Every year, Americans spend billions of dollars on cosmetic procedures to improve their appearance — with lip filler being one of the most popular non-surgical procedures on the list. The reason for this? The procedure is quick, low-stress, non-invasive, does not require any downtime, and offers virtually instant results. 

If you’ve been considering Juvederm lip injections for a fuller, plumper pair of lips, this is one of the most efficient, safe, and worthwhile procedures in terms of cost.

So, before you book your appointment, here’s what you need to know about lip filler after-care and how to reduce swelling for the best results. 

What is Juvederm Filler? 

Juvederm is a hyaluronic acid-based product, specifically formulated for face and lip filler. The reason why Juvederm as a product is so effective is because hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring compound in the human body. It is responsible for hydrating the skin and keeping it plump and youthful. 

Juvederm filler helps to restore a fuller, more youthful look to the skin and lips by replacing the hyaluronic acid your body has lost due to age and other lifestyle factors. 

There are a few different formulations of Juvederm, each with its own bonding characteristics and concentrations of hyaluronic acid. These different variations each treat/target different areas. 

Some of the most commonly used types of Juvederm filler include Juvederm Voluma XC, Juvederm XC, Juvederm Vollure XC, and Juvederm Ultra XC or Juvederm Volbella XC for lip enhancement treatments. 

Juvederm filler is very popular with lip treatments, but it also reduces the look of wrinkles and fine lines, and plumps up the cheeks and the area around the mouth. 

As of 2006, Juvederm was fully approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a safe product for non-surgical cosmetic procedures. 

After-Care Tips for Juvederm Lip Injections

If you’ve yet to have Juvederm lip filler, it’s important to know upfront that swelling is a routine part of the after-effects of lip enhancement. Also known as edema, the swelling is not dangerous or very uncomfortable, but it is something to be aware of and manage post-treatment. 

Lip injection swelling is transient — meaning that it resolves fairly quickly. You can expect your lip swelling to last a full day, possibly a little longer, depending on certain factors. Some of these may include allergies, hormones, any medications you’re taking, and medical conditions. 

But here are a few after-care tips you want to keep in mind to keep swelling under control and reduce this time period.  

Keep this rule-of-thumb in mind: anything that is good for your health is good for your skin too. So, you want to stick to a healthy routine and diet before and post-treatment. This includes the following:

• Keep your hydration levels up by drinking plenty of water and fresh juices — caffeine does not count!
• Eat a well-balanced diet packed with fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, protein, and healthy fats 
• Get plenty of good sleep — 7-8 hours per night if possible 

One very helpful tip to reduce swelling is take a herbal supplement called arnica or bromelain. You can also apply arnica gel topically to the area to reduce swelling. Get your healing directly from nature! It’s always the best source.

Otherwise, you can apply an ice pack to the area, but be sure to use a gentle amount of pressure and do not apply the ice for too long. You want to avoid lying down in a horizontal position directly after your treatment, it’s important to keep your head elevated 

You also want to keep these tips on what to avoid in mind: 

1. Excessive Lip Movement 

Ideally, you don’t want to use your mouth or lips too much right after your treatment. While you can still smile and speak, you want to try and avoid puckering your lips, heavy kissing, or overstretching your mouth in general. 

You can still eat as per normal, but you might want to cut your food into smaller bites for the first day, post-treatment. Also, avoid eating foods that require a lot of vigorous chewing, such as a steak. The overall goal is to not agitate your lips and allow the filler to settle and integrate into your lip tissue without too much disruption. 

2. Strenuous Exercise

While fitness should be a part of living a healthy, balanced lifestyle, you want to avoid hitting the gym or partaking in any form of strenuous exercise for 24-48 hours after your treatment. 

Any form of exercise that increases your blood pressure or heart rate has a notable effect on swelling and bruising. And you don’t want to worsen any potential swelling, but rather lessen it where you can. 

The same goes for excessive sweating as this causes dehydration, which can also worsen swelling and bruising. It can also counteract the efficacy of the hyaluronic acid in your lip filler as it works by attracting water in your body to keep your lips full and plump. 

3. High Temperatures 

Who doesn’t love a warm bath, soothing hot shower, or a session in the sauna? Well, this is not the best time to partake in any of these activities post-treatment. This is because high levels of heat dilate your blood vessels, which can only worsen or prolong your lip swelling. 

Try to avoid very high temperatures for 24-48 hours — you can still take a shower, just make sure it isn’t piping hot and it’s a quick one! The key to avoiding excessive swelling is to keep yourself and your lip area cool. 

4. Drinking Alcohol 

It goes without saying that alcohol is a no-go for at least 24-48 hours after your lip filler treatment because it works as a blood thinner. So, in essence, it does the same thing as high temperatures by dilating your blood vessels, which can only worsen your swelling.  

In fact, it’s important to avoid a number of blood-thinning substances entirely, such as: 

• Over-the-counter pain medications such as Ibuprofen, paracetamol, Aspirin, and Motrin 
• If you’re taking vitamin E supplements, you want to lay off those for a couple of days 
• Avoid supplements that include St. John’s Wort, Ginkgo biloba, flax oil, cod liver oil, and garlic 
• You also want to keep your caffeine intake to a minimum 

Since most of us walk around dehydrated, the best thing you can do to help minimize and control swelling and maximize the efficacy of the hyaluronic acid is to drink plenty of water. 

5. Smoking Cigarettes/Vaping

This is yet another activity that affects the blood vessels and can worsen swelling and bruising. Along with this, smoking or vaping can also increase your risk of infection. 

If you can, avoid smoking or vaping for as long as your lips are swollen — which shouldn’t be longer than 1-2 days. You also want to stay away from second-hand smoke immediately after treatment as this can have almost the same effect.  

If you live with family members that smoke, ask them to not smoke around you, where possible.

6. Drinking Through a Straw

This may sound like an odd one, but if you think about the way you have to contort your mouth and lips when drinking through a straw, it makes sense. You also need to use a certain amount of pressure to suck through a straw, which you want to avoid when you’ve received lip filler. 

Stick to drinking directly out of a glass, mug, or cup for a period of 24-48 hours until your swelling has resolved. 

7. Makeup Application

Yes, that’s right, unfortunately, makeup application is also a no-go after you’ve received lip filler. It’s a good idea to completely avoid any type of lip balm, lipstick, lip gloss, or lip stain for 24-hours post-treatment. 

This is because you only increase your risk of a negative reaction to the product on your lips and face, which can exacerbate your swelling. If you want to wear face makeup, stick to gentle, natural products that don’t irritate the skin. 

Basically, you want to avoid adding any harsh, perfumed chemicals to your skin and the area around your lips. Makeup often contains irritants and perfumes which makes any type of application risky. All-in-all, it’s best to completely avoid makeup altogether until your lip swelling is under control — it will be worth the wait!  

8. Consuming Spicy Foods or Hot Drinks

If you love a side of chili or a piping hot cup of coffee, you’ll have to avoid these things for 24-48 hours, too. Spicy foods are quite acidic which can cause stinging and burning around the mouth, which will only increase swelling.  

Beverages that are very hot can also be dangerous because your lips may still be numb post-treatment, and the last thing you want is to burn yourself. The heat from a hot cup of coffee can also dilate blood vessels around the mouth — something you want to avoid. 

Stick to lukewarm beverages for a day or two and you can avoid excessive swelling! 

Looking for World-Class Lip Filler Treatment?

If you’re interested in Juvederm lip injections, look no further than the Advanced Institute for Plastic Surgery for your treatment. Our board-certified and experienced cosmetic surgeons deliver natural-looking results for the perfect pout. 

You can learn more about the Juvederm treatments we offer here. 

We also offer a range of services and expertise in a number of fields for all your surgical and non-surgical needs — explore our services for more.