Chat with us, powered by LiveChat Tips to Reduce Lip Filler Swelling and Bruising | Elite Medical & Aesthetics
  • 0Shopping Cart
Elite Medical & Aesthetics
  • Home
  • Services
    • Injectables
      • Botox
      • Xeomin
      • Radiesse
      • Juvederm
      • Versa
      • Restylane
      • Kybella
      • Skin Tightening
      • PRP/PRF
    • Laser and IPL
      • IPL
      • ResurFX
      • RF Microneedling
    • Skincare Services
      • OxyGeneo 3 in 1 Facial
      • Facials and Peels
      • Microneedling
  • Pricing
  • About
  • Contact/FAQs
  • Blog
  • COVID-19
  • Shop
    • Neocutis
    • Elite Skincare
    • Giftcards
  • Menu Menu
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Youtube

Tips To Reduce Lip Filler Swelling and Bruising

Introduction

If you’ve done research about lip filler and are considering the procedure, you’ve probably seen some of the common side effects. In many cases, lip filler injections will cause swelling and bruising. While these side effects can be expected, there are many things you can do to reduce them and shorten your recovery time. In this post, we’ll cover types of lip filler and their uses, why lips swell after lip filler and a timeline of lip filler swelling. We’ll also go in-depth on things you can do to reduce swelling and bruising after lip filler.

Jump To

What is lip filler used for?

Why do lips swell and bruise?

Types of lip filler

A timeline of swelling

10 tips to reduce swelling and bruising

The results of your lip filler procedure

What is lip filler used for?

Lip filler is used in lip augmentation procedures. Lip augmentation is a procedure that alters the structure, shape, and overall size or volume of the lips. It is utilized to make the lips appear more plump and full or to simply maintain the lip shape and volume as one ages.

Based on where your injector is placing the filler, it can also alter the shape of your lips if desired. Typically it lasts for roughly 6-12 months and the results need to be kept up with additional treatments.

Why do lips swell and bruise?

Swelling with lip filler is very normal and to be expected. Most lip fillers are made from a substance called hyaluronic acid (HA) that looks the most natural in the lips. HA molecules exist in our bodies and are responsible for retaining water and making our skin look hydrated (among other things). Because they are water-loving molecules (hydrophilic), they tend to pull water into the tissue causing swelling. After a few days the fluid starts to work it’s way out as the tissue and filler balance together. 

Another major reason for swelling and lip filler bruising is an injury to the tissue. This might sound scary but it’s a normal physiological response to have swelling after an injury- like a needle puncture from a procedure. The body is doing its job responding by sending healing cells to the area which causes the swelling. 

These little needle punctures are also what causes the bruising. The lips are very vascular, which means they have a lot of blood vessels that are easy to poke through. The good thing is that the body will take care of the bruising naturally.  The vessels will either be repaired or replaced so bruising is considered entirely normal in most cases and not a cause for concern.

Please note that even when using a cannula (an object that is not sharp) for lip filler, bruising and swelling can still occur. Needle technique is more common in the lips because injectors want to be able to be incredibly precise in this area for the best shape and aesthetic result.

Final results from either technique are usually seen between 2-4 weeks.

Types of lip filler

There are a few different types of fillers that are priced differently and are best suited for different needs. Please consult with an expert like Ali at EMA to make sure you are making the best choice. Below are some of the most popular brands of fillers used for the lips. The first two have several different consistencies of HA filler that can be used depending on your goals. A professional injector can help you decide which is best for you.

  • Juvederm
  • Restylane
  • Versa

A timeline of lip filler swelling

Day 1:

Post-procedure you will experience swelling and bruising in your lips and they may feel hard and tender. This is common and may vary based on how your body reacts to the filler, the quality of your injector, and the use of ice during and after the procedure.

Day 2:

You will begin to see the swelling reduce and will get the first views of what your filled lips will look like but they are still swollen. The swelling can be managed and reduced by following some of the tips below. The pain at the injection sites should start to subside during this day as well.

Day 4-5:

The swelling and bruising should be mostly gone, leaving you with a full preview of your filled lips.

Day 7-14:

Depending how quickly you heal you may be able to see full results after 1-2 weeks. If any lumps or hardness is still felt you can start massaging your lips (if directed by your injector). For some people full results are not seen for 2-4 weeks.

Read more about lip filler swelling and how it can be an emotional rollercoaster HERE. 

10 tips to reduce swelling and bruising

1.) Ice Your Lips

Icing after your procedure helps to reduce swelling and lip filler bruising. Ice immediately after the treatment to help with discomfort and swelling. Icing for 10 minutes, several times a day, for the next few days can help tremendously. 24 hours after your procedure has passed, you can begin alternating between ice and a warm compress. The warm compress can help the bruising resolve faster. 

2.) Take Arnica

Ask your injector or primary care provider (PCP) for Arnica, it is also possible to buy it over the counter at most health food stores. Arnica is an herb that is commonly used to treat swelling, pain, and bruising. It can be taken 24 hours before your injections and for 2-3 days afterward. It should be noted that you should check with a healthcare professional to ensure your body will not react poorly to the herb.

3.) Avoid Heat for 24 Hours

Make sure to avoid heat on your lips for the first 24 hours. High heat can make the swelling increase or seem more pronounced. After 24 hours it may be soothing, especially for any bruising present. 

4.) Avoid Exercise for a Bit

Make sure to avoid strenuous exercise for 24-48 hours after your treatment. An elevated blood pressure can increase swelling in your lips. 

5.) Enjoy Some Pineapple

This is going to sound a bit crazy but eat a bit of pineapple before you come in and a bit after. Get a fresh cut pineapple and eat half the day leading up to your treatment, a quarter just before your treatment, and another quarter after. This is due to the fact that pineapple contains bromelain, an enzyme found in the pineapple juice that is thought to reduce swelling and inflammation. Alternatively, you can also buy the bromelain supplements over the counter to decrease swelling even faster. It should also be taken in the 24 hours before your injections and can be used for 2-3 days afterward. These should only be taken by individuals without health risks related to the kidneys or liver. 

6.) Take the Right Pain Relief Medicine

Avoid aspirin and ibuprofen even if it hurts as it can increase bruising, Tylenol is ok to take as directed

7.) Keep Your Head Elevated

Elevate your head when sleeping to reduce swelling, sleep on your back, and do not roll over onto your face

8.) Don’t Paint Those Popping Lips

Avoid makeup and lipstick for at least 24 hours, arnica ointment is ok and can help speed up the healing

9.) No Touching!

Do not rub or massage the area unless your injector specifically says to

10.) Chug! (Water)

Drink water but not alcohol. Keeping your body hydrated by drinking 2+ liters of water a day will ensure your swelling is reduced and the area heals well. Alcohol, on the other hand, has a tendency to cause inflammation which can lead to increased bruising and swelling. It is also a blood thinner that may be unsafe following a medical procedure. It is best to avoid alcohol on the day of your appointment and for the following 2-3 days.

11.) Stay Away from Salt

Bonus tip! Avoid salty foods. The hyaluronic acid in the filler attracts water, when you reduce excess salt intake you are able to lessen the swelling. 

The results of your lip filler procedure

Within 7 days of your injections, you will be able to see close to the final result but remember it can take 2-4 weeks for some people. Especially for them to feel natural. These results will last on average 8-12 months. To ensure the most natural results possible consult a trained injector. 

If you’re in the Denver, Colorado area, Elite Medical & Aesthetic is the best choice for whichever filler procedure you decide best fits your needs. Ali is a trained Nurse Practitioner (NP) and an artist that has numerous years of experience. She has expertly administered filler to hundreds of happy clients that have achieved natural-looking results. EMA offers Juvederm and Versa and Restylane to treat everything covered in this post. Check our services page to find out more or book an appointment.

Book Now
Text for Info

You May Also Like

  • Botox VS. Dysport- Which Is Right For You?March 8, 2021 - 3:26 pm
  • before and after chin fillerChin Filler 101February 8, 2021 - 6:54 pm
  • Woman with no lines after botox brow liftBotox Brow LiftsFebruary 1, 2021 - 7:10 pm
  • Womans face with baby botoxEverything You Need to Know About Baby BotoxJanuary 25, 2021 - 5:46 pm
  • All about under-eye fillerJanuary 14, 2021 - 7:01 pm
  • All About Lip FlipsJanuary 4, 2021 - 8:42 pm
  • Should You Get Needleless Lip Filler?December 10, 2020 - 10:50 pm
  • The Best Lip FillerDecember 4, 2020 - 4:25 pm
  • Wrinkle free neck after microneedlingThe Best Treatments for Neck TighteningNovember 19, 2020 - 11:31 pm
  • Smiling smooth skin after aesthetic treatmentHow to Prep For BotoxNovember 4, 2020 - 11:11 pm
  • Reversing Botox and FillersNovember 1, 2020 - 2:57 pm
  • Tips to Reduce Lip Filler Swelling and BruisingOctober 2, 2020 - 2:51 pm
  • How Much Does Botox Really Cost?September 25, 2020 - 3:08 pm
  • The Best Aesthetic Procedures for an Instant Glow-upSeptember 1, 2020 - 2:43 pm
  • Disgusted with your face on Zoom?August 22, 2020 - 11:45 pm

Stay in the Loop With New Products & Specials

@HolisticInjector

Are you new to our page? If so, welcome! . . My na Are you new to our page? If so, welcome!
.
.
My name is Ali and I’m a double board certified NP and owner of Elite Medical & Aesthetics in Centennial, CO (soon to be Lone Tree).
.
.
I have over 14 years of healthcare experience and have been a NP for 5 years.
.
.
My background prior to aesthetics was in hospital based medicine, mainly critical care.
.
.
I’m also an artist, I do oil paintings and pencil drawing so aesthetics is a perfect match for me.
.
.
I also love animals so all our skincare products are not tested on animals. A long term goal is to get more involved with advocating for no testing on animals for cosmetic products and procedures.
.
.
The culture at Elite is welcoming and empowering. We’re here to collaborate with you on your journey and will always be honest with you. What’s best for you is more important than us collecting $$$.
.
.
Hear about us from real client perspectives in this short clip. Whole video on IGTV.
.
.
We hope to meet you soon!
3 reasons your Botox, Xeomin, Dysport or any of th 3 reasons your Botox, Xeomin, Dysport or any of the Botulinum Toxin brands aren’t lasting lately:
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
1. If you’re new to wrinkle relaxing medications it’s possible you just need a bigger dose. When we underdose or do just “baby Botox” it wears off faster. This doesn’t mean you have to be frozen for a great result, but you might need a bit more.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
If you’ve had tox before and it’s not lasting you still might need more because as we age we just need more, or maybe one of the other 2 are the problem.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
2. Stress increases metabolism and theoretically can make the medication wear off faster. We’re noticing among all brands that certain people are not having as long of results during the pandemic. 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
3. With wearing masks our upper faces are having to be as expressive as our whole face usually is. So when we used to pass someone in the hall we maybe smiled a little with our mouth but now we have to smile with our eyes. We also show more surprise and animation in our foreheads. We’re certainly squinting more with all of the screen time and scowling at zoom 😜. All this increased activity/ attempted activity of our facial muscles may affect results.
Love these lips! This babe has had beautiful lips Love these lips! This babe has had beautiful lips throughout her life and we just added a touch of lip filler to help restore them to their former glory. 
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Adding a bit of filler can help reduce lines, add hydration to the lips and maintain shape longer.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Note photos are before and immediately after
A lot of people are fearful of lip filler and I to A lot of people are fearful of lip filler and I totally understand why. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
But when  done right it can restore lost volume and definition or give a desired plump that was never there!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
When I do lip filler I look at the whole face and proportion the lips so that they balance and harmonize rather than over project.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
We think ducks are very cute but we don’t do duck lips at elite 💁🏻‍♀️ 🦆 👄
Weekend hikes with the meatballs @weirdpibbles. Go Weekend hikes with the meatballs @weirdpibbles. Gotta love a good hike where there’s still snow on the ground ha.
.
.
This was from a few weekends ago and yes I had on SPF50 😜. But no makeup and no filter because I think it’s important to see what people look like in real life- even half a face, had to get Nicki in the photo 💁🏻‍♀️
Are you all sick of my sunscreen posts yet? 😜. Are you all sick of my sunscreen posts yet? 😜. 
.
.
But really, especially in CO when it snows it’s often sunny by the end of the day and the sun reflects off the snow increasing risk. So really just make a habit of SPF every single day no matter what. Your skin, and future self, will thank you for it.
.
.
The snow sure is pretty though, except you can’t see the mountains through the clouds this morning ☁️
Welcome to the team Molly! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Molly is a RN that will be working as my assistant for the next few months. This is part of her apprenticeship to learn about injecting and taking great care of all of you! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Molly’s bio:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
~Colorado native⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
~Went to High school in Delta,CO and while in high school got her Cosmetology certification from the local vocational college.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
~Went Colorado State University and studied Human Development and Family Studies ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
~After CSU, worked at Medical Center of the Rockies helping rehabilitate and heal seriously injured patients ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
~Went to Denver College of Nursing and got a Bachelor Degree in Nursing. Started working at Rose Medical Center on Mom/Baby floor. Helped educate and instruct patients on how to care for their new infant.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
~While working at Rose, got certified in Botox injection and is continuing classes and education in this area of the beauty industry⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Molly McNeil RN, BSN
Look out for more posts coming soon to learn all a Look out for more posts coming soon to learn all about Molly! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Can’t wait for you all to meet her!
I just wanted everyone to know that Beth will be l I just wanted everyone to know that Beth will be leaving us soon. She is going to continue teaching and is moving on to other things!
.
.
Though we can never truly replace her I promise that we will find someone absolutely amazing to care for your lovely skin.
.
.
Stay tuned for updates and look out for posts on our other new hires soon (Molly, RN started this week ❤️❤️❤️).
.
.
Best of luck on your new ventures, Beth!
Load More... Follow on Instagram

From the Blog

  • Botox VS. Dysport- Which Is Right For You?
  • Everything You Need to Know About Laser Skin Tightening
  • Chin Filler 101
  • Botox Brow Lifts
  • Everything You Need to Know About Baby Botox
  • All about under-eye filler
  • All About Lip Flips
  • Everything You Need to Know About ResurFX
  • Should You Get Needleless Lip Filler?
  • The Best Lip Filler

Elite Medical & Aesthetics

Serving Centennial, Highlands Ranch, Littleton and all of South Denver, Colorado

6970 S. Holly Circle #204
Centennial, CO 80112

info@emacolorado.com
720-507-7278

Follow us on Facebook

© Copyright - EMA Colorado - 6970 S. Holly Circle #204, Centennial, CO 80112 | Terms of Service
How Much Does Botox Really Cost? relaxing deep cleansing facial Facials and Peels 101
Scroll to top