How to Prepare for Lip Fillers: Everything You Need to Know Before Getting Filler

While some people may be wondering how to prepare to achieve the best results if they are getting dermal fillers. This guide will go over everything you might want to know before you visit your dermatologist, including how to find a good practitioner, what to expect during the procedure, and aftercare tips.

Key Takeaways:

For best results, stick to a trained and experienced practitioner.
Be aware of the possible side effects and how to reduce them.
Follow pre-treatment instructions to reduce bruising and swelling.
Know what to expect on the day of the lip filler treatment and in recovery.
All you need to know about aftercare for optimal healing and longevity of results

Choosing a practitioner

To achieve beautiful outcomes is to identify the right practitioner. A good injector knows how to sculpt symmetry and avoid overfilling.

At Harley Street Skin Clinic, our trained professionals apply high-quality fillers to achieve volume without giving a fake look. To ensure you remain safe and leave feeling confident our practitioners has:

Hold a medical degree and are General Medical Council (GMC) registered.
Testimonials from our patients, images from before and after the treatments.
Our amazing injector will go through the whole process with you, discuss your goals and what to expect.

Pre-treatment considerations

Here’s what to know before getting lip fillers, the potential side effects and what the results look like. While safe, and most lip fillers patients have a very few side effects, the most common include:

Mild swelling and bruising
Redness or sensitivity that is only temporary
Tendency of unevenness which can be adjusted

Inform your doctor about allergies or medical conditions before receiving fillers.

Exploring your desired lip shape

Your practitioner will advise you on which option is best for the shape of your face. Some popular lip shapes are:

Full and natural lips: Adds more volume to keep it even.
Heart shaped lips: Highlights the V-shape on the upper lip for enhanced definition.
Pouty lips: Plumps only the middle of the lips.
Balanced lips: Resizes proportions for more even appearance.

1 week prior

Avoid aspirin, ibuprofen or fish oil to reduce bruising.
Stay hydrated to keep your lips moisturised.
Avoid the alcohol, which can thin blood and increase any swelling.

1-2 days before

Caffeine also makes you more sensitive so avoid it.
Do not apply topical products for waxing or bleaching, or use hair removal cream to the area around it.
Skip dental work to keep bacteria out of the area.
Exfoliate and hydrate your lips to keep them soft and supple.

The day of treatment

Arrive with a clean, makeup and skin care-free face.
Eat a light meal.
Take supplements that have been prescribed to you to help with bruising.

The lip filler procedure

This is a very quick and easy process that would take about 30-45 mins approximately:

The practitioner discusses your goals and examines your lips. Your doctor will explain the nature of fillers to use (Hyaluronic acid filler, collagen fillers or fat transfer) before starting the procedure.
A topical anesthetic containing benzocaine, lidocaine and tetracaine (known by its acronym BLT) is used.
During the procedure, the provider will inject lip filler into the top (corners) and the bottom, into the Cupid’s bow and the vermillion border into multiple layers of the lip. While the needle goes only about 2.5 millimeters into the skin, you will feel a bit of a stinging sensation. But it is a mostly painless process. Typically, 1 milliliter of filler is used to augment your lips.
Your provider will gently massage your lips to help the filler absorb better after injecting it. You may also use an ice pack application to control swelling and bruising.

Recovery and Aftercare

Avoid touching or rubbing your lips for 24 hours.
Hydrate properly and apply a soft lip balm on your lips.
Avoid any high-impact exercise for 24 to 48 hours to minimise swelling.
Apply an ice pack to reduce bruising.
Sleep with the head elevated to reduce puffiness.
The majority of the swelling should resolve within 2 to 3 days, and final results will show in about two weeks after treatment.

Do lip injections hurt?

Everyone experiences a different pain, but many say it feels like a gentle pinching or pressure.

Will lips swell or bruise after lip fillers?

Yes, some swelling and limited bruising is normal and should resolve in two to three days. Cold packs and certain supplements can reduce these effects.

Tips for minimising discomfort

Take acetaminophen for pain.
Do not consume hard or hot beverages and avoid chili dishes for 24 hours.
Drink lots of water and eat vitamin-rich foods, these will help the healing process.