Why do I swell so bad after lip fillers? (photos)

You have a legitimate concern.  The swelling that your photo has shown definitely displays more swelling than I would expect from normal post injection swelling.  The fact that you have tried both Restylane and Juvederm, which are both hyaluronic acids is also helpful.  Obviously, it is hard to determine the injection technique of the person who performs your procedure and you don't say how much filler is being used.  If all of that is within normal limits, I would suggest having hyaluronic acid placed elsewhere off the face and see if abnormal swelling, redness, or discomfort occurs.  Allergic reactions to hyaluronic acids are rare, but you may be the individual to whom it happens to.

Hi @PennyPuff! Swelling is normal up to two weeks after dermal fillers. I recommend icing the area. Best of luck, Dr. Nima!

Thank you for your question. Swelling is very common after any filler injection. Some swelling is worse for some people than others. Remember that you will not see your best result until about a week or two. In the mean time try icing the swollen area. Best if luck! Dhaval M. Patel Double board certified Plastic surgeon Hoffman Estates Barrington Oakbrook Chicago

Thank you for sharing your concerns. Swelling following injection of fillers is not unusual. The larger the amount of product injected, the more the swelling. You can have less injected and then see your doctor for addition filler injection a couple of weeks later. Cold compresses and Arnica might be helpful. See an expert for your treatments.Good luck,

All lips swell after lip injections. Most of the swelling is mild that only the patient or loved ones may notice, and typically resolves within a few days. Your photograph shows more swelling than one typically sees in dermatology or plastic surgery practices. A true allergy to filler is uncommon. If you haven't already, then speak with your lip injector for evaluation.Best,Dr. Chaboki

Swelling is common after lip augmentation with fillers and can take 1-2 weeks to subside. It is too early to determine final results. If you are not pleased with your filler, it can be reversed with hyaluronidase, but give it at least two weeks. It is unlikely that you are allergic to the filler, but I suggest using cannulas to reduce swelling. Please seek an expert if you continue to have concerns. Best, Dr. Emer

Its common for lips to swell after lip injection.   I have found that I  see  less swelling since I've started using a blunt tipped cannula instead of a needle for injection.   If the swelling totally resolves in a few days then it's unlikely that you are allergic.   Allergy to hyaluronic acid fillers is very unusual. Did you have only your upper lip injected? 

The swelling you show is significant and could be a variation of angioedema. This is a condition where an area of the body swells from trauma or spontaneously. There is a familial component or it can be related to ACE inhibitor medication. Most of the time it is unknown as the reason and you must be aware that swelling of the airway is possible in the worst cases. I would get pretreatment with steroids before and afterwards to minimize the swelling in the future. 

Thank you for your question. It is not uncommon to experience swelling after filler injections, however this should resolve in the next 2 weeks. I always advise my patients to ice the treated area to help resolve swelling. You can also gently massage the swollen area to help smooth it out. Please consult your injector if this persists after two weeks. All the best!

It is expected for the lips to swell, sometimes significantly, after injection with hyaluronic acid fillers. It does appear from your photo that your upper lip has swollen much more than the lower lip, so perhaps more was injected in the upper lip. I have found that some patients swell more than others, but the swelling almost always resolves within 10-14 days. If you have significant swelling after injections, I would recommend contacting the injecting physician's office to discuss this further. In the future, I would ask your injecting physician for post-injection recommendations to decrease swelling after treatment. Good luck!