Lip fillers are becoming popular in the cosmetic industry today. As their popularity increases, many questions arise that need to be addressed. This article explains why an individual should not smoke after lip filler treatment.
Smoking is considered highly detrimental to one’s health. Suppose a person thinks of getting a lip filler injection and is a smoker. In that case, they might assume quitting as the advantages of quitting are worth the effort. Besides, smoking will affect the lip filler results, and all the steps to enhance the appearance of the lips will be in vain. Smoking may not prevent the benefits of a lip filler treatment but may negatively impact it over time. Smoking tends to reduce the longevity of those benefits. It also increases the risk of prolonged swelling and bruising and extends the recovery time.
What Are Lip Fillers?
Lip fillers are gel-like substances injected into the lips to help an individual achieve fuller and plumper lips. They are used to treat ageing signs such as wrinkles and enhance the shape of the lips. Lip fillers contain hyaluronic acid (HA), a substance that is naturally produced by the body. HA helps in hydrating the skin and providing support to skin tissues.
Why Do People Use Lip Fillers?
Add Volume to Small and Thinner Lips
As people age, especially women, their lips become thinner and smaller. Therefore, they opt for lip fillers to restore a fuller lip size.
To Correct Lip Asymmetries
Kandhari et al. (2017) explained that disproportionate lips could affect one’s self-esteem. Lip asymmetries, such as one lip being fuller than the other, can be moderated by lip fillers.
To Smooth out Wrinkles and Fine Lines
Lip filler treatment is an incredible procedure for people who have started showing signs of ageing, such as wrinkles and fine lines. They are great for people looking for a more rejuvenating appearance.
To Get a Well-Defined Lip Shape
Luthra (2015) explained that some individuals might not have lip asymmetries but rather a lowly-defined lip shape. They, therefore, get lip fillers to enhance their natural lip line and a well-defined Cupid’s bow.
Why You Should Not Smoke After Lip Fillers
As much as smoking won’t affect the outcome of lip filler treatment, it may make individual lips dry, slowing down the healing process. Smoking causes the lips to squeeze inward, which may pressure them and make them more painful and swollen after the lip filler treatment. It also increases the likelihood of infection after getting a lip filler injection.
Does Smoking Affect the Longevity of Lip Fillers?
Smoking may impact the longevity of fillers in some ways. It is linked to various health issues, including skin-related problems. Gragnani et al. (2014) explained that smoking increases free radicals in the skin that make one’s body cells unstable. Unstable cells disrupt the body’s ability to produce collagen and elastin, leading to the early onset of ageing signs. Besides, smoking reduces blood circulation, hence unloading oxygen from the skin, which slows down the injected skin’s healing process. It is not that by smoking, one won’t get the desired dermal filler results, but they may not be as long-lasting as those of a non-smoker with the same dermal filler injection.Pindborg et al. (2012) explained that a smoker would choose lip fillers to eliminate wrinkles and fine lines around the lips, primarily caused by smoking. Smoking after getting lip fillers will make the ageing signs reappear earlier than they would have done so.
Lip Filler Aftercare Instructions
Things to Do After Lip Filler Injection
- Drink water in plenty.
- Use a cold compress 2 to 3 times a day to minimize swelling.
- Wear protective clothing when going outside.
- Eat more fruits and vegetables.
- Sleep on your back
Things to Avoid After Lip Fillers
- Alcohol
- Intense heat
- Smoking
- Pressure on the injected area
- Intense workout
- Lipstick
- Drinking through a straw
- Passionate kissing
- Eating hard-to-chew foods
FAQs about Lip Fillers
How Long Do I Have to Wait to Smoke After Lip Fillers?
Smoking disrupts the healing process and can even lead to bacterial infection. Therefore, avoiding tobacco for at least the first 48 hours after lip filler injection is recommended.
Are Lip Filler Injections Painful?
Lip fillers are non-surgical procedures and are less invasive. Some people may feel pain after the injection, but it is usually very mild and goes away quickly. If pain continues for more than one week, make sure you schedule an appointment with the cosmetic doctor over the same.
How Long Do Lip Filler Results Last?
Depending on the type of filler used, most filler treatments last between 6 to 12 months. A person can have their top-up lip filler injection at least once every six months.
Can Pregnant Women Get Lip Fillers?
Lip filler injections are not recommended for pregnant women like any other cosmetic procedure. Besides, dermal fillers have not been fully studied, and their efficacy on pregnant women is still unknown.
Can I Apply Moisturizer After the Lip Filler Injection?
One can use Vaseline or a gentle moisturizer if one feels your lips become dry after the injection. Ensure that they apply a thin covering and avoid over-pressing.
Can You Travel on a Long Flight After Lip Fillers?
Dermal fillers interact with the skin tissues and impact the hydration levels. Generally, one should avoid long flights until they fully recover. That will be approximately after 3 to 7 days. The pressurization on the plane increases the risk of swelling and bruising.
Can I Eat After the Lip Filler Injection?
Yes. But ensure that to choose food that is easy to chew. Additionally, select foods that will not increase the hassle of wiping the lips as one eats to avoid disrupting the filler injection as it settles into place.
Conclusion
Smoking harms a person’s health and affects their lip filler results over time. Proper aftercare is essential. Avoiding smoking until the lips have fully recovered is one of the best things to help one achieve the best-looking results. Most healthcare providers recommend 48 hours of no smoking after the lip filler injection. It minimizes the risks of swelling, bruising and infections. Besides, smoking may prolong the healing process and worsen the side effects of lip filler injection. To avoid such consequences, ensure you discontinue smoking until you fully recover.
References
Gragnani, A., Mac Cornick, S., Chominski, V., de Noronha, S. M. R., de Noronha, S. A. A. C., & Ferreira, L. M. (2014). Review of major theories of skin ageing. Advances in Aging Research, 2014.
Kandhari, R., Goodman, G. J., Signorini, M., & Rahman, E. (2017). Use a hyaluronic acid soft-tissue filler to correct congenital and post-traumatic lip asymmetry—Journal of cutaneous and aesthetic surgery, 10(3), 153.
Luthra, A. (2015). Shaping lips with fillers. Journal of cutaneous and aesthetic surgery, 8(3), 139.
Pindborg, J. J., Reichart, P. A., Smith, C. J., & Van der Waal, I. (2012). In collaboration with LH Sobin and Pathologists in 9 Countries, the histological typing of cancer and the precancer of the oral mucosa. Springer Science & Business Media.
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