Lip filler aftercare: what to do (and avoid) day by day
Swelling, tenderness and the odd bruise are a normal part of lip filler, and most of it settles within the first week. Here’s what to expect, and what helps.
Day by day
Day 1
The first 24 hours
Your lips will feel swollen, tender and a little firm, and may look uneven. Small bruises are common. All of this is normal.
- Hold a cold compress or an ice pack wrapped in a clean cloth against your lips for a few minutes at a time. Never put ice straight on your skin.
- Don’t touch, press or massage your lips unless I’ve asked you to.
- No lip make-up for 24 hours. [[ASK: is a plain, unscented lip balm fine, and from when?]]
- Avoid hot drinks, spicy food and alcohol.
- Avoid strenuous exercise, saunas, steam rooms and sunbeds.
Days 2–3
Peak swelling
Swelling is often at its most noticeable now, especially when you first wake up, and your lips may look bigger, lumpier or less even than they will in the end. Keep using a cold compress if it helps, and don’t judge your result yet. Still no kissing or straws until 48 hours have passed.
Days 4–14
Settling
Swelling eases over the first week, and small lumps usually soften and settle within two weeks. Don’t massage your lips unless I’ve shown you how and asked you to. By about two weeks you’ll see the shape your lips will keep.
Alcohol, exercise, sunbeds and flying
- Alcohol: avoid it for 24 hours. It can make swelling and bruising worse.
- Exercise: avoid strenuous exercise for 24 hours. A gentle walk is fine.
- Sun, sunbeds and heat: avoid sunbeds, saunas, steam rooms and strong sun for at least 24 hours, and until any swelling and redness have settled.
- Flying: there’s no fixed rule. If you have a flight booked in the first few days, mention it at your consultation, and we can plan your appointment for a week when you’re not travelling.
Sleeping and kissing
Sleep on your back with your head slightly raised for the first night or two, so you’re not pressing on your lips. No kissing for 48 hours, and avoid straws for the same time, because both press on your lips.
Make-up, facials and dental work
Leave lip make-up off for 24 hours. Avoid facials for 48 hours. Avoid dental treatment for two weeks after lip filler; if you have a dental appointment coming up, tell me when you book.
Pain relief and arnica
If you need pain relief and can normally take it, paracetamol is usually fine: follow the packet. If you can, avoid ibuprofen and aspirin for the first 48 hours, because they can make bruising worse, but never stop aspirin or any other medicine you’ve been prescribed without speaking to whoever prescribed it. Some people use arnica for bruising; the evidence for it is limited, and please don’t put anything on your lips in the first 24 hours without asking me.
Cold sores
If you feel a cold sore coming in the days after treatment, message me. Your pharmacist can advise on what to use, and I’ll want to keep an eye on how your lips are healing.
When to contact me immediately
Contact me straight away [[ASK Q27: add “day or night” only if the aftercare number is answered out of hours]] if you notice any of these after a filler or skin booster treatment: skin that turns white, pale or patchy, or a mottled, blue-grey or dusky colour; pain that is severe or getting worse instead of better; skin that feels cold to the touch; or blisters or scabs forming over an area in the days afterwards.
Call 999 straight away if you notice any change in your eyesight, signs of a stroke (the face drooping on one side, weakness in an arm, slurred speech), swelling of your lips, tongue or throat, or difficulty breathing. For anything else that worries you and you can’t reach me, call NHS 111.
- Signs of infection. Contact me the same day if redness, heat, swelling or pain gets worse after the first two or three days instead of better, if there’s any discharge, or if you feel feverish or unwell. If you can’t reach me, call NHS 111.
- Signs of an allergic reaction. Call 999 if your lips, tongue or throat swell quickly or you have any difficulty breathing.
- Lumps that don’t settle after two weeks, or swelling that comes back weeks later: message me and we’ll look at it together.
You can report a suspected side effect to the MHRA through the Yellow Card scheme.
Your review appointment
[[ASK: Q-B9]]
[[ASK Q-B9: e.g. “I offer a review at about two weeks, once the swelling has settled, so we can check your result together. It’s included in your treatment price.”]]
Written by Adrianne Hunt, [[ASK: role as on certificate, Q9]] · Reviewed [[ASK: date she approves the page]]
Questions after your appointment?
Message me any time. If something doesn’t feel right, I’d always rather hear from you.