Last year, surgeons performed more than 30,000 lip augmentations in the US alone. And in the UK, the amount of Google searches for lip fillers has increased tenfold since 2012. This much is clear: Lip enhancements are more popular than ever before.
Many people enjoy lip enhancements because the procedure is fast, low-stress, and non-invasive. But that doesn’t mean it’s free of complications. After the procedure, you can expect uncomfortable and unsightly swelling.
If you want to know how to reduce swelling after lip injections, look no further. This aftercare guide contains tips to alleviate swelling and improve the appearance of your lips.
How to Reduce Swelling After Lip Injections
Swelling is a normal symptom after lip fillers. Although it’s uncomfortable, there’s nothing to fear. But if you want to reduce swelling and speed up the healing process, you have several options.
Here are 7 important tips to reduce swelling after lip injections.
1. Don’t Touch
Swelling is at its worst right after the procedure. You might also experience itching or tenderness along your lips.
But don’t touch. Rubbing or scratching the inflamed area will irritate the skin and make matters worse. Plus, it can lead to healing complications.
Instead of aggravating the area, rely on pain medication to reduce tenderness. This won’t be necessary after the first few days.
2. Put It on Ice
Whenever and wherever swelling occurs, ice is your best friend. Your surgeon will likely give you ice following the procedure. It’s an essential way to minimize swelling in the first hours after treatment.
But why does ice help? Swelling is caused by a large presence of blood in the surrounding area. The ice chills the affected skin, which reduces the blood flow and swelling intensity.
Take care not to apply ice to your lips for too long. Although it’s helpful, too much cold can damage your lips.
Put the ice on and off throughout the span of an hour. This should reduce swelling in your lips or at least curtail it from getting worse.
3. Stay Hydrated
Hydration is key following any surgical procedure. It’s even more crucial for dermal fillers, which draw water to the treatment area. If you’re dehydrated, the treatment won’t give you the best results.
But water is also helpful in promoting repair and reducing inflammation. Proper hydration ensures your body will have an easier time directing fluids.
Drinking a glass of water won’t immediately make the swelling less noticeable. It will, however, aid the recovery process, which means your lips will be swollen for a shorter duration of time.
4. Keep Elevated
Keep your head up! And I don’t mean it metaphorically. Alongside ice, elevation can work wonders to reduce blood flow and swelling.
But your head is always elevated, right? Not always. Think about your posture while you lounge on the couch or the bed.
The rule of thumb is to keep the swollen area above your heart. To do this, keep yourself propped up on pillows while you sleep. And while you’re awake, avoid slouching or other bad posture that can send more blood to your swollen lips.
5. Avoid Common Irritants
It’s time to give your lips a break. They’ll be swollen following the treatment, but you may have some bad habits that make the inflammation worse.
For example, smoking is an infamous cause of inflammation. This occurs because cigarettes trigger an immune response in the body. Even if you don’t smoke, you’ll suffer the effects in the presence of secondhand smoke.
In addition to smoking, alcohol can become a major irritant. Most inflammation occurs from modest drinking, but it’s in your best interest to avoid it entirely while your lips are in recovery.
6. Chill Out
Many people believe that soaking in hot water can soothe discomfort. But that’s only true for muscle aches. Hot temperatures make inflammation worse.
Heat has the opposite effect of ice. More heat means more cellular activity and increased blood flow. This blood will ultimately find its way to the lips and make swelling worse.
Following the procedure, avoid severe heat. Yes, this means no hot cocoa, tea, or coffee. But this also means you shouldn’t take exceedingly hot baths or visit the jacuzzi.
Although cold temperatures are helpful, don’t shove your face in the nearest snowbank. When the cold is severe enough, it can cause a host of its own problems.
7. Just Relax
Consider your recovery period a cheat week. The gym is off-limits. It’s important to stay healthy after any treatment, but it won’t do your swelling any favors.
Why not? Remember that blood flow is the root cause of the swelling. When you hit the gym, you’re giving your cardiovascular system a workout.
You know the expression, right? Get your blood pumping. Yeah, you don’t want to do that while your lips are swollen.
Skip the gym until the swelling dies down. If you absolutely must stay active, avoid cardio at all costs. High-intensity, anaerobic exercise still increases your heart rate and blood flow, but not as much as its aerobic alternative.
Say Goodbye to Swollen Lips
Even with the best aftercare, you’ll still suffer from swollen lips for several days. But now that you know how to reduce swelling after lip injections, you’ll have far less discomfort. Remember that you should contact your doctor if you experience a burning sensation or prolonged swelling.
Are you reading this after a lip injection? Then what are you waiting for? Follow these tips and say goodbye to swollen lips.
