Maximizing Your Lip Filler Results: Essential Pre-and Post-Treatment Instructions for Patients in Fargo, ND

Lip filler augmentation is an exciting beauty procedure that is performed millions of times every year. If you're one of the countless patients looking forward to receiving fuller, younger-looking lips, you may be wondering what you can do to get the most out of your cosmetic lip fillers.

In this guide, we'll walk you through the most important steps you should take to take care of yourself both before and after your lip augmentation procedure.

How to Prepare for Lip Filler Treatment

There are a few common items and actions you'll need to cut down in the weeks and days immediately before your lip care appointment. For starters, you should abstain from popular supplements such as Vitamin E, fish oils, ginkgo biloba, primrose oil, and ginseng starting about two weeks prior to your procedure. However, a standard multivitamin shouldn't be a problem.

During that same time period, you should also avoid taking over-the-counter medications such as aspirin and ibuprofen. These medications thin your blood and can cause complications during your treatment such as bleeding or additional bruising. If you're prone to cold sores, let your beauty care professional know so that you can be given the appropriate medication for your appointment.

Within two days of your dermal filler injection appointment, you should stop using anything in the area of your face that is going to be treated. For example, don't wax your upper lip or apply topical lotions such as Retinol.

Another popular product, Arnica, is one that some patients start taking a couple of days before your appointment in order to decrease the amount of bruising you experience.

Finally, avoid drinking any form of alcohol within 24 hours of your appointment, as alcoholic beverages can increase your chances of bruising or bleeding in the lip area.

What to Do on the Day of Your Procedure

As usual for a medical procedure, be sure to arrive early to make sure you have enough time to get checked in and briefed by your beauty care team. Before you arrive at the clinic, wash your face with a gentle cleanser and keep it completely makeup-free.

Your beauty care professional may apply a topical anesthetic or local numbing medicine in order to make your experience relatively painless. However, as long as your medical professional signs off on it, you can also feel free to take acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol) about an hour before your appointment to take the edge off any discomfort.

With that being said, your lip filler procedure shouldn't last long (sometimes finishing as quickly as half an hour!) and shouldn't cause you a lot of pain. After receiving your lip augmentation treatment, you'll move on to your next steps for lip care.

Why the First Hour Matters

The first 60 minutes after your procedure tends to be the trickiest, at least in terms of how tender the skin around your lip area is. If you didn't take any acetaminophen before your appointment, you can do so afterward if you want to reduce your pain level.You can also use an ice pack or a topical product such as Arnica to treat your lip swelling and reduce potential bruising. 

However, while you can apply the above remedies to your lip, refrain from directly touching the treated area. That includes massaging your lips, as well as picking at or itching the injection site. The discomfort you feel should disappear within a few hours of treatment, if not within three days.

Complications to Watch Out for

Common side effects following a lip filler treatment include:

• Bleeding
• Swelling
• Bruising
• Slight pain, discomfort, and/or itching
• Redness
• Soreness

However, while these side effects are to be expected after your appointment, some complications are more serious.

For example, if you experience excessive bleeding and swelling, develop a fever or chills, or if you feel bumps on the treated area, you should contact either your beauty clinic or your primary care provider. Your medical professional can provide guidance in dealing with these issues.

On the more extreme end of things, signs of a medical emergency include your pain becoming unmanageable with acetaminophen alone and your lips becoming cold or discolored. At that point, it would be most appropriate to see a medical professional in person for assistance.

What to Avoid

While eating and drinking aren't out of the question after your lip filler augmentation, you should keep a few things in mind. Avoid hard, crunchy, or salty snacks such as pretzels and chips within the first few days of your treatment. Instead, opt for soft, chewable foods (especially those high in water content, such as fruit and veggies).

For all the same blood-thinning-related reasons you shouldn't drink any alcohol immediately before your procedure, you should also abstain from alcohol outright for several days after your treatment.

Apart from the food and drink you consume, you should also minimize any activities that could slow down the rate at which your lips heal. For example, resting your face on your bed or using a drinking straw can put pressure on your treated lips, keeping them from healing as quickly. In addition, strenuous exercise immediately after treatment can also lead to bruising.

Also, watch out for smoking (which makes infection likelier to take place) and lip care products (e.g. lipstick and lip gloss can put additional pressure on your lips).

Last of all, try to avoid flying for 2+ weeks after your procedure. The pressure changes that happen during flight can increase swelling and make your lips temporarily puffy in the wrong places.

How to Maintain Your Results

By eating and drinking right and avoiding activities that could make your lips swell and bruise, you'll be giving yourself the best chance of having lovely, full lips that make your face look younger.

If you haven't already, contact your beauty care professional about scheduling a follow-up or touch-up treatment to boost the longevity of your lip filler treatment. Other than the steps outlined above, this is one of the best things you can do to get the most out of your lip augmentation.

Contact Altaire Clinic Today to Schedule a Consult

Are you ready to get the lips you've always dreamed of? Contact Altaire Clinic today so that our friendly staff of board-certified medical professionals can give you the lip enhancement you want, plus any other cosmetic services you've been yearning for!