Is it OK to massage fillers?
Although extremely rare, dermal fillers are able to migrate within the skin if consistent and adequate pressure is applied to them. For this reason, we advise patients not to get a facial, massage (on the treated skin), or microdermabrasion for the first two weeks following their filler injections.
In some cases, we recommend our patients massage their fillers following treatment to smooth them out below the skin; however, too much massage too soon may cause the filler to migrate slightly.
Whilst it is somewhat normal to feel small lumps, depending on how thick the filler used was), if they feel one lump in particular, they can gently massage it in between their finger and their thumb, over a period of time, and it will help to “break down” the lump.
DON'T: massage your lips.
Massaging freshly injected lips risks moving the filler around causing the possibility of desportation and undesirable results.
Fillers remain moldable for 1-2 weeks, and pressure can deform your filler.
Lumps that are noticeable 5-7 days after the treatment can take 2-3 days to dissolve with lip massage. So repeat the massage 2-3 times a day until your lumps disappear and your lips feel smooth and even.
Dr. Frank says the best way to deal with migration is to dissolve the filler with hyaluronidase (an enzyme that breaks down hyaluronic acid gels). In just a few hours, hyaluronidase softens the filler and returns the lips to a more natural shape, projection, and size.
When the cause is congealed hyaluronic acid (which usually occurs if you used fillers from the Juvederm and Restylane families), it can be easily corrected by injecting hyaluronidase right into the lump. Hyaluronidase, like hyaluronic acid, occurs naturally in the body.
Over time, as facial movement increases in areas like the lips or cheeks, it causes the filler to break down and dissolve at a quicker rate. This makes the filler disappear faster in more active areas of the face.
The Results Improve Over Time
Because these injections stimulate your body's production of collagen and elastin, the final results of treatment won't be seen for several weeks. Even as the hyaluronic acid is processed by your body, healthy collagen and elastin grow at a more significant rate.
Why does my filler look bumpy?
Not to worry though, lumps following a filler treatment are completely normal. The lumps you may experience are often caused by swelling and bruising of the treated area. We would not recommend massaging or using force to reduce the lumps yourself, as this may impact your final results.
The most common cause of lumps after a filler treatment is swelling and bruising from the injections themselves. These should naturally subside within the first week.
The filler will be flexible and easy to reshape after it has been injected, but it should then remain in place. You'll be able to take a look at your lips once the fillers are in place, so any adjustments can be made while you're at the clinic.
Lip fillers can only modify the lips so far. Fillers cannot make your lips look exactly like someone else's or change the fundamental shape. But improvement, enhancement, and subtle re-shaping is possible.
It is possible to add small amounts of strategically placed filler to reshape and contour the injected area and salvage a beautiful result. This takes advantage of the previously placed volume of filler and does not require starting over or completely replacing all of the product.
DON'T touch the treated area for at least 6-8 hours afterwards. The risk of infection is much higher in the time immediately after your filler treatment, so medical experts recommend not touching the affected area for at least that amount of time.
Intense heat on the skin can make your filler break down more quickly or produce less effective results. Ideally, you should avoid exposure to intense heat for at least 12 to 24 hours after your appointment.
After your dermal filler treatment, you should remain in an upright position for 3-4 hours and avoid rubbing or applying any pressure on the treated area. This will prevent the filler from migrating to other areas.
If it is your first time getting an injectable treatment, you may have many questions about the aftercare and healing process. Lip filler may cause the treatment area to feel swollen, hard, or lumpy at first, but this is all part of the healing process, and the fillers will soften and settle over time.
Calcium hydroxylapatite is biosynthetically produced, which means that no animals or animal products are used. This lowers your risk of an allergic reaction and no skin testing is required. This type of dermal filler is known to produce a very natural result, doesn't migrate and side effects are rare.
Does all filler eventually migrate?
"Theoretically, all filler has the ability to migrate," says Dr. Diamond. "That is why it is so imperative that non-surgical injectable services are performed by experts with the anatomical knowledge to prevent this from happening.
You can spot filler migration as it can give that ducky or “shelf-like” appearance above the lip border. In areas such as the tear-trough, migration can be seen as little lumps and ridges around the lower eye area.
The long answer is you should avoid exercise after fillers for at least 24 to 48 hours. This will help reduce bruising and swelling as well as infection risk, and you will feel better about the overall look of your treatment. Some light walking is okay, but avoid anything more intense.
Sun exposure speeds up the aging process on the skin and is one of the leading causes of wrinkles. Those UV rays can also cause certain fillers to break down faster and being absorbed by the body more quickly. To get the best results, use a sunscreen with an SPF of at least 30 every day.
However, the use of too much filler results in overly puffy cheeks which look unnatural and inappropriate for their age. The pursuit of the “apple cheeks” have also contributed to this syndrome. Overfilling in the cheeks and under the eyes obliterates the natural lid-cheek junction.
Some dermal fillers have been studied to last close to two years. The three fillers that tend to last the longest are Restylane Lyft, Restylane Defyne, Restylane Refyne, Juvederm, Voluma, Radiesse, and Sculptra. Restylane Defyne is built for balance and used in the nasal labial folds and marionette lines.
The swelling that can often occur after Lip Fillers can cause the lips to look a little uneven for a short time. This doesn't necessarily mean that anything has gone wrong and it may just take a little time for the product to fully settle and for residual swelling to subside.
- Avoid washing your face with normal tap water on the day of the filler. ...
- Avoid pressure on the injected area. ...
- Avoid blood thinning products. ...
- Avoid Sun Exposure. ...
- Avoid heavy workout. ...
- Avoid Swimming for 3 days.
Massaging the treated areas can disrupt the dermal filler and cause the hyaluronic acid solution to move out of place. This can lead to an uneven or lumpy appearance.