After lip fillers or hyaluronic acid filler injections to the lips, we recommend that our patients wait 1 hour before applying anything topically to the lips whether it be lipstick, lip gloss or chapstick. The lip filler injection holes will close in a matter of minutes, but waiting an hour will assure that no infection arises from entry into the ports. After the hour passes, there is no restriction on what kind of lip product can be used or how much can be applied!
Filler used in our Scarless Nose® Medspa is made of hyaluronic acid, which is fully temporary and dissolvable. Hyaluronic acid lip filler injections last about on average 6-9 months, but some patients see effects up to 1-2 years. Lip filler is considered to be a slightly painful injection, so lidocaine -tetracaine numbing cream is administered prior to the treatment in order to help lessen the pain and establish comfort. Dr. Deepak Dugar usually injects filler using a 30G hypodermic needle, which is one of the smallest needs possible in order to minimize pain as well.
Swelling and bruising will likely occur upon injection of filler to the lips, so we always advise our patients to be patient with the healing process. Allow five to seven business days for the bruising and swelling to subside before panicking about the size of your lips. If you feel that the filler is not enough after seven to fourteen days, you are welcome to return to our Medspa for a touch up.
If for some reason fillers need to be dissolved, use of hyaluronic acid will allow for reversal by injection of hyaluronidase. Hyaluronidase is composed of enzymes that will catalyze the breakdown of hyaluronic acid filler. Effects of these enzymes will depend on the areas it is injected in and how much is injected. Sometimes, hyaluronidase begins taking effect within hours, and sometimes it takes at minimum 24 hours to kick in.
However, because injections naturally cause bruising and swelling, we recommend that our patients wait seven days for healing before they assess whether enough hyaluronidase was injected or more product is needed.
