Types of Swelling Following Dermal Fillers & Treatments

1 Jan, 2023

Dermal fillers are generally used to enhance areas of the face such as the lips, cheeks and jawline, add structure to the face or soften lines and wrinkles. While fillers are considered a non-invasive procedure, cosmetic procedures tend to be accompanied by minor side effects like swelling.

While swelling post-treatment is normal and generally to be expected, it can be concerning to those new to dermal fillers or anti wrinkle injections. Here, Dr Tass Cosmetic and Skincare Clinics discusses the types of swelling that can follow dermal fillers and anti wrinkle injections.

What Sort of Swelling is Expected?

It’s normal to experience a degree of swelling post dermal fillers, but the swelling varies significantly from patient to patient and will depend on several factors.

Generally, temple filler and chin filler and cheek filler are injected deeper and directly above bone or cartilage. Because of this, most swelling will be hidden by the tissue and will appear minimal. Swelling will likely be more pronounced around areas with delicate tissue, like during lip filler treatment. In most cases, swelling will be mild to moderate, and it’s common for the lips to look slightly overfilled one to two days after the fillers due to the swelling. By the third day, this will improve.

Why Dermal Fillers Cause Swelling and How to Reduce It

Dermal fillers commonly cause swelling and often bruising, because the injection process disturbs the skin and soft tissue. This disturbance causes minor trauma to the area, which prompts swelling as a natural bodily response while the area heals.

Typically, swelling will last for a few days. It’s most apparent between 24 and 72 hours after treatment before the swelling gradually subsides and goes down.

Your practitioner will do everything possible to keep any swelling or bruising at a minimum. Still, if you are concerned about swelling, avoiding ibuprofen and aspirin for two weeks before your treatment will help. In that case, you can resume using ibuprofen immediately after your treatment if you’re experiencing discomfort. It’s also advisable to avoid alcohol and exercise for 48 hours following your procedure and to resist touching or massaging the treated areas.