Causes of swelling after lip augmentation procedure
The causes of swelling following manipulation with the introduction of hyaluronic filler into the mucous membrane of the lips can be physiological or explained by a complicating pathology. A local reaction to a synthetic substance follows. With the lowest content of allergenic components, the body “calms down” and takes the drug. Therefore, it is important to individually select the best option. Hyaluronic acid, when injected, penetrates the intercellular space and stimulates the production of collagen and elastin.
To create additional volume, synthetic drugs are used. Cosmetology has abandoned fillers made from animal tissue due to the increased risk of allergies. Excessive adverse reactions often occur if contraindications are not taken into account during manipulation. The use of injection contouring is strictly prohibited against the background of:
- acute infectious disease;
- any oncological processes, autoallergic and endocrine diseases;
- unclear increase in body temperature;
- existing inflammation of the skin of the face, herpes on the lips;
- pregnancy and lactation;
- decreased blood clotting;
- course of treatment with antibiotics, Aspirin-based medications, vitamins.
The duration of swelling after lip augmentation is affected by the functioning of the kidneys and cardiovascular system. With increased capillary permeability and fragility of the vascular wall, water leaves the bloodstream and rushes into the tissue. In women during menstruation, blood loss contributes to fluid retention, so the procedure is temporarily not recommended.
Pathological causes include:
- incompetent injection by a doctor, violation of the technique, excessive injury;
- infection with a violation of sterility (dangerous during a home procedure);
- incorrect calculation and administration of too much drug;
- hypersensitivity to filler components;
- neglect by the patient to follow the rules of preparation and care.
Allergy
The contradiction in this phrase is that hyaluronic acid is close to its natural composition, and artificial filler may turn out to be cleaner than “natural” options. And yet allergies can happen:
- You are generally allergic, you have reactions to medications, pain relief and some injections.
- Most often, allergies manifest themselves in the form of hives.
- You have suffered from Quincke's edema (a rapid allergic reaction of internal organs to certain allergens).
In these cases, there is a high probability that the filler will not suit you and you should refuse lip augmentation even in your dreams. But you can check this for sure by consulting an allergist. Expert information is always better than guesswork and unnecessary risk.
How long does swelling last after lip augmentation?
The most acceptable fillers for the body with hyaluronic acid, as a “related” substance, cause swelling after lip augmentation in response to mechanical compression and hypersensitivity. In the absence of complications, it disappears on its own after 2–5 days. In people with low skin regenerative abilities, the process is delayed for 7–10 days.
A long period is considered normal if the manipulation used drugs with a high concentration of hyaluronic acid (for example, Juvederm Ultra 3, 4, Sculptra, AestheFill) or those with the ability to retain fluid (Ziderm, Surgiderm). When working with low- and medium-viscosity fillers, the doctor pays attention to undesirable reactions and suggests measures to eliminate the causes.
Prevention
Is it possible to avoid complications? As reviews and comments from doctors show, side effects can be prevented in a number of cases:
Choosing a doctor and clinic. This is the most important step. You will not be able to issue a refund for a “low-quality” procedure, so you should not trust fancy advertising and promotions. Even if you prove that the specialist was wrong, you will have to fray your nerves and lose a lot of time and money on treatment and lawyers. Consultation with a cosmetologist - honestly tell us about all allergies, the presence of hidden and chronic sores, special conditions (pregnancy, abnormalities, etc.). In turn, the specialist is obliged to warn about all adverse reactions. Find out what drug you are offered for correction and read the instructions before the procedure. If they are ready to give you an increase with your drug or are offered several different brands, this is a reason to be wary. Maintaining sterility and technology. Disposable syringes and gloves were mentioned above. After the injections, the cosmetologist kneads the lips so that the hyaluronic acid can disperse well and not roll into balls
This is important for dense and “long-lasting” textures. The procedure may not seem very pleasant, but it will help avoid offensive consequences. Recommendations for care after lip augmentation (the first days without makeup, going to the baths, sunbathing and solarium, do not drink alcohol, salty, spicy, spicy foods that cause swelling, delicate moisturizing and nourishing the problem area)
Many problems can be solved if you abstain from “dangerous” activities for several days and do not violate the “recovery regime”.
It’s good if your lip augmentation experience turns out to be easy and goes away with minimal discomfort. Many girls believe that if they had complete information about the procedure, they would be unlikely to agree to it again with the same specialist. And if you want to make your lips attractive and voluminous, then you simply must weigh the pros and cons so that you can be proud of your investment in beauty, and not regret the money spent.
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How to remove swelling from lips after lip augmentation?
Swelling after lip augmentation with hyaluronic acid is associated with a reaction not only to the base of the drug, but also to additional components of the filler. Therefore, the doctor selects special fillers for contouring of the area and does not use other combined agents indicated for mesotherapy or biorevitalization. Optimal fillers should not contain:
- amino acid complexes, carotenoids from seaweed (“Hialripayer”, “Meso-Xanthine F199”);
- animal components;
- stem cells (“Mezovarton”).
The purpose of measures that relieve swelling:
- elimination of allergies;
- suppression of the inflammatory response;
- strengthening blood vessels and fighting hematomas.
To accelerate the disappearance of edema, the following rules must be followed:
- Injection sites become infected by touching hands, so for several days it is forbidden to touch the mouth area or use scrubs.
- It is possible to reduce blood flow to the face and swelling by maintaining a forced position on your back while sleeping. It is not recommended to sleep on your stomach or side.
- Great importance is attached to nutrition. You will have to exclude from your diet all foods containing salt and hot sauces (salted and smoked fish, meat products, cheeses). You cannot drink strong coffee, tea, or alcoholic beverages. Cooked dishes should have a temperature no higher than 38 degrees. Hot food increases blood flow in the mouth and increases swelling.
The simplest way is to use cold compresses immediately after the procedure and during the first day (hold for 5 minutes 4-5 times a day). From the second day, rubbing with a warm decoction of herbs (chamomile, calendula, sage) is allowed.
Taking antihistamines (Diphenhydramine, Suprastin, Loratadine) helps eliminate allergic reactions. Doctors recommend taking 1 tablet in the morning on the appointed day before the procedure.
If the cause of swelling is an excess amount of the drug, then in extreme cases, a drug with the enzyme hyaluronidase is administered. The procedure is undesirable, since premature destruction of hyaluronic acid will begin, and the duration of the filler will be shortened.
You can additionally read how to eliminate swelling in the article “How long does it take for swelling to subside after lip augmentation?”
Treatment of complications after fillers
Any deterioration in health or appearance at the sites of filler injection is a reason to visit a cosmetologist. Complications during the recovery period are rarely recorded, but if something like this happens, you cannot cope without qualified medical care.
Infectious processes
Manifested by redness of the skin, increased local surface temperature
dermis, pain and swelling. Such a pathology can only be treated under the supervision of a doctor, because it will be necessary to find out the cause of the problem and select an effective antibiotic.
Antibacterial therapy can last 3–15 days, which depends on the timeliness of contacting a doctor.
It is strictly forbidden to use folk remedies when the first signs of progression of the infectious process appear! Any lotions, compresses and ointments based on medicinal plants (even if they are “pharmaceutically produced”) will only aggravate the situation. As a result, scars may form at the injection sites of fillers.
Edema
You can cope with this complication yourself at home. It is enough to apply cold compresses to the affected areas of the face (every 2 hours). If fillers were injected into the lip area, then manual massage will be effective against swelling. It is performed with the tips of the fingers, the movements are standard, but without pinching or sudden “tearing off”. Manipulation should be carried out 2-3 times a day; too much pressure should not be applied to the skin.
To reduce the intensity of swelling, you need to give up salty, pickled and spicy dishes/foods for the first days of the recovery period. They retain fluid in the body and can cause the problem to spread widely.
Lip massage
Recommendations for quickly getting rid of edema can only be applied if there are no signs of inflammation or an infectious process. If swelling is accompanied by severe redness of the skin and general malaise, you should first consult a specialist.
Hematomas
The formation of bruises is considered normal during the recovery period after the injection of fillers, if they are not extensive. In this case, you can use specific medications that accelerate the rapid resorption of the hematoma. These include any heparin-based ointment, “Rescuer” gel.
It is strictly not recommended to use bodyaga powder against hematomas, although it is positioned as a folk remedy for resolving bruises.
The fact is that the powder is prepared from a plant, which is a “set” of tiny needles - they are invisible to the naked eye, but have an aggressive effect on the skin. Considering that after a cosmetic procedure the skin becomes overly sensitive, the needles will be too aggressive for it.
Bodyaga powder will provoke irritation of dermal cells, a rush of blood through the vessels and, as a result, the formation of edema can be expected.
If the hematoma is too large and a lump is felt in the area where it is located, then local medications will not help. You need to seek help from a cosmetologist, who will open the pathological focus and clean the cavity from accumulated blood.
Moving the Gel
If the procedure was performed incorrectly, or the patient himself did not follow the rules of behavior and skin care during the recovery period, then migration of the gel is possible - the “hyaluronic acid” does not spread evenly and the face either “creeps” or rises. This problem can only be solved with the help of a doctor who will inject the enzyme hyaluronidase subcutaneously. It promotes rapid resorption of the filler and its removal from the body.
If the migration of the gel was insignificant, then you can simply wait until the gel resolves on its own and is redistributed.
Seals, the appearance of blue spots around the injection sites of fillers, disruption of general well-being - all these complications should be treated only in tandem with specialists.
Watch this video about how the procedure for removing excess hyaluronic acid with hyaluronidase goes:
When to see a doctor if your lips are swollen
If swelling lasts longer than 10 days and is accompanied by pain and redness of the surrounding skin, then you should contact the cosmetologist who performed the procedure. An examination will help determine the cause and select treatment. Repeated consultation is necessary if dense lumps persist at the injection sites, or asymmetry in the shape of the lips.
Useful tips
To avoid serious complications and shorten the rehabilitation period, it is important to adhere to the following recommendations regarding the preparatory period:
- Do not take blood thinning drugs; It is forbidden to drink alcohol a couple of days before lip augmentation; You should not give injections during menstruation.
Subsequently, the following conditions must be met:
- you need to protect yourself from sunlight; before going outside in hot weather, you should lubricate your lips with hygienic balm; you should not go to the bathhouse and touch your lips with dirty hands; You should not engage in active sports in the first days after the procedure; chapping of the skin should not be allowed; For a couple of weeks you need to forget about lipstick.
What should you not do after lip augmentation?
To prevent infection after filler injections you need to:
- For the first 24 hours, avoid any touching or pressure with your hands;
- apply the gel carefully;
- do not use decorative cosmetics (lipstick, lip gloss).
Patient regimen includes:
- after injections into the inner surface of the lips, you should not eat hot or hard food to prevent injury;
- It is undesirable to sleep in the usual position on your stomach, with your face buried in a pillow, as this will delay the outflow of fluid from the face area;
- other anti-aging procedures (peeling, masks) are allowed after a month, but are carried out without pre-heating the skin;
- A planned visit to the dentist will have to be postponed for 1–2 months.
How long after can you eat after lip augmentation?
Eating non-hot food is allowed on the second day after the procedure. Products irritate the lip mucosa and interfere with healing.
Is it possible to play sports after lip augmentation?
It is better to take a break from visiting the pool and fitness club for 2-3 weeks. Strenuous training and physical activity stimulate blood circulation; exercise in a supine position increases blood flow to the head. Contact with water increases the risk of infection.
Is it possible to smoke cigarettes after lip augmentation?
A cigarette is a strong mechanical and chemical irritant. Smoking prematurely destroys the effect of increasing volume and reduces the effect of hyaluronic acid.
Is it possible to drink alcohol after lip augmentation?
The ban on alcohol is caused by its ability to increase blood pressure and irritate the oral cavity and mucous membranes of the lips.
Is it possible to stretch lips after lip augmentation?
Kneading is carried out only by the doctor immediately after the procedure. It is necessary to achieve uniform distribution of the filler. Patients are strictly prohibited from receiving any type of massage. Inexperience causes infection and asymmetry of shape.
Is it possible to kiss after lip augmentation procedure?
During a kiss, mechanical pressure occurs on the lips, contact with the saliva of another person. Therefore, to prevent risk, it is better to give up kissing for 2 weeks, until the swelling goes down and the sensation of a foreign body disappears.
Is it possible to sunbathe or go to a solarium after lip augmentation procedure?
Using ultraviolet light in moderation helps support immunity. Tanning involves increased exposure to the sun to produce a darker skin color. Natural and artificial forcing is not beneficial for any person. The technique has a particularly negative effect on the effectiveness of cosmetic manipulations. Therefore, you should plan a vacation at sea taking into account the selected period of lip augmentation manipulation. Sunlight and heat reduce the duration of the effect of fillers.
Contour plastic surgery with fillers is not a cheap procedure. It is in the patient’s interests to ensure a long-lasting effect, quick recovery and a minimum of negative sensations. You cannot hide your illnesses from the doctor and risk your well-being.
How to disguise bruises and hematomas
No woman likes to walk around with bruises on her lips. Therefore, girls try to hide defects under foundation. A cosmetic pencil will help disguise a bruise.
When painting, it is worth considering the tone of the corrective agent and the color of the bruise. So, an orange tint will help against cyanosis, and green will hide red spots. Light purple hematomas are best tinted yellow. Upon completion, you should retouch the skin with powder.
#10 prohibitions when swelling occurs
After increased lip plumpness performed by contour surgery, the following measures cannot be carried out until the skin tissue is restored:
- professional and other massages of various types, unless they are recommended by a specialist;
- touching your lips with your hands and near them;
- heavy physical activity;
- going to baths, saunas, staying in a solarium, training in a gym, fitness club;
- drinking strong alcoholic drinks;
- smoking to avoid infection in the injection area;
- use of decorative cosmetics;
- use of scrubs and peelings;
- waxing;
- visits to the dentist in the first 14 days after injections.
You should avoid kissing for this time and forever give up the habit of biting or licking your upper or lower lip. This will only increase swelling and cause bruising.
Helps relieve swelling in a timely manner and minimize the contact of damaged skin with food, since it prevents the provocation of unnecessary irritation and infection.
Do not epilate this area if your lips are swollen. It is also worth holding off on visiting the dentist.
Dermatologist Emily Altman
