instructions, and let your doctor know right away if you have any pain, bruising, or discoloration that is unusual or uncomfortable. Hyaluronidase may be used to dissolve a lump without compromising the filler. The cosmetic expert might apply additional filler around the bump to establish symmetry and smooth the lips.

References

Kochhar, A., Kumar, P., & Karimi, K. (2022). Minimally Invasive Techniques for Facial Rejuvenation Utilizing Polydioxanone Threads. Facial Plastic Surgery Clinics30(3), 375-387.

Lin, S. L., & Christen, M. O. (2020). Polycaprolactone‐based dermal filler complications: A retrospective study of 1111 treatments. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 19(8), 1907-1914.

Pan, Y., Hao, Y., Xiao, Y., Shi, K., Qu, Y., & Qian, Z. (2021). Injectable soft tissue nano/micro fillers for facial reconstruction. Journal of Biomedical Nanotechnology17(1), 1-17.

Savva, D., Battineni, G., Amenta, F., &Nittari, G. (2021). Hypersensitivity reaction to hyaluronic acid dermal filler after the Pfizer vaccination against SARS-CoV-2. International Journal of Infectious Diseases113, 233-235.

Barbara Santini
Latest posts by Barbara Santini (see all)
Share