Lip Filler Swelling Stages: What to Expect After Restylane Injections

Swelling is a common and expected side effect of lip filler injections. While it may cause some concern for patients unfamiliar with the healing process, knowing what to expect and how to support recovery can significantly improve patient satisfaction. For medical aestheticians, setting accurate expectations is key to ensuring client comfort and confidence. This article outlines the stages of lip filler swelling, focusing on the experience with Restylane injections, which use advanced NASHA® technology for natural-looking results.

Key Takeaways

This article will tell you:

• Why does swelling occur after injectable lip treatments
• How does it progress over time
• Which symptoms are normal and which ones require medical attention
• Which aftercare tips should be employed to minimise swelling

Why Swelling Happens After Lip Fillers

Swelling after Restylane lip augmentation is normal, and it depends on multiple factors. For instance, it can be triggered by both the injection technique and the nature of the product used. That is why we prepared a quick overview of the most common causes:

• Physical trauma: The use of a needle or cannula causes micro-injuries to the lip tissue. This type of trauma leads to inflammation as the body initiates healing.
• Product volume: The volume brought by the dermal filler stretches the tissues, which causes temporary swelling.
• Hydrophilic response: Hyaluronic acid (HA), the base of Restylane fillers, naturally attracts and holds water. In the days after the injection, this property can cause enhanced swelling since water is drawn into the lips.
• NASHA® technology: Restylane’s non-animal stabilised HA technology offers a more structured gel. While this results in excellent shape retention and lift, it can also cause a moderate level of initial swelling.

Understanding these mechanisms allows practitioners to prepare patients for the expected progression of swelling after the injection.

Lip Filler Swelling Timeline (By Stage)

Swelling is a normal reaction to injectable treatments, and patients who are in doubt whether to choose Restylane vs Juvederm should know it. With Restylane fillers, it generally follows a clear and predictable timeline. Being aware of these stages helps aestheticians reassure patients and guide them through the healing process.

Day 1 – Immediate Swelling

On the first day, swelling typically appears a few hours after the injection. At the same time, the lips may feel tight or slightly firm, and it is normal to also experience mild tenderness or bruising. If a patient experiences asymmetry, it may occur due to uneven swelling, not incorrect filler placement. 

Day 2–3 – Peak Swelling

During the second and third day, the swelling reaches its peak, and the lips may appear overly full or uneven. Here, it is important to explain to the patients that there is no need to feel alarmed, since the situation is expected, and most importantly, temporary. When this phase hits, using cool compresses can be quite helpful. 

Day 4–5 – Decrease Begins

On day four or five, the swelling finally begins to subside, and the lips start looking more balanced and proportionate. If there was any residual bruising, it is also likely to begin to fade. 

Day 6–7 – Mostly Settled

During the sixth and seventh days, most of the swelling is supposed to be gone. This is when the shape of the lips becomes clearer and they start feeling softer and looking more natural. 

Week 2 – Full Results

When the patient enters week two, the final shape, volume, and symmetry become visible. This is the time when all the minor lumps and irregularities typically resolve. However, if any concerns persist, it is a sign to do a follow-up session or even a minor touch-up. 

What’s Normal vs. When to Call Your Injector

Understanding the difference between normal healing and signs of severe complications is crucial for both patients and practitioners.

Normal post-injection reactions include:

• Mild to moderate swelling
• Soft and even firmness in the lips
• Slight bruising or tenderness
• Temporary asymmetry in the first few days
• Itching or tightness that resolves within a few days

Concerning symptoms that require immediate attention:

• Extreme or persistent asymmetry lasting more than two weeks
• Hard lumps that don’t soften over time
• Severe pain or increasing discomfort
• Blanching (white or pale patches on the lips or skin)
• Dark discolouration or signs of compromised blood flow (possible vascular occlusion)

Medical aestheticians should instruct clients to contact the clinic if any of these red flags appear.

Aftercare Tips to Minimise Swelling

Proper aftercare can reduce the intensity and duration of swelling, making the recovery process much smoother. Therefore, patients should adhere to the following guidelines:

• Avoid alcohol, salty foods, and intense exercise for 24 to 48 hours after the injection.
• Use cold compresses gently within the first 24 hours to constrict blood vessels and reduce inflammation.
• Keep the head elevated during sleep to prevent fluid accumulation in the lips.
• Do not massage or manipulate the lips unless specifically advised by the injector.
• Stay hydrated and maintain a healthy diet to support the healing process.

Setting Patient Expectations

For many clients, swelling can be emotionally disturbing, especially if they are new to lip fillers. Medical aestheticians should proactively manage expectations by explaining the normal healing process and encouraging patience. Here are some useful steps that can help in the process: 

• Reassure patients that swelling is part of the body’s healing response and usually subsides within a week
• Advise against judging final results until two weeks post-treatment
• Schedule a follow-up visit at a two-week interval to assess symmetry and touch-up if needed
• Discuss product-specific timelines, especially if combining different types of fillers. 

Conclusion

Swelling after lip fillers such as Restylane products is a completely natural and temporary part of the lip enhancement process. Medical aestheticians play a vital role in guiding patients through each phase, from the initial post-injection swelling to the final, settled result. With its NASHA®-based formulations, Restylane offers structure, softness, and predictability, but still requires appropriate aftercare.

When patients are informed about what to expect, they are more likely to trust the process and feel confident in their results. Certified medical professionals can purchase Restylane lip fillers from the Best Buy Fillers online store and treat their patients with a trusted product with predictable results and product reactions. 

References: 

Kroumpouzos G, Harris S, Bhargava S, Wortsman X. Complications of fillers in the lips and perioral area: Prevention, assessment, and management focusing on ultrasound guidance. Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery. Published online March 2023. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1748681523000712

Hilton S, Frank K, Alfertshofer M, Cotofana S. Clinical outcomes after lip injection procedures—Comparison of two hyaluronic acid gel fillers with different product properties. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology. 2022;22(1):119-127. 

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36459413

Coppini M, Caponio VCA, Mauceri R, et al. Aesthetic lip filler augmentation is not free of adverse reactions: lack of evidence-based practice from a systematic review. Frontiers in Oral Health. 2024;5. 

https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/oral-health/articles/10.3389/froh.2024.1495012/full