And We Answer Your Biggest Lip Filler Questions
Ready for the fuller, rejuvenated lips and the confidence boost that comes with them? If so, you probably have a lot of questions about lip filler.
This cosmetic procedure enhances thin, uneven lips with just a few quick injections. Many people turn to this solution to achieve better volume, symmetry, and hydration. With an experienced provider, you can get the natural-looking results you desire and aftercare instructions that will help you have a smooth recovery.
Curious if it’s the right choice for you? We’re here to answer your biggest lip filler questions so you can know once and for all.
How Does Lip Filler Enhance the Lips?
Lip filler is a great solution to plump lips, but it does so much more. Let’s explore all of the ways it can enhance your appearance.
- Makes Lips Fuller: Lip filler adds volume to lips by using hyaluronic acid to attract and bind water molecules.
- Hydrates and Smooths Lips: As lip filler attracts and retains water, it hydrates, smooths, and softens lips.
- Enhances Shape: A skilled injector can use lip filler to define the lip border and sculpt your lips to the shape you desire.
- Improves Symmetry: This procedure can correct asymmetry by adding filler in specific areas to create a more even appearance.
- Rejuvenates Lips: Lip filler reduces signs of aging by restoring volume and smoothing fine lines on and near the lips.
Lip Filler Aftercare Dos
After plumping and refining the shape of your lips, you can help yourself achieve the best possible results. With proper aftercare for lip filler, you can minimize your risk of infection, alleviate discomfort, and achieve a smooth recovery.
Be sure to do the following:
- Do Elevate Your Head: Sleeping with an elevated head will help reduce swelling.
- Do Stay Hydrated: Drinking water will help your swelling subside faster.
- Do Apply Ice: Use an ice pack or cold compress to reduce swelling.
- Do Eat Soft, Cool Foods: These foods will be the easiest to eat after your procedure, and they won’t cause irritation.
- Do Use Lip Balm: You can apply lip balm very gently 24 hours after getting filler to prevent dryness and reduce discomfort.
- Do Wait To Apply Makeup: Wait at least 24 hours before using makeup. Applying it too soon could lead to an infection.
- Do Follow Your Injector’s Guidance: Your provider will give you aftercare instructions based on your needs and the type of filler used.
- Do Attend Your Follow-Up Appointment: About two weeks after your procedure, your provider will make sure you’re healing properly and happy with your results.
Lip Filler Aftercare Don’ts
With proper aftercare, it is also essential to avoid activities that could interfere with your lip filler recovery.
To heal properly and have the best possible results, follow this list of don’ts:
- Don’t Take A Hot Shower: Hot environments like a sauna or steamy shower will increase swelling.
- Don’t Touch Your Lips: Pressure on your lips could cause lumps before the filler settles. It can also cause infections if you’re not careful.
- Don’t Smoke: Smoking and vaping can increase swelling and bruising and may also cause an infection. They can also cause the filler to wear off more quickly.
- Don’t Drink Alcohol: Drinking can make swelling and bruising worse, which will lengthen your recovery time.
- Don’t Exercise Strenuously: Avoiding intense physical activity for 24-48 hours will help prevent increased swelling, bruising, and the risk of infection.
- Don’t Eat Spicy or Salty Foods: These foods can disrupt the healing process by causing inflammation, swelling, and discomfort.
- Don’t Use Straws: Avoiding straws for at least 24-48 hours will help your lip filler settle properly and reduce the risk of displacement.
- Don’t Get Dental Work: Wait at least two weeks to visit the dentist. Avoiding immediate dental work lowers the risk of infection and allows the filler to settle.
- Don’t Take Blood Thinners: Avoid taking ibuprofen, aspirin, and other blood-thinning medications. They can increase swelling, bruising, and bleeding.
We Answer Your Biggest Lip Filler Questions
If you’re excited about plumping your lips and achieving the fullness you’ve always desired, we bet you’re wondering about lip filler. Here are the most common questions we’ve received and answers to help you determine if this procedure is right for you.
Can You Get Lip Filler While Pregnant?
No, it’s not generally recommended. While this procedure is usually safe, there hasn’t been a lot of research on lip fillers during pregnancy. Since its effects on the mother and baby are unknown, most experts advise waiting until after pregnancy to have this procedure.
Does Lip Filler Hurt?
Yes, lip filler causes some temporary discomfort. Most patients describe feeling pinching or stinging during the injections, but these sensations subside quickly. The type of filler, injection techniques, and the patient’s pain tolerance affect how much discomfort the patient will feel.
How Old Do You Have To Be To Get Lip Filler?
The FDA approves lip fillers for adults 21 and older. However, some providers will perform this procedure on patients 18 and older with parental consent.
How Long Does Lip Filler Swelling Last?
Lip filler swelling usually subsides in 1-2 weeks. It will be the most pronounced during the first three days, but should improve by the end of the first week. Following your provider’s aftercare instructions will help accelerate your recovery.
Is Lip Filler Permanent?
No, lip filler is not permanent because it will gradually dissolve. The time it lasts depends on the type of filler used and your metabolism. Usually, people enjoy their lip filler results for 6-12 months, and sometimes up to 18 months.
To help your results last longer, you should maintain a healthy lifestyle. Stay hydrated, eat a balanced diet, and manage your stress.
Can You Eat After Lip Filler?
Yes, you can eat after getting lip filler, but be careful. Try to wait until your numbing medication wears off and stick to soft foods 1-2 days after your procedure. Some great options include mashed potatoes, yogurt, and scrambled eggs. They promote healing and decrease swelling.
Avoiding foods that are spicy, messy, and require a lot of chewing will also help prevent complications. These foods could lead to swelling, bruising, and uneven results.
What Is Lip Filler Made Of?
Most lip fillers are made of hyaluronic acid. Since it’s a naturally occurring substance in the body, it delivers natural-looking results and is generally safe to use. Hyaluronic acid is a great ingredient for lip filler because it retains up to 1,000 times its weight in water. As a result, it hydrates, plumps, and smooths the lips.
Other fillers that can provide temporary results are made from calcium hydroxylapatite, collagen, polylactic acid, and polyalkylimide. Permanent filler options include silicone implants and fat transfer.
How Long Does It Take For Lip Filler To Settle?
It usually takes lip filler 2-4 weeks to settle. Swelling fully subsides during this time, and this is when you can see the final results of your procedure.
How Long After Lip Filler Can I Use A Straw?
It’s best to wait at least 24-48 hours before using a straw. Some experts even recommend waiting two weeks. That’s because drinking through a straw puts pressure on lips, and the sucking could displace the lip filler before it settles. As you recover from your lip filler procedure, you can safely drink from a cup, glass, or water bottle.
Can Antihistamines Reduce Lip Filler Swelling?
Yes, many experts recommend taking an antihistamine before and after getting lip filler to reduce swelling. Antihistamines work by blocking histamine, a compound that the body releases when it’s inflamed or experiencing an allergic reaction. As a result, it can lower swelling and inflammation after your lip filler procedure.
How Much Does It Cost To Dissolve Lip Filler?
If you want to reverse the results of your lip filler, you can dissolve it. Usually, the cost of dissolving lip filler ranges from $200 to $600 per session. The cost depends on the amount of filler, the provider’s location, the number of sessions needed, and the injector’s expertise.
Can I Use Vaseline After Lip Filler?
Yes, you can carefully apply a thin layer of Vaseline after getting lip filler. Petroleum jelly can moisturize and protect the lips, which helps prevent infection. It’s also a great way to reduce swelling and inflammation as you heal.
Can You Get Lip Filler While Breastfeeding?
Yes. Most doctors recommend waiting at least six months after the start of breastfeeding. By this point, the mother’s body has recovered, and breastfeeding has become routine. Since lip fillers get injected directly into the lips, this procedure is unlikely to affect the baby.
Can You Kiss After Lip Filler?
You should wait at least 24-48 hours before kissing. After your lip filler injections, your lips will be sore and swollen. Waiting will give your lips time to heal and lower the risk of infection.
How Long Does Bruising Last After Lip Filler?
It usually takes 1-2 weeks for bruising to subside after lip filler injections. The bruising peaks during the first 48 hours but will decrease noticeably by the end of the first week. If there is any bruising beyond two weeks, it should be minimal.
What Is A Lip Flip Vs Filler?
Lip flips and lip fillers are two cosmetic procedures that enhance the lips, but they go about it in different ways.
During a lip flip, a provider will inject Botox or another neuromodulator into the muscles around the upper lip. This technique relaxes the muscles, causing the lip to “flip” upward and look fuller. The outcome is more subtle than a lip filler and won’t last as long. Usually lip flip results last about 2-4 months.
With lip filler, a dermal filler that usually contains hyaluronic acid is injected straight into the lips. This process adds volume directly to the lips to make them fuller. The results are more noticeable than a lip flip and last much longer.
Does Lip Filler Migrate?
Yes, it is possible for lip filler to migrate, or move past the injection site. While this rarely happens, it can lead to uneven results, displacement outside the lip border, or puffiness in the lips. When you go to an experienced injector, lip filler migration is less likely to happen. A well-trained provider will know the best injection techniques and won’t overfill your lips. By following their aftercare instructions, you’ll reduce your risk of lip filler displacement.
Will Lip Filler Permanently Stretch My Lips?
No, they will not cause permanent stretching. As hyaluronic acid lip fillers wear off over time, your lips will gradually return to their original shape.
Can I Get Lip Filler?
If you’re over 21, in good overall health, and want fuller, more even lips, you may be a good candidate for lip filler. To know for certain, schedule a consultation with an experienced provider. During this consultation, the injector will assess your facial features, discuss your goals, and let you know if lip filler is right for you. If it is, you’ll also find out which type of filler will help you achieve the size and shape you want.
Get Safe Professional Lip Fillers in NYC and Miami
Whether you’re looking for fuller lips or to smooth fine lines, lip filler could be your answer. An experienced provider will help you achieve natural-looking results while ensuring a safe cosmetic procedure. If you’re thinking about getting lip filler, follow all the dos and don’ts. Lip filler aftercare will help you achieve a smooth recovery and optimal results.
Ready for the lips you’ve always dreamed of? As the leading provider of lip fillers in NYC and Miami, SKINNEY Medspa is here to help you get the look you want. When you schedule a consultation with our team, we will discuss your cosmetic goals and determine whether lip filler is the right option for you.
Call (212) 754-6639 if you’re in New York City or (305) 717-7576 to schedule an appointment in Miami.
