How Long Does It Take for Swelling to Go Away from Juvederm/Botox?

Thank you for your question. Swelling is possible everytime a needle penetrates the skin. Having said that, I typically find that the degree of swelling varies based on the treatment and location. For example, swelling after Botox is usually minimal (unless you bruise). Juvederm in the nasolabial folds also has minimal swelling. Juvderm in the lips, however, can result in a lot of swelling. It's a good treatment to do on Friday so the swelling can be reduced by Monday.  The more you ice during the first couple days, the less you swell.

Swelling from Botox is usually insignificant unless there was bleeding and trauma then it's more about the trauma and bruise than Botox.  Juvederm is a different matter. It is naturally a volumizer and swells as it expands in your tissues. Any trauma or bruising adds to this.  So right after the injections it's hard to know if it is just swelling or too much product.  You will have to give it about a week to see how it settles before you can tell what your final results will be.

Lip inections can cause a significant swelling in a few individuals, it is expected to go away in a few days, it may be more long lasting or shorter.

why this occurs, is not understood, but similar to trauma to the lip inducing a tremendously more swollen area than other sites, it is expected to be temporary.

Fillers like Restylane, Juvederm, and Perlane tend to draw in fluid in addition to the normal swelling from an injection. The swelling and initial response can last a week or so. I generally tell my patients that the result they see at 2 weeks is pretty much what they can expect.

Botox should have very limited swelling...just at the site of injection, which should resolve in an hour or so. If you are unlucky, you might a get a little bruise at the site of injection.

Thank you for your question. Yes, you are correct that the amount of swelling and bruising is difficult to predict. However, there is minimal swelling with Botox and it is not unusual to have a small bruise. Juvederm is a hyaluronic acid filler and attracts water in the treated are and produces swelling. You can take Benadryl and ice the treated area to help reduce swelling. Also, you should avoid taking blood thinner medicines and ibuprofen for 7 days before treatment to help reduce the risk of bruising. You can use concealer to help cover up any bruising. I hope this helps.

Swelling from the Juvederm and Botox treatment is mostly related to water being absorbed by the Juvederm.  I can also be related to tissue trauma caused by the injections.  To get the least tissue trauma, blunt cannulas are preferred.  Bruising can also cause swelling.  In general, without any significant bruising, swelling will be better after about 48 hours.  The lips may take a little longer.  Sleeping with your head elevated helps with reducing swelling.  I tell my patients after they leave to expect to have swelling then to have a diminished result of about 10-15% from what it looks like just after I'm done. 

On average we tell patients to expect swelling and bruising from Juvederm or other fillers to last about 7-10 days. Botox should have minimal swelling or bruising, if any, and usually if it does it's only at the site of injection for a day or so. Because fillers are used to volumize, what's being injected under the skin is actually filling it in, and that's why there's bruising and swelling. Expect it to last several days and don't take any Advil or Aleve, pre or post procedure. You can also ice if you'd like but that's usually not that helpful after the second day. If you have any concerns, call your injector for an appointment.