Lip is swelling months after lip injections. (Photo)

Question

I got belotero in my lips back in May, and this is the third time my lips have swollen up out of nowhere. I go to bed and everything is fine, and then when I wake up, just one side of my top lip is swollen. It's really sore and hard feeling too. I'm not allergic to anything and I'm not using anything different on my face or lips or eating anything different. When this happened before I went back to where I got my lips done and they said it was probably an allergy. I honestly don't think it is.

Aldo Guerra, MD · Answer

I'm sorry you're having this problem. I suggest you see your injector/physician. This could be an infection of the biofilm that forms around the filler and it may require antibiotics and a solution of medication to dissolve the product. Infection is a higher risk when the lips are injected because it's not a clean area. Go see your injector ASAP.

Best wishes, Dr. ALDO

Best wishes, Dr. ALDO

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

I recommend following up with another evaluation to rule out allergy, granuloma, etc. If it is a granuloma, it can be treated with a steroid injection. The filler should be reversed with hyaluronidase.  See an expert. Best, Dr. Emer.

Monika Soni, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. Having some swelling is common after lip augmentation. However, from your photos I can see that you have excessive swelling, this is not common. You can have this dissolved with hyaluronidase. Also, your doctor can treat this with steroids and antihistamines to calm down the inflammation. I recommend seeing your treating physician for the best treatment plan for you.

Hratch Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Seek someone with expertise in reversing this and treating a granuloma if it is indeed the problem. Kare Plastic Surgery in Santa Monica may be able to help you. They can also solubilize the product with hyaluronidaseBest

Liliana Manrique, MD · Answer

This is an unusual situation. I'm sorry to hear what you are going through. It can be a granuloma or an allergic reaction to the HA. You must consult with an experienced injector to define what is the best way to go. Steroid injections or hyaluronidase injections could help.

Shaun Patel, MD · Answer

This is very unusual. I would be concerned about an allergic or inflammatory response to the filler. The filler should probably be reversed and steroids could be used to help bring the swelling down. I recommend you see an experienced injector to come up with a treatment plan.

Daniel G. Kuy, MD · Answer

this is quite an unusual reaction. I wonder whether you might be biting on your lip while you are asleep. The filler could still create a unusual late swelling reaction if additional trauma occurs. I will try a course of steroids if the swelling persist. Also Hyloranidase could be injected to dissolve the filler if it doesn't stop

Glenn Messina, MD · Answer

First I notice that you lip swells in different areas at different times. The cause could be allergic but rare since hyaluronic acid fillers have very low allergy potential. Granuloma formation ( picture you immune system creating a small pebble of tissue in an irritated area) but they tend not to move from side to side.

I wonder if this could be a medical condition, I would speak to your internist and see if you suffer from angioedema. Patients with this benign but annoying condition most often have their lips swell to huge sizes with minor insult. Biting a lip, sleeping wrong, puncturing a lip all can cause sudden swelling that resolved in hours or days.

Please keep us informed

Kristin J. Tarbet, MD, FACS · Answer

There are multiple things that could be going on. Could be an allergy, could be a granuloma, or other issues. I would recommend a second opinion from a reputable provider other than your initial injector.

Lip is swelling months after lip injections. (Photo)

Answers (9)

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