Like any invasive procedure, cosmetic or otherwise, lip filler calls for a proper conversation with your board-certified practitioner about aftercare first. The treatment itself is routine for dermatologists and plastic surgeons, and complications are rare — but the aftercare you follow is what keeps your results safe and beautiful. Injectors do vary their technique from patient to patient, depending on anatomy and the result you want, yet a few guidelines count as the gold standard across the board. So ahead, board-certified plastic surgeons Dr. Samuel Lin and Dr. Steven Williams, along with board-certified dermatologist Dr. Rachel Nazarian, run through 15 things to steer clear of while you recover from lip filler. The article was medically reviewed by Dr. Julia A. Siegel.
The short version first. Skip alcohol and NSAIDs around your appointment to keep bruising down, hold off on kissing, straws and makeup for at least a day, and push dental visits and facial massages back by one to two weeks so nothing disturbs the filler or invites infection.
Meet the Experts
Dr. Samuel Lin is a board-certified plastic surgeon and associate professor of surgery at Harvard Medical School, and co-director of the Harvard Aesthetic and Reconstructive Plastic Surgery Fellowship. Dr. Steven Williams is a board-certified plastic surgeon, Vice President of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, and founder of Tri-Valley Medical Plastic Surgery in San Francisco. Dr. Rachel Nazarian is a board-certified dermatologist and Assistant Clinical Professor at Mount Sinai Hospital Department of Dermatology, and a member of the Byrdie Review Board.
01. General Trauma to the Lips
Dr. Williams advises steering clear of any kind of trauma to your lips right after treatment. Lips are made of sensitive tissue, so trauma covers more than you might think — including biting your lips. Be careful with them while they settle.
02. Eating Foods That Are Too Hot or Too Cold
Dr. Williams also recommends sticking to food at a moderate temperature immediately after the procedure. Food that is too cold or too hot can burn or freeze your lips — and because filler can temporarily change how much feeling you have in your lips, you may not notice the temperature the way you normally would. Spicy or salty food is fine, Dr. Williams notes. Dr. Lin adds that if your lips were numbed for the procedure, it is a good idea to wait until the numbness wears off before eating or drinking.
03. Consuming Alcohol
To keep bruising to a minimum, Dr. Lin says to avoid alcohol for the first 24 to 48 hours after treatment — and ideally for a few days before it, too, for the same reason. Alcohol thins the blood, which can make bruising worse.
04. Taking Pain Relievers
It can be tempting to take an Advil before or after the procedure, but the experts advise against NSAIDs such as ibuprofen or aspirin for the first 24 hours before and after lip injections. These over-the-counter medicines may dull any lingering discomfort, but like alcohol, they thin the blood and can make bruising worse.
05. Using a Straw
Dr. Lin notes that in the first 24 to 48 hours after the procedure, it is best to skip the straw. The pressure and motion involved in sipping through one can distort the filler.
06. Working Out
It is best to avoid intense exercise or activity immediately after the procedure. Dr. Lin says that for the first 24 to 48 hours, patients should skip strenuous activity or exercise — it can raise your heart rate and blood pressure, which may increase swelling and bruising.
07. Putting On Lipstick or Lip Balm
For at least eight hours after treatment, Dr. Williams encourages patients to skip lipstick or lip balm, to lower the chance of infection. Dr. Lin says balm or gloss can go back on as early as 24 hours after filler, as long as it is applied delicately so it does not press too hard on the fresh filler. Your lips may be sensitive, so a plain, bland lip balm is likely to feel most comfortable at first.
08. Applying Makeup
A little less obvious: the experts recommend holding off on any makeup for at least 12 hours after getting lip injections. Makeup can carry bacteria into the healing injection sites, and brushes, sponges and even fingertips can brush against the lips and add pressure you do not want.
09. Sleeping on Your Face
After treatment, Dr. Lin recommends avoiding anything that presses directly on your face, like sleeping face-down into a pillow, so the filler is not displaced while it settles. Dr. Williams suggests giving it up to seven days to be safe. Sleeping with your head raised can also help swelling go down. Dr. Lin adds that once you have healed and your lips feel back to normal, you can go back to using them as you usually would — generally, that takes a matter of days.
10. Kissing
Kissing, like sleeping on your face, can interfere with how the filler settles into your lips, so it should be avoided for at least 24 hours after treatment, according to the experts. And do not forget Dr. Williams’s warning against lip biting.
Byrdie tip: to ease swelling, Dr. Lin suggests ice. A day after lip filler, you will probably still have some swelling and bruising, and you can keep applying ice packs as needed for the swelling and tenderness — for up to seven days, or as long as the swelling lasts.
11. Smoking
Dr. Williams recommends that people considering lip fillers refrain from smoking after treatment. Smoking can narrow the blood vessels and reduce blood supply, and it is generally best avoided after any invasive procedure. For patients who smoke, Dr. Lin recommends stopping for at least a week after treatment — cigarette smoke interferes with healing, and the act of smoking itself can distort the filler.
12. Flying
You may also need to skip air travel after treatment to avoid extra bruising. Dr. Lin recommends holding off on flying for the first week after filler, since the pressure changes on an airplane can make bruising worse.
13. Visiting the Dentist
You will want to avoid scheduling any dental visits after getting lip filler. Dr. Nazarian explains that having dental work done after lip filler is one of the greatest risks — it can cause trauma and infection. The general advice is to wait two weeks after filler before having any dental work done.
14. Booking a Facial Massage
For the same reason, any kind of facial massage — gentle butterfly strokes in the middle of the face or firmer lymphatic drainage sweeps — should be avoided for at least one week after treatment. So be sure to postpone any FaceGym appointments for the time being, and the same goes for Gua sha and even using a jade roller.
15. Gauging Final Results Too Soon
It is tempting to judge your new look right after the procedure, but because of swelling and bruising, it is best to wait at least a week before deciding how the treatment went. Dr. Williams says bruising or swelling can last for several days, but most people can appreciate the final results after seven days.
Dr. Lin says it can sometimes take a little longer before you can judge the final results. It can take up to a month for the filler to fully settle, so your lips may look slightly overfilled two weeks after the procedure. You can expect the results to last up to a year, depending on what type of filler was used — hyaluronic acid-based lip filler lasts about six months to a year, depending on how quickly your body breaks it down.
Both surgeons note that if you have any concerns about the results at any point — even within a month of the injections — you should reach out to your injector. The through-line of all 15 tips is simple: leave your lips alone, keep pressure, heat and blood thinners away, and give the filler time to settle.
