Swelling and bruising are common side effects following lip filler treatments. This blog explains how to reduce swelling and bruising after lip fillers.
Swelling and bruising are normal and temporary side effects after any dermal filler injection. Other common side effects include redness, soreness, and itching. Most of these side effects occur right after the dermal filler injection. Many patients report that swelling and bruising are at their worst during the first 24 hours after the lip filler injection. However, swelling and bruising disappear within the first week after the lip filler injection. The swelling and bruising can be reduced using aftercare techniques like diet and change of lifestyle behaviors.
What Are Lip Fillers?
Lip fillers are dermal treatments performed on your lips to make them look full and plumper. Lip filler treatments add fullness to the lips, minimize the appearance of aging signs, and help you achieve a more refreshed and youthful look. Lip fillers offer an immediate solution to enhance your labial features. Since they are temporary, cosmetic products are suitable for clients who wish to improve their lips’ appearance without making a permanent commitment, as is the case with surgical cosmetic procedures.
Why Get Lip Fillers?
According to de Maio (2020), the main objective of lip filling is to add volume to the lips. Several other reasons a client may wish to get lip fillers. Below are a few of them;
Balance out Lip Asymmetries
Lip fillers are ideal for patients who want to change their lips’ shape without surgery. According to SARAC (2019), most patients find lip fillers an effective method to correct lip asymmetries and achieve a more balanced appearance.
Treat Signs of Ageing
Signs of aging, such as wrinkles and fine lines, can make you uncomfortable, especially if you are not ready to live with them. For that reason, many clients, especially women above 40 years, get lip filler treatments to smooth out wrinkles and minimize the appearance of fine lines around the lip and mouth area (Rohrich, 2019).
Achieve a Well-Defined Lip Shape and Sharp Cupid’s Bow
Some patients may not have lip asymmetries but a weakly defined lip shape. They get lip fillers to achieve a sharp cupid’s bow and well-defined lips shape (Henderson, 2019).
What Causes Swelling and Bruising After Lip Fillers?
Any time your skin gets injured, it potentially gets bruised and starts swelling. Swelling is caused by the trauma on your skin’s tissue cells from the needles used for lip injection. It is a normal response following the healing process after a lip filler injection. Additionally, bruising happens when a blood vessel is injured. While most aestheticians are careful with their injections to minimize the effects of bruising, there can always be minor damage to your lips’ blood vessels. Sometimes, your body may be susceptible to swelling and bruising. That is why; you need to talk to your aesthetician to minimize the risks of swelling and bruising.
How to Reduce Swelling and Bruising After Lip Fillers
Stay Hydrated
Your skin is the last organ that gets water from the body. To ensure it is well hydrated, you must drink plenty of water. Studies indicate that enough water helps reduce swelling after the lip filler procedure. Water also minimizes the risk of infections that may worsen swelling and acts as a catalyst for healing.
Eat Healthy Meals
Meals rich in vitamin K, such as spinach, kale, and Brussels sprouts, make the skin healthy. Avoid salty foods; salt dehydrates your body, depriving your skin of water to facilitate the healing process.
Aloe Vera Gel or Arnica Cream
Alternatively, you can apply arnica cream or aloe vera gel to minimize swelling and bruising. They soothe your skin and reduce pain following a lip filler injection. You can purchase them in a pharmacy or any grocery store.
How to Prevent Swelling and Bruising After Lip Fillers
Do Not Take a Flight for At Least 1 Week
Changes in air pressure can increase your blood pressure and make the swelling and bruising worse. Avoid flying for at least 1 week after the injection.
Avoid Alcohol for 48 Hours after Lip Fillers
Skip alcohol consumption for at least 2 days after the lip filler treatment. Alcohol is a vasodilator that makes your blood vessels enlarged. When this happens, the blood vessels get closer to the skin, increasing the risks of swelling and bruising.
Skip the Gym
Avoid any exercise that increases your blood pressure and heart rate at least 2 days after your injection to minimize swelling and bruising.
Sleep on Your Back with Your Head Elevated
Do not sleep on the side of the area that received the injection. Instead, sleep on your back with your head raised to reduce too much blood from flowing into the injected side; blood flow to the injected site causes swelling. You can add an extra pillow to keep your head elevated.
Avoid Extreme Heat
Do not use saunas, tanning beds, or hot tubs or expose your skin to extreme heat for at least 1 week after the lip filler injection.
Frequently Asked Questions about Lip Fillers
Where Can I Get Lip Fillers?
You can get a lip filler injection from aesthetic clinics near you. The procedure is performed by a board-certified aesthetician or a cosmetic surgeon. Ensure that you get your lip filler injection from a skilled and experienced cosmetic doctor for optimal results.
Are Lip Fillers Permanent?
Unlike most surgical cosmetic procedures, lip fillers are not permanent. While lip filler results may be long-lasting, they cannot last forever. If you are unhappy with your dermal treatment, you can request a reversal; your injector dissolves the filler using an enzyme known as hyaluronidase.
How Long Do Lip Fillers Last?
Lip fillers can last 6 to 12 months, depending on the type of filler used and the amount needed to achieve your desires.
Conclusion
A lip filler treatment is an effective way to enhance the appearance of your lips without a permanent commitment. The non-surgical procedure is quick and has no downtime. Swelling and bruising are a few common side effects patients experience after lip fillers. However, they disappear around 7 days after the procedure. You can reduce swelling and bruising by skipping the gym for at least 3 days after the injection, reducing pressure on the injected area, and sleeping on your back. Use a board-certified cosmetic doctor to perform your lip filler treatment for optimal results.
References
De Maio, M. (2020). Myomodulation with injectable fillers: an update. Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 44(4), 1317-1319.
Henderson, A. (2019). Enhancing the Cupid’s bow with hyaluronic acid dermal fillers. Journal of Aesthetic Nursing, 8(6), 276-279.
Rohrich, R. J., Bartlett, E. L., & Dayan, E. (2019). Practical approach and safety of hyaluronic acid fillers. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery Global Open, 7(6).
SARAC, N., & PACCAR, G. S. Treatment of asymmetric lip with a hyaluronic acid filler. Mucosa, 2(3), 83-85.
I believe that nutrition science is a wonderful helper both for the preventive improvement of health and adjunctive therapy in treatment. My goal is to help people improve their health and well-being without torturing themselves with unnecessary dietary restrictions. I am a supporter of a healthy lifestyle – I play sports, cycle, and swim in the lake all year round. With my work, I have been featured in Vice, Country Living, Harrods magazine, Daily Telegraph, Grazia, Women's Health, and other media outlets.
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