Recent fillers…migration? (Photo)

Thank you for your question and photos.
I am concerned to hear that the practitioner saved the syringe and injected the rest 3 weeks later. That is not following sterility guidelines and possibly exposing you to unnecessary risk of very bad infection called, biofilm.
I always advise patient to choose the practitioner not only for the injections but only for management of any questions or concerns later.I always advise to see your original practitioner, but in this case, I am not confident they are practicing safely.
Based on the photos, the filler has migrated. If it bothers you a lot, consider taking some filler out just in the cupids bow first. Give it 1 month to heal and then decide if you want to add more.
Once the "shelf" has disappeared, these are your following options;1. Try Botox lip flip for upper lip, may affect your pursing ability and only last for 1-2 months but worth a try2. use a different filler next time and avoid injection into the border3. Inject utilizing a different technique.
Art takes time.
All of these should be easily offered by an expert injection provider in your area.Hope this helps a little.Have a beautiful day, Dr. Anna Avaliani , NYC

Based off of the pictures you have provided, it appears you were injected using poor technique. It would be best to dissolve your existing filler and start with a clean slate. Find a provider that focuses on creating more volume in the body of your lip rather than the border or surrounding structures.

What you’re describing sounds like mild filler visibility or shadowing rather than true migration, especially since it’s only noticeable in certain lighting. Early swelling or slight product placement near the surface can sometimes create a “shelf” effect, which can persist subtly even after healing.
If you want more volume:
Another syringe can be added, ideally with careful placement to avoid accentuating the shadow.Waiting at least 4–6 weeks between sessions helps ensure the tissue has settled.If the current filler bothers you, a small adjustment or blending technique can improve the look before adding more.
A skilled injector can assess whether to build on your results or refine the existing filler first.

It does appear that some filler has migrated outside the lip border, which can happen with certain types of filler. If you're noticing this, I would recommend considering a slow dissolving process using hyaluronidase to gradually break down the filler until it no longer extends beyond the vermilion border. Once the filler has settled, it would be a good idea to have a trusted, experienced injector re-administer the filler to ensure more precise results.

When choosing an injector, always make sure to review their before-and-after photos and verify their credentials and education to ensure you're in safe hands for future treatments.

It does look like you've experienced some migration. This can happen for a number of reasons. This could be due to overfilling (too much too quickly. Example: tissue expansion. Breast augmentation for example. You cannot go from a A cup to a DD cup safely without risk of overstretching the skin for the natural pocket. Same goes with filler.)

This could also be the technique that was used. It could also be the product itself. I recommend having a trusted provider go in with hylenex to dissolve the migrated areas.

Thank yo for your question! I think building your lips over time is a great way to avoid filler migration. Since you have small lips, you only want to add a small amount of filler at a time. Best of luck!

If you're unhappy with your final results, you can have the filler dissolved with hyaluronidase and try a different technique next time. See an expert. Best, Dr. Emer

The fullness that is evident on the white portion of your upper lip after your initial injection must be filler, especially if it was never there before. Before proceeding any further, please consider getting a second opinion about your condition. I hope this is helpful. Sincerely, Dr Joseph

Based on your pictures, it looks like the filler migrated. It can be dissolved with hyaluronidase.

Best of luck !

It is tricky to get small lip enhancement right. The key is small amounts with precise delivery to the vermillion (the pink part) of the lip, not the vermillion border (the edge of the lip). This can be accomplished with different techniques. You will never achieve a natural looking "very full" lip because there is just not enough to begin with. But you can certainly get a nice enhancement of the natural lip with an expert injector and some patience!