Your Guide to Knowing What to Expect Post-Lip Injections and What Timeline to Follow for Touch-ups
If you are about to embark on your lip-plumping journey, the question ‘how often do you have to get lip fillers redone’ may come to mind. While long-lasting, the effects of lip filler are not permanent. On average, results typically last anywhere from several months to over a year. Therefore, learning all about the lip filler experience, including how to care for your lips and how often you should go in for lip filler maintenance appointments, will be crucial to maintaining your plump, shapely pout.
Furthermore, by understanding the different stages of healing after lip injections and the do’s and dont’s of recovery, you can better equip yourself to manage symptoms effectively and ensure smooth and successful results.
Read on for everything you need to know about the lip filler experience, including what to expect each day of your recovery, as well as how to best care for your lips during this time, and how often you should schedule touch-up appointments so you can enjoy a beautiful and long-lasting lip enhancement.
A Timeline of What You Can Expect After Lip Fillers
Thinking about enhancing your pout with lip fillers? If so, you may wonder what the experience is like and your healing process entails. Keep reading to learn more about the day-by-day lip injection healing process.
Day 1: Lip Filler Treatment
Immediately after getting lip filler, your lips may be tender and red. Swelling is typically the worst on this day. However, this is normal and should improve within a few hours. You can manage swelling by applying a cold compress or gel pack to your lips. Refrain from touching your lips and kissing or sipping from a straw. You will want to avoid lying face down and should keep your head elevated, including when you sleep. Doing this will promote blood flow to your lips and minimize swelling.
Day 2: Increased Swelling and Tenderness
Swelling and tenderness will peak around this time. You may even notice some bruising and bumps or lumps. However, avoid pressing or massaging the bumps, as you may accidentally cause the filler to migrate into other areas and create unnatural-looking results. You can minimize swelling and discomfort by avoiding excessive heat (sauna, steam room, hot tub) and intense physical activity. You will want to continue to sleep with your head elevated and avoid touching or pressing on your lips to ensure optimal healing. You will also like to skip spicy foods or hot beverages for the first couple of weeks following your lip filler appointment.
Day 3-4: Swelling And Bruising At Its Peak
At this stage, lip filler swelling and bruising will be at their highest. Your lips may even feel slightly bumpy or more firm to the touch. However, don’t be alarmed, as these side effects are a normal part of healing. You can continue to apply ice to help reduce swelling and discomfort. You should also drink enough water to combat inflammation and ensure your lips stay hydrated.
Day 5: Swelling Will Start to Decrease
By day five, your lip filler swelling will finally start to subside. Your lips will begin to look more natural as healing continues. Most people can resume mild workouts and activities by this point. However, you should continue avoiding activities such as kissing, blowing into a musical instrument, or any other activity that may pressure your lips. You should also continue skipping any spicy or hot foods and beverages to avoid irritation as your lips heal.
Day 6-7: Plump, Defined Lips Emerge
In a week, your lips’ appearance will improve significantly. There should be little to no swelling, and any bruising should have faded. At this stage, you will really start to see your lips take on their new shape and definition. Ensure you drink plenty of water during this time to keep your lips looking plump and hydrated. You will also want to use a light touch when washing your face or practicing oral hygiene to keep your lips plump and balanced.
Week 2: Lips Look and Feel Natural
By the second week, your lips should be completely healed and looking voluminous and smooth. Any bumps or nodules you noticed or felt during the healing process should have disappeared by now. You can resume normal activities at this point, including exercise, kissing, and drinking from a straw. However, make sure you continue to be gentle with your lips when washing your face, applying makeup, and brushing your teeth. This will ensure your lips maintain their beautiful, sculpted shape.
Day 14: Follow-Up Appointment
Day 14 is the perfect time to make a follow-up visit to your injector. They will examine your lip shape and feel for any irregularities to ensure your lips have healed properly. You may have some “after” photos taken to compare your new lips with your “before” photos. They may also take this time to massage any bumps or lumps to achieve a smoother appearance. You can also address any concerns you may have, and your injector can dissolve some or all of your filler if you are unhappy with your results.
Day 15-30: Enjoy Your Plump New Pout
At this point in your lip filler journey, you are most likely loving your new and enhanced look and are enjoying your plump, youthful pout. You will want to continue to monitor your lips during this period, watching for any irregularities or signs of infection. Contact your provider immediately if you notice an increase in symptoms such as pain, swelling, or redness or tenderness. Continue to drink plenty of water so your lips stay supple and hydrated. Depending on your lips in 6 months, you may need to schedule a lip filler touch-up appointment to maintain your beautiful results.
How Long Do Lip Fillers Last?
When it comes to how long lip fillers last, the answer is multi-faceted. Lip filler comes in a range of formulations that offer different molecular sizes and produce different results. Certain filler formulas may be longer-lasting than others. Additionally, there are other factors at play that can impact how long your filler will last. These factors include:
- Type of filler used
- Filler placement and injector’s technique
- Amount of filler used
- Individual’s metabolism
- Lifestyle factors
Factors That Influence Lip Filler Longevity
Not all filler is created equally. From the molecular size to the consistency and texture, filler formulations differ and can impact longevity. Juvéderm Ultra and Juvéderm Volbella are two long-lasting fillers whose thicker formulations can last for 12 months or longer. Restylane lip filler Silk has a thinner consistency and lasts about 6 months, while longer-lasting Kysse typically lasts up to 1 year.
The amount of filler injected can also influence the longevity of your results. On average, most people experience great results with one (1mL) to two (2mL) syringes of filler. Therefore, a more voluminous enhancement may produce longer-lasting results. Filler placement can also affect the longevity of your results. An experienced injector will use skillful techniques to ensure ideal placement and longevity of the filler.
Metabolism also plays a large role in the duration of lip fillers. Our body naturally breaks down hyaluronic acid over time. However, some individuals with faster metabolisms will absorb the filler more quickly, reducing longevity. Meanwhile, others may enjoy longer-lasting results as their body metabolizes the filler more slowly.
Another factor to consider is lifestyle factors. Engaging in high-intensity exercise or sports can increase circulation, speed up metabolism, and dissolve filler more quickly. Results may also fade quicker for people who play a musical instrument, requiring them to move their lips often. Frequent exposure to high temperatures from saunas, steam rooms, or hot yoga may also cause the body to break down filler rapidly.
When to Get a Lip Filler Maintenance Treatment
While most Juvéderm lip fillers last about 12 months, the rate your body metabolizes lip fillers will greatly impact how often you have to get them redone. The faster your metabolism, the more often you need to touch up your lip fillers.
Personal preferences also influence how often you get lip fillers. If you prefer a more gradual, natural-looking augmentation, you may choose to wait longer than 6-12 months for your maintenance sessions. Or, if you want a consistently plump-looking pout, you may opt to get a touch-up before the previous filler has fully dissolved.
It’s important to note that repeat filler injections can help produce more collagen around the lip filler. This leads to the filler’s longer-lasting plumping effect over time, requiring fewer frequent maintenance sessions.
What Age Can You Get Lip Fillers?
The FDA approves the use of lip filler for adults who are 18 and over. Your body is still growing and developing at this age, so it’s best to wait until you’re fully matured before making cosmetic changes to your appearance. After this age, men and women can enhance their lips with filler.
Get Lush-Looking Lips in NYC and Miami
Lip fillers are a quick and convenient way to enhance your natural beauty and achieve lush, hydrated lips in under 30 minutes. Whether you are looking to address age-related volume loss, smooth lip wrinkles and lines, or simply add a nice plump and contour to your lips, Skinney Medspa is your go-to provider to safe, long-lasting, and beautiful lip augmentations.
At Skinney Medspa, both our NYC and Miami locations carry the latest collection of Juvéderm lip fillers. This allows our experienced injectors to create personalized treatment plans that surpass our patients’ expectations and deliver beautiful lip enhancements in NYC and surrounding areas.
Call our NYC office at (212) 754-6639 or our Miami office at (305) 717-7576 to book your complimentary filler consultation and get one step closer to enjoying more plumped, defined lips that enhance your natural beauty.
