Consultation
Injectable fillers are administered by a healthcare professional, often a dermatologist or plastic surgeon. Make sure you do your research by checking out the pro’s work (often they share “before” and “after” images on social media), setting up a consultation, and reading reviews.
Procedure
Your doctor will typically apply a topical numbing cream on the treatment area around 30 minutes prior to the treatment (certain areas, including the lips, are more sensitive). Once the area feels numb, your provider will begin the injections. Of course, the length of the treatment depends on the number of areas you’re filling, but generally the process may be over within 15 minutes or so. Note that it is recommended to lay off blood thinners like fish oil and ibuprofen in the week or two before treatment.
Recovery
Your recovery time depends on several factors, so talk to your doctor about what to expect before and after the deed is done. Post-treatment, you’ll likely be given an ice pack to keep swelling at bay. Swelling is sometimes unavoidable, but there are ways to help reduce it. You may also notice slight redness or bruising at the injection site, which can usually be covered with a good concealer, foundation, or lipstick. Your provider can weigh in on how long you should wait to apply makeup post-treatment. Another tip is to avoid intense exercise for the first day or two, and try to keep your head elevated with some extra pillows when you sleep. Otherwise, you can get up, walk around, and resume most activities as soon as you’re finished!
Results
Hyaluronic acid filler results are immediate. If you experience swelling, you will see the best results once this goes down. But of course, results vary from person to person.
Next Steps
Just as the fat underneath our skin fades over time, so do injectable fillers. Most hyaluronic acid filler formulas will last from six months up to two years, depending on the product and area of the face treated. Factors such as movement within an area and how quickly your body metabolizes the filler all affect how long the injectable fillers will last.
