Lip filler aftercare: day 1, day 3, day 14

Lips swell after filler. That is the body reacting to the needle and the gel, and it passes. What you do in the days that follow decides how fast the lips settle into their final look.

Lip filler uses hyaluronic acid, a substance the body already has. Unlike botulinum toxin, the gel does not travel with blood flow. What needs managing in the first hours is swelling, inflammation and bruising. That is what the rules are for.

What not to do

Pressing or massaging the lips in the first 24 to 48 hours. The gel is still settling in and pressure can shift it. No squeezing, biting or massaging. Smoking creates suction, and a hard kiss creates pressure. Both wait.

Lipstick or lip makeup in the first 4 to 6 hours. The injection points are small wounds. Cosmetics on top raise the chance of irritation. After that, with a light touch.

Alcohol in the first 24 hours. It widens the vessels and adds bruising.

Hard exercise in the first 24 to 48 hours. More blood, more pressure, more swelling. Walking is fine. Running, heavy training or contact sports wait 48 hours.

Intense heat for 48 hours. Sauna, steam room, long sun, very hot baths. Protect the lips with a balm with SPF.

Dental work for 2 weeks. Cleanings, extractions, whitening, anything that puts pressure around the mouth. If you have a dental emergency, tell the dentist you have had filler.

Ice straight on the skin. It burns and is not needed. Cold, yes, wrapped in a cloth.

Anti-inflammatories without a reason. Ibuprofen and aspirin add bruising. If you need something, paracetamol. Omega-3, vitamin E and ginkgo: ideally stop 48 to 72 hours before and restart once the swelling has gone.

What to do

Drink water. Hyaluronic acid binds water and hydration helps the gel settle. For the first two nights, sleep on your back with your head slightly raised; one extra pillow is enough. From 4 to 6 hours on, a plain unscented balm keeps the lips hydrated. If the swelling bothers you, cold wrapped in a cloth, 10 minutes at a time.

And come to the review at two weeks. That is where volume, symmetry and any touch-up are assessed.

The calendar, day by day

First 4 hours. The lips look bigger than agreed. That is swelling on top of the volume. There may be a red dot where the needle went in. No touching, no makeup, no alcohol.

Hours 4 to 48. Peak swelling. The lips may look uneven or bumpy. Normal. A small bruise is possible and lasts 5 to 10 days. No exercise, no alcohol, no heat.

Days 3 to 7. The swelling comes down. The lips start to look like yours. From day 3, moderate exercise. From day 5, makeup and skincare without restrictions.

Day 14. Swelling gone, gel settled, this is the result. Review: volume, symmetry and a touch-up if needed.

What is normal, and when to call

In the first days, normal means: clear swelling in the first 48 hours, asymmetry while the swelling is still up, small bruises at the injection points, a feeling of firmness or small bumps, tenderness to the touch.

Contact the clinic if you get:

• Strong pain that grows instead of easing.
• A pale, white or bluish patch on the lip. Rare and urgent: it can be a compressed vessel. Call straight away.
• Very large or very uneven swelling after day 3, with no sign of improving.
• Fever, local heat, pus.
• A firm, painful lump after two weeks.

At Cosmo Clinic, the two-week review is part of the treatment. Between the session and the review, any doubt is answered by message or call. Details and the price are on the lip filler page.