Most patients will not experience any pain after receiving dermal fillers. If you experience any discomfort, such as bruising, swelling, or sensitivity, you can treat them with an ice pack. The vast majority of patients only experience mild bruising and swelling after the filler injection. However, there are two more serious side effects worth mentioning.
Firstly, the filler is a foreign body and can develop an infection. I have seen a chronic infection in two patients who were injected with filler in another office. In both cases it was Juvederm Voluma, a product used on the cheeks. The infection is treatable and treatment involves dissolving the filler, along with antibiotics and steroids to reduce swelling.
Secondly, there is a risk of injection into an artery or vein. If this occurs in a vessel that irrigates the skin, the overlying skin will turn dark or spotty. Without treatment, the skin could develop a wound. If injected into an artery or vein in the vessels around the eye, the possible result is blindness.
Fortunately, this complication is very rare. In my practice, I only use Radiesse or Restylane Lyft on my cheeks. I haven't seen chronic infections develop with any of these products. It is essential that any serious filling complication be recognized immediately and properly treated. In my office, we have an emergency kit and treatment instructions available in case of such an event. The lips are one of the most sensitive areas of the body, so an injectable anesthetic can be used first.
But frosting is usually sufficient, especially since many of the most commonly used fillers, such as Restylane and Juvéderm, already contain mixed lidocaine. Even before that time, it is essential to find a board-certified dermatologist with extensive experience in the specific treatment. Both the placement and the amount of product used will make a difference in the procedure itself and in the result. If the lips are too full, it can hurt a lot. The injection itself feels like a splinter, but if done correctly, the pain should go away immediately.
Your lips may swell a little for a few hours after the procedure. It can be a little unsettling, but it should never be painful. The next day, you will return to normal and the swelling should completely disappear after about a week. Pain, redness, or itching at the injection site is also normal and should be mild.
If you experience severe pain, redness or itching, or pain outside the lip area, see your doctor. This can lead to permanent pigmentary changes in the skin, so it's not the filler that will be affected, but rather the bruising as a result of the filler. If you are taking blood thinners, your risk of bruising is higher after the filler injection, but you can still safely inject the filler. Swelling or bruising outside the lip area, or extreme swelling and bruising that lasts more than a week could be signs of an allergic reaction to the filler. The most popular dermal fillers for lips include hyaluronic acid, a gentle gel-like substance that plumps and moisturizes. If you are immunocompromised, you have a higher risk of infection after the filler injection and you should discuss this with your primary care doctor before considering filling.
