Are you planning to get lip fillers for the first time, but not sure what to expect? Unlike other complicated cosmetic procedures, lip fillers are pretty straightforward and you’ll be out and about at the medical spa in as little as 30 minutes.
To help you prepare for your upcoming treatment, we’ve discussed here what to know before lip fillers and what you can expect after.
What to know before getting lip fillers?
Before lip fillers, make sure you’re fully aware of the following facts first. As they say, it’s important to set realistic expectations when getting cosmetic treatments.
1. The right provider will make a big difference.
Before anything else, ask yourself, where are you getting the lip injections?
If your chosen clinic doesn’t have an online presence or has shady credentials, run before it’s too late.
Take note that the success of your lip fillers highly depends on the expertise and experience of the provider. Overall, you’d want to get the treatment in a med spa with years of experience and good reviews.
2. It will not look perfect right away.
Why do lip fillers look so bad after the treatment? Before you panic, you should know that this is totally normal.
Your body needs some time to recover from the injection and to adjust to the lip filler substance. Give it a few days and you’ll start seeing your lips becoming plump and pouty.
However, you shouldn’t be too complacent either. In some instances, inexperienced injectors may ‘overfill’, which gives the lips the ‘sausage’ appearance.
Again, as we’ve mentioned earlier, choosing the best lip injector will make a world of difference in your results.
3. It entails some preparations.
Before lip injections, your provider will also advise you about some preparations needed before the treatment.
What to do before lip fillers include staying hydrated, avoiding blood-thinning medications, and steering clear of any caffeinated or alcoholic drinks.
In general, preparing for lip fillers depends on your overall health condition, the type of filler you’re getting, and the level of enhancements you want. It’s best to consult with your provider about this to ensure that you’re all set for your appointment.
4. Mild side effects may occur.
When it comes to lip filler for beginners, one thing that providers emphasize is that mild side effects are normal.
Right after your treatment, your lips will be slightly swollen, tender, and reddish. For some, minor bruising may also occur, which will resolve on its own in about a week or two.
Knowing what to do before getting lip fillers can help minimize these side effects. For example, you should stop taking blood-thinning medications to reduce the risk of bruising.
However, if the side effects aren’t going away for weeks or getting worse by the day, you should call your provider immediately. While rare, complications may occur, especially if the injector isn’t experienced or if you have an underlying condition that interfered with the treatment.
5. Aftercare can make or break the results
The process of getting pouty lips doesn’t stop after getting your injections. You still need to follow a proper aftercare routine to ensure that your lips will heal and the lip filler substance won’t migrate to the surrounding areas.
As much as you have to know what to do before lip injections, you should also be aware of what comes after. Here are a few aftercare reminders to help you:
- Avoid touching the treatment area. You should avoid applying pressure or massaging your treated lips for the first 24 hours after your session. Simply allow the filler to settle and for the swelling to subside.
- Avoid strenuous exercise. After your treatment, get some needed rest and avoid doing any physical activity that will increase blood flow to your face. This way, the dermal fillers will settle faster and swelling will not worsen.
- Limit heat exposure. Heat can make your lip swelling worse, so make sure you stay out of the sun as much as possible. Also, skip saunas, hot baths, steam rooms, and the like for at least 2 days.
- Be patient. Is lip filler worth it? Yes, if you’re willing to wait. Let nature take its course and you’ll start to see the full result of your lip injections in about 1 to 2 weeks.
Conclusion
Your first time with lip fillers will be more worthwhile if you have the right preparation and knowledge of what to expect. Overall, it’s always best to consult with your provider to know what you need to do based on your desired results and budget.
And if you find the above intimidating, you can also explore lip filler alternatives to see which works best for you. You can also consider lip masks or topical plumpers if you want to test the waters first.
We hope that this post answers your question about what to know about lip injections. By knowing what to expect, you’ll be more confident and relaxed about your upcoming appointment.