Mary E. Hurley, MD

You could try and gently massage the area with two fingers -- one inside the lip or cheek and the other on the outside. If it is due to swelling, it can take up to two weeks or so for swelling to fully resolve after injections. Wait another week and if the lump still hasn’t resolved, you can have the filler dissolved. Always make sure to see a board-certified dermatologist for lip injections in order to ensure the best results.

There is no reason why you cannot have Juvederm after having had Sculptra in the past. Hyaluronic acid fillers are often used in conjunction with collagen building fillers like Sculptra to create a synergistic effect. Sculptra is more of a delayed gratification procedure whereas Juvederm gives an instant result. I would suggest visiting a different, board-certified dermatologist for your injections. Good luck.

It is extremely unlikely that your flu symptoms and lip injections are related. Most likely, you simply happened to develop an upper respiratory infection or flu-like illness around the same time as your injections. However, this type of reaction has been reported after fillers (and Botox). If you indeed did have this reaction to the product, there is a chance that it could happen again with future injections of the same product. I would recommend treat your illness with rest and plenty of fluids.

It is normal to feel some firmness under the skin in the area of filler. Lumps after Juvederm lip injections may be caused by swelling and should resolve after one to two weeks. If you still have lumps after two weeks and they bother you, you can try and gently massage them with your fingers. If the lumps or bumps persist, I would recommend to see your provider as you may want to consider having the filler dissolved. Your lips should feel more normal after all the swelling has resolved.

Bruising can occur in the lips whether a needle or a microcannula is used. The lips are a sensitive area and are unfortunately prone to bruising. There are some things you can do to try to reduce the risk of bruising, among them are avoiding blood thinning medications, non-steroidals, aspirin products, fish oils and and supplements for 10 days prior to your injections, but there is no guarantee that you will not bruise. In the meantime, you can take arnica to help fade your bruises quicker. In addition, my tip is to use a liquid facial concealer to dab over spot bruises and wear a darker color lipstick until they are gone.