Injectables Aftercare
Dermal Filler Aftercare
Congrats on your filler treatment! One thing to know up front: swelling is part of the early filler experience — especially in the lips. How you look in the first few days is not your final result, so try not to judge it too soon.
Your treatment was customized to your skin, treatment area, device settings, and medical history. These instructions are general guidance and do not replace the individualized instructions from your treating provider. If the instructions we gave you at your appointment differ from anything here, follow your provider's instructions or contact us for clarification.
If something doesn't look or feel right, please reach out — photos are often helpful.
What to Expect
Common early effects include:
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Tenderness
- Redness at the injection sites
- Mild temporary firmness or lumpiness
These usually improve over several days and can occasionally take a couple of weeks to fully resolve.
What To Do
- Use a clean, cool compress in short intervals if needed.
- Sleep with your head slightly elevated the first night if swelling is significant.
- Keep the area clean.
- Use gentle skincare.
- Follow any area-specific instructions your injector gave you.
What NOT To Do
- Don't massage, press, or manipulate your filler unless your injector specifically told you to.
- Avoid strenuous exercise, significant heat, and alcohol until the next day if possible — these can worsen early swelling or bruising.
- Do not stop aspirin, anticoagulants, antiplatelet medication, or any prescribed medication just because you had filler. Medication changes should come from the clinician who manages that medication.
The Healing Timeline
Swelling is usually most noticeable. Lips can look considerably fuller than the final result.
Swelling and bruising generally decrease.
Most HA filler has settled enough for a meaningful evaluation.
Some products and areas may take a little longer.
Important: Signs of a Possible Vascular Complication
A vascular occlusion is rare, but it's the filler complication to recognize quickly.
Contact us immediately if you develop:
- Significant or unusual pain — especially pain that's increasing
- Skin that becomes pale, white, gray, blue, dusky, or unusually mottled
- Skin that feels unusually cool
- Rapidly worsening discoloration
Seek immediate emergency care
Vision loss, blurred/double vision, a severe sudden headache, facial drooping, difficulty speaking, weakness/numbness, confusion, or other stroke-like symptoms. The FDA specifically instructs patients to seek immediate medical attention for unusual pain, vision changes, white/gray/blue skin, or signs of stroke after dermal filler.
Other Reasons to Contact Us
Also let us know about increasing warmth/redness, drainage, fever, a painful enlarging lump, a cold-sore outbreak after lip treatment, or swelling that starts unexpectedly days or weeks after it initially settled.
Common Questions
How long does lip filler swelling last?
Swelling is usually most noticeable in the first 0–2 days and lips can look much fuller than the final result. Most swelling and bruising settle over 3–7 days, with meaningful results by 1–2 weeks.
What are the warning signs after filler?
Increasing or unusual pain, skin turning pale/white/gray/blue, or skin that feels unusually cool can signal a vascular occlusion — contact us immediately. Vision changes, severe headache, or stroke-like symptoms require emergency care.
Book Your Free Follow-Up
We'd love to see how you're healing, take progress photos, and map out your next steps. Great skin is usually a series, not a single visit — a check-in keeps you on track.
Questions? Text or call (425) 215-1727 — photos are always welcome.