Are you concerned that your lip filler has gone wrong? Like every procedure, there are some common side effects or things that can go wrong when having your lips filled with dermal filler. Chances are however that your lip filler has not gone wrong, and you are about to have yourself a beautiful pair or lips in a couple of days!
Let’s run through some of the “normal” side effects of lip filler and some quick and easy tips you can use at home to get a more natural looking lip filler result!
There are some common swelling stages after lip filler that we expect to see with most patients, so if you have had your lip filler only 2-4 days ago and you feel like you are super swollen don’t panic! Your lips have just suffered some minor trauma through the injection process which leads your body to react by increasing blood flow to the area which results in swelling. At this time, you may also notice some redness or bruising on your lips, again as the result of the injection to the lip area.
Finally, some mild lumpiness in the lip area is very commonly reported by patients at this time. Lumpiness can be due to a couple of reasons, again swelling relating to trauma and bruising or a larger amount of filler may have been injected into one area or, the filler may have moved.
The great news is the above commonly experienced swelling stages after lip filler can be easily managed at home. Firstly, have a look in the mirror. Can you see any obvious bruising to the lip area? Can you visibly see any lumps? If you are unable to see any lumps and can only just feel them there is a good chance your product will settle, and the lumpiness will resolve. If you can see bruising this may be the cause of your lumpiness and swelling. The best thing to do is apply ice to the area for 15 minutes at a time or until your Arnicare ice pack melts. Pop it back into the freezer and once it has frozen again it is time to reapply the ice. If you have an Arnica healing balm, apply this to your lips as often as you like. A good way to remember is to apply the balm after you have iced your lips.
If you are concerned about significant bruising, swelling or lumpiness contact your injector. They may encourage you to massage the area. Attending your follow up is super important as your injector can massage any lumps out. Just a warning, the pressure required to massage the lip area is a lot stronger than you may think.
Finally for the more serious things that can go wrong with lip filler which will need assessment and management by your injector.
Infection: Infection can occur after lip filler, this is rare, but it is important that you contact your injector if you notice a combination of redness, swelling, pain to the area (more than just mild discomfort) and pus.
Migrated filler: As we mentioned earlier, filler can sometimes move and cause lumpiness which will normally resolve on its own. Filler that has moved or “migrated” outside of the intended area or injection site is called “migrated filler”. If you are concerned about the appearance of a “shelf” above your top lip, this can give you an idea that your filler may have migrated. Thankfully, this can be fixed! You may not like to hear this news; however, your filler may need to be dissolved with Hyalase, which works by breaking the bonds of the hyaluronic acid (dermal filler) that has been injected in your lips. After the dissolving process your injector may recommend you wait two weeks before having your lips refilled.
Vascular occlusion: A vascular occlusion is a serious side effect of lip filler resulting when there is a blockage of the blood vessels and subsequently blood flow to an area of the lip. This can cause blood clots or necrosis (tissue death) to the area. A vascular occlusion will usually be picked up whilst you are still in the clinic, it is extremely important to let your injector know if you are having severe pain. Your injector will also be looking for “blanching” or white spots to the area which may indicate that there has been a blockage.
As always at Arnicare we want you to be aware of potential side effects or complications that may occur with lip filler and encourage you to always do your research on your injector. Avoid choosing an injector just related to price. Experience is what you are paying for, this experience will reduce your chance of having complications or side effects but also ensure that should complications arise, an experienced injector will know how to manage them and reduce the chance of a more serious outcome.
