Thinning lips, vertical lip lines, and upper lip wrinkles are some of the reasons why people get lip enhancement procedures. Dermal fillers and PRP injections are two of the commonly performed procedures for lip augmentation. But before you can see the results from these lip injections, it’s common to experience post-treatment reactions and one of these is swelling.
So is it normal for the upper lip to look swollen or puffed up after a dermal filler or PRP lip injection? The simple answer is yes, swollen upper lips are common after receiving lip filler treatments. The good thing is that it’s usually a temporary side effect and will go away on its own within 5 to 7 days after the injection. Once the swelling has healed, you’ll be able to see the full effects of the lip injections.
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Swelling is one of the most common side effects in almost any cosmetic procedure that involves piercing the skin with a tiny needle. Your body’s immune system is set up to respond to any source of trauma or damage to the skin’s tissues, and injecting the skin with soft tissue fillers or PRP may activate this immune response.
After the lip injection procedure, some level of swelling and inflammation is expected in the treatment site where the needle entered. The lips are a very sensitive area with thin and delicate skin and it contains many blood vessels that can be easily affected with a simple injection. Inflammation is also likely to occur as the filler adds volume to the lips and your body adjusts to the addition of the foreign material.
Most swelling is visible immediately after the lip filler or PRP treatment and they can peak several days after the treatment. They’re a completely normal reaction to the cosmetic injections and should resolve within a week or two from the procedure.
Recovery after the PRP treatment or injectable dermal filler is convenient and many patients are able to relax and go about their normal activities after the procedure. And although swelling is a typical side effect, there are some things that you can do to speed its healing and see the effects of your lip injections faster:
1. Apply an Ice Pack or a Cold Compress Over the Treated Area
One of the best aftercare reminders for lip injection recovery is icing the lips after the treatment. The cold helps to control blood flow to the lip area which reduces the amount of swelling and bruising from the procedure. It’s also great for reducing localized post-treatment pain since it numbs the injection site. Don’t directly put the ice on your lips and wrap it with a cloth or towel to avoid frostbite. You can use an ice pack for several days until you notice the swelling has subsided.
You should avoid putting pressure on your newly injected lips since this may cause extended swelling and compromise the results of your PRP or injectable filler treatment. Touching or massaging the lips may also cause migration of the filler material and result in unwanted complications. As much as possible, you should also avoid drinking through straws since this can cause discomfort on your swollen lips.
A dermal filler injection made of hyaluronic acid may bind itself with water in your body and this fluid retention can sometimes be the cause of swelling and inflammation. Drinking lots of water can help flush out fluids and ensure a good flow so that they don't accumulate in one place. Hydration is also the key to a good recovery from lip injections and keeps any other side effects at bay.
Elevation is important to keep fluids from gathering in the treated site and worsening swelling and inflammation. So for a few hours after the injections, your plastic surgeon will advise you to maintain an upright position to allow the filler material and PRP injections to settle in.
Then for the following days, you should avoid sleeping with your face down or on your side since this puts pressure on your lips. You can put extra pillows around you in bed to minimize your movement.
Topical medications like Arnica gel can help stimulate healing during lip injection recovery. This cream has anti-inflammatory properties and is a popular treatment for relieving bruising, swelling, and pain from lip fillers and PRP injections. You can apply the ointment directly on the treated areas for several days until it’s completely healed.
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Bellafill is a cosmetic dermal filler injection that can correct facial wrinkles, fine lines, and tear trough or lower eyelid dark creases. It can also be used for erasing acne scars in some adults. Unlike the popular Restylane and Juvederm fillers which are hyaluronic acid filler injections, Bellafill is made of bovine collagen and PMMA microspheres and has better structural support that can encourage renewed collagen growth.
Because of its composition, Bellafill is a semi-permanent collagen gel filler and some doctors may rarely recommend using this for lip augmentation. Bellafill is a least likely option for lip injections since it can be hard to reverse them when they go wrong, unlike with HA fillers that can be corrected with hyaluronidase injection.
Still, there’s a growing market for Bellafill as a facial filler alternative and here are some of the reasons why it’s becoming popular:
The procedure for injecting Bellafill filler is similar to any other dermal filler treatment. Some of the possible side effects that you may get from Bellafill injections are:
PRP, or platelet-rich plasma, injections is a revolutionary cosmetic procedure for anti-aging and facial rejuvenation. This injectable treatment is effective because it makes use of your own platelet-rich blood cells to stimulate your natural skin healing ability. PRP injections contain growth factors and proteins that accelerate collagen production.
To get PRP injections, your cosmetic surgeon will first draw a blood sample then centrifuge it using a machine to get the platelet-rich plasma. The PRP will then be injected back to your desired treatment areas where it will begin the process of repairing and rejuvenation.
When used for upper lip enhancement, PRP injections encourage cellular turnover to naturally improve the look, shape, and fullness of the lips. Here are the other benefits of using PRP therapy for lip enhancement and cosmetic treatments:
Aside from drawing blood before the injections, there’s nothing different with the procedure for PRP lip treatment and it can cause the same side effects that you can get from dermal fillers like:
Learn More: Are Fillers a Risk Factor for Autoimmune Reactions?
It’s normal to come out of a dermal filler procedure or PRP injection with upper lip swelling but you can greatly minimize the discomfort and risk for complications when you see an experienced provider for your treatment.
Here at Aesthetica, our trained doctors and staff are knowledgeable in the best injection techniques to guarantee your safety and comfort during and after the treatment. Book your consultation with one of our specialists today.
Aesthetica can assist you with all your beauty needs, helping you achieve your maximum beauty and aesthetic potential. Call or contact us today to learn more about our cosmetic services.
