Why Are my Cheeks and Lips Swollen After Restylane?

Before any filler treatment you should be informed by your surgeon about possible swelling and bruising around the injection sites. To minimize the chance of swelling it is recommended to ice the area up to two hours after the injection. Restylene is made out of the hyaluronic acid, which attracts water. Therefore, the feeling of puffiness and swelling is quite normal. It should resolve within a week or so. Some patients also feel some lumps under the skin and also experience bruising. In that case it is recommended to gently massage the site.

Thank you for your question. It is very common for the injected areas including the lips to look
over corrected or fake the next day. This is worse if there is bruising. This is due to all the swelling
that ensues. In the lips, for example, I often tell my patients that this
is the "oh my gosh" day. It can be 'oh my gosh' my lips are so
swollen! It could also be 'oh my gosh' I love my lips even more than
yesterday. Either way, the swelling may last a few days with every day
showing a decrease
in swelling. The more you ice the first day or two, the less swelling
you will have. I would wait a few days to a week and then return to
your injector if you still have concerns after that. If you like the
look of the lips at some point during the swelling reduction, then take a
picture. This way you know what volume you like in the lips for the
future.

Swelling is a very common side effect of any injection treatment, regardless of the product injected. This is something that reputable injectors always inform patients about prior to treatment, along with bruising and instructions on aftercare. I’m surprised that you weren’t aware of the possibility of swelling. Fortunately, it does subside within a couple of weeks.

It’s not unusual for patients to experience swelling
immediately following Restylane injections.In some cases, swelling may even be asymmetric.In most cases, this swelling has resolved in
24 hours, but may persist for up to 3 to 5 days in rare cases.Swelling
of the lips and cheeks following treatment with Restylane can be a major source
of anxiety for cosmetic surgery patients.It’s important to remember that swelling resolves with the passage of
time and the majority of patients are ultimately happy with their results.In your
case, swelling in the first 24 hours following Restylane wouldn’t be considered
unusual.It’s therefore important to be
patient.In the short term ice
compresses might be helpful.If
you’re concerned about swelling following Restylane injections it’s important
to discuss this issue with your physician.Your physician should be able to formulate a plan that addresses your
concerns.

Swelling is normal and associated with the injection technique, rather than the product. You can expect swelling to last for one to two weeks, depending on the area treated and how your body reacts to the treatment. Keep your head elevated to help ease swelling, particularly when sleeping. You can use a few pillows to prop your head up.If it doesn't improve after a week or so, please see your injector for an assessment.

Hi Cynthia.  Swelling after Restylane injections at and immediately aroudn the injection site is very normal, especially the day after the injections.

If your selling does not go down over the next couple days or it is in areas completely separate from the injection sites, you may be advised to contact your iinjector now to be seen for a follow up.  Good luck.

Thanks for your question -
Certainly swelling in the area of injection for the first few days is not unusual. It sounds like you're describing swelling in other areas. It is very unusual to have allergic reactions from hyaluronic acid fillers but not impossible.
It is also possible that you may be having a reaction from local anesthesia or other medications administered during the treatment.
The key in situations like this is close conversation with your treating physician to differentiate normal swelling from potentially serious other sequelae like allergic reactions.

I hope this helps.

Restylane and Juvederm are hyaluronic acid fillers composed of a synthetic form of a naturally occuring compound in our body. Unlike silicone, restylane and juvederm are safe and temporary fillers with low complication profiles.Hyaluronic acid is hydrophilic, wherein it actually acts like a sponge in the tissue to absorb water. This causes a temporary swelling in the immediate postprocedural period.The swelling is transient and is best treated with gentle pressure, ice packs, and time.

Swelling can be normal after a facial filler. It may signify excessive bleeding or rough injection technique from the injector. There are rare cases of isolated allergic reactions at 1 in 2000 which manifests as local swelling, redness, or tenderness over time Tips to decrease swelling after NASHA facial fillers:


Ice- Especially immediately after the injection

Avoid medications which can promote bruising and bleeding

A gentle touch by the injector

Antihistamine post procedure- particularly after lip augmentation, there is a dramatic reduction in swelling. The best antihistamine for this is Benadryl, but it can make you sleepy.

Swelling after any injury is common especially for the first four days which we call the inflammatory period. Antiinflammatory agents may be useful but are generally discouraged due to their potential with bleeding.
Icing, head elevation, compression are generally recommended for the early period to reduce inflammation.
There are some individuals feel arnica montana gel or tablets as well as bromelain may be useful in this regard as homeopathic remedies.
If the swelling is due to bruising/bleeding, it may take longer to resovle but that does not sound like your problem.
Try to be patient. I hope this helps explain.