Swelling and Bruising After Lip Fillers: What You Should Know

Lip fillers are one of the most popular cosmetic procedures for enhancing the shape and fullness of lips. It’s virtually impossible to scroll through social media without seeing a gallery of perky pouts that result from filler injections such as JUVÉDERM® VOLBELLA and Restylane® Silk. What you’re less likely to see, however, is the normal bruising and swelling after lip fillers.

After a lip filler treatment, the body responds by increasing blood flow to the lips, which results in swelling. Bruising can also occur when the filler needle disrupts tiny blood vessels in or around your lips. In this post, we’ll explore what to expect during recovery, a timeline of how these aftereffects typically progress, and effective ways to minimize them.

Lip Filler Swelling Stages: 1 Week Healing Process

1 to 3 Days After Treatment

You may notice some swelling and bruising immediately after your appointment. Bruising appears as purplish spots around the injection sites, and its severity can vary quite a bit, depending on your skin’s sensitivity and your injector’s technique. Swelling often peaks within 48 hours of the appointment.

Day 4 & Beyond

How long do swelling and bruising last after lip fillers? It varies for each patient, but most swelling and bruising diminish about 4 to 5 days after the injections and completely resolve after 1 to 2 weeks.

View more lip filler before-and-after photos in our gallery.

Tips to Reduce Swelling and Bruising

While some swelling and bruising are unavoidable, you can minimize these side effects and ensure a smoother recovery with the following tips.

• Starting a few days before your appointment, take arnica supplements or consume fresh pineapple (which contains bromelain) to minimize the severity of your bruising.
• Avoid using blood thinners for at least a week before and after the treatment. These include medications such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and vitamin E. They can increase the likelihood of bruising. Learn more in our related blog post.
• Drink plenty of water before and after your appointment. It supports your body’s natural healing processes, which can help reduce swelling more quickly.
• Apply cold compresses to the lips for 10 to 15 minutes every few hours on the day of your injections. This will reduce inflammation and constrict blood vessels, minimizing bruising.
• Sleep with your head elevated above your heart for the first few nights to lessen swelling.
• For 24 to 48 hours after your treatment, don’t participate in strenuous exercise or activities that increase blood flow to the face and can worsen swelling and bruising.
• To prevent irritation and further swelling, be gentle with facial movements and do not apply pressure to your lips.

If you’re getting lip fillers for the first time, consulting with an experienced, qualified injector is essential to ensure you get the desired results and minimize side effects such as swelling and bruising. You can discuss your options at The Gill Center by using our online form to request a consultation or by calling us at our practice in The Woodlands, TX, at (281) 853-5308.