Dermal Filler Aftercare

  • If you have bruising at the injection site, it may help to apply aloe vera, vitamin K, or arnica creams. Check with your injector before using these products.

  • Apply ice to the area afterward using an ice pack or an ice cube covered in a thin cloth (so it doesn’t stick to the lip and cause pain). This will help ease swelling, itching, bruising, and any other pain.

  • Avoid strenuous exercise for 24 to 48 hours. Elevated blood pressure and heart rate from exercise may make swelling or bruising worse. It’s fine to engage in light activity, like walking.

  • Stay hydrated. Drinking plenty of water will help your body heal.

  • Eat plenty of hydrating fruits and vegetables and try to avoid excess sodium, which may worsen swelling.

  • Avoid high temperatures, like steam rooms, saunas, or heated exercise classes for 48 hours after treatment. High heat can make swelling more pronounced.

  • Ask your doctor which pain medications are OK to take in the days after your treatment. Normally Tylenol will be fine, but not blood-thinning medications like ibuprofen or aspirin.

  • If you’re getting fillers for a specific event, make sure to leave plenty of time in between the procedure and the event to allow your lips to properly recover.

  • Try to sleep with your head elevated on pillows to reduce swelling. Do not sleep on your face.

  • Avoid makeup for up to 24 hours after the procedure.

Side effects of lip fillers can occur within hours, days, or weeks after receiving the injections. They usually go away within a short period, but occasionally may arise weeks, months, or years later.

These side effects include:

  • bruising

  • itching

  • swelling

  • pain and tenderness

  • redness

  • rash

In some cases, people may experience more serious complications. In these cases, you should see a healthcare professional. Read more below.

When to contact your injector!

While minor side effects like swelling and redness are normal, see a healthcare professional if you experience any of the following complications.

Intense bruising or swelling

If you experience intense bruising or swelling for more than a week, check in with your doctor. It’s rare, but allergies and reactions are possible.

Vascular occlusion

Vascular occlusion happens when the filler is injected into or around an artery, which reduces or stops the blood flow. The surrounding skin and tissue will start to die without adequate blood supply.

Signs of vascular occlusion include immediate, severe pain and a change in skin color, which can look like white spots or blotches.

It’s also important to note that the pain could take a while to become noticeable because most fillers include lidocaine, which is an anesthetic. It can take several hours to wear off after the injection procedure.

Lumps

Lumps caused by the most common type of lip filler, hyaluronic acid, can be dissolved with a medication called hyaluronidase. But many lumps from this filler will simply improve with massage and time.

If lumps are caused by inflammation, healthcare professionals may treat them with corticosteroid injections, and they appear to go away in some cases but not all. Lumps and bumps resulting from dermal fillers can often be removed surgically if they don’t go away on their own.

Cold sores

Your injector will ask if you’re prone to cold sores or herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1). Dermal fillers can trigger an outbreak, which may require antiviral treatment.

It’s best to discuss with your doctor if you’ve had herpes outbreaks after receiving dermal fillers in the past.