Aftercare

Hour by hour, what's normal, what's not — and the small habits that lead to the calmest, most natural settle.

The way you treat your lips in the first day after filler shapes how they look at the end of week two. Most people focus on the treatment itself; we'd argue the aftercare matters just as much.

Here's what to know.

The first 4 hours

Your lips will likely feel firm, slightly swollen, and possibly tingling. This is normal. Resist the urge to keep pressing or testing them — they don't need help, they need rest. Avoid lipstick, balm, or anything else on the lips. A clean cool compress (a wrapped ice pack, never directly on skin) for 10 minutes at a time can help with comfort.

The first night

Sleep on your back, slightly elevated, ideally with an extra pillow. Side-sleeping can affect how the filler settles in the first night. We know this isn't always possible — if you wake up on your side, it's not a disaster. Just try to start on your back.

Hours 12–24

This is when swelling typically peaks. Your lips may look fuller than the final result, possibly slightly uneven, and they might feel firm or lumpy. None of this is the final outcome. Filler integrates into the surrounding tissue over the course of two weeks — what you see on day one is not what you'll see at week two.

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Filler integrates over two weeks. What you see on day one is not what you'll see at week two.

What to avoid for the next 24 hours

Alcohol (it thins the blood and increases bruising), strenuous exercise, saunas, steam rooms, sunbeds, flights, and dental treatments. These all increase swelling, bruising, or vascular changes that can affect the result.

What helps

Plenty of water, soft non-spicy foods, and Arnica (gel or tablets) if you're prone to bruising.

What to message us about

Any sudden pain that increases after the first day, blanching or pale patches of skin, severe asymmetry that doesn't reduce over the first 48 hours, or anything that genuinely worries you. We would always rather hear from you and reassure you than have you wait at home wondering.

The settled result is visible at around two weeks. The first few days are not the result. Be patient — it's worth it.