Lip Fillers

Downtime

No downtime, or long recovery process. Swelling and bruising are common.

Recovery (Lip Filler Swelling Stages)

• Day 1: You will notice lots of swelling from your initial lip filler appointment.
  • This is a result of:
    • The numbing cream can cause a small amount of swelling or the sensation that your lips “feel huge.”
    • The needlestick itself causes the lips to swell by bringing blood flow to the area to heal.
    • Hyaluronic acid filler attracts water, bringing more swelling to tissue spaces within the lips.
  • Remember to not exercise for 24-48 hours post-filler, as exercise will cause more swelling in the lips. For activity, we advise a light walk.
  • Use ICE and the Arnica lip balm provided by JCS. You can also take Benadryl (25mg) the night of your lip filler treatment to aid with swelling.
• Days 2-4: MORE swelling! You’ll likely be the most swollen on Day 2 and Day 3 of the lip filler healing journey. The morning after lip filler you may think “What have I done?!” Don’t worry, the swelling subsides! Your lips may feel firm, lumpy, and look unnatural. They should not be painful, but they may be a little sore.
• Days 5-7: Lip swelling is starting to subside, and at this point you’ll probably start to enjoy the look of your lips.
• Day 14: This is a great time to follow-up with Dr. Jacobson. Lip swelling should be minimal and bruising is resolving. At this point, taking some “after” photos will give you a better idea of your final lip shape. Before deciding to correct a small lump or plan for more filler, wait another two weeks for the filler to fully settle.
• 4-6 weeks: Your filler is settled into the lip tissues, and your lips are healed! If there is an undesired result or a small lump of filler that bothers you, Dr. Jacobson may advise some massaging or discuss possible injection of hyaluronidase to dissolve the area of concern. If more filler is desired or planned, wait a few weeks before adding additional volume. If you’re unsure about your lip filler or progression, never hesitate to reach out to your injector. Luckily, most swelling is normal and you may even find yourself missing the volume and plumpness of your Day 5 swollen lips at some point in the future!