Is Swelling/my Smile Looking Weird Normal After Perlane/restylane in Mid-cheek/NSF Normal?

Question

I got one syringe of perlane placed mid-cheek yesterday&one syringe of restylane for my NSF. Today, my face looks puffy&my smile looks unnatural/I can't smile as wide. My goal was to have such a subtle injection that no one but me would notice a different, which was how the doctor reassured me I'd look. I left yesterday liking how I looked. I woke up today and have found that the smile's all wrong&I'm way more swollen than immediately after injection. I feel ugly nothing like myself. Normal?

Leila Kasrai, MD, FRCSC · Answer

Swelling can appear right after your treatment or the day afterward, and it sounds like that’s what you’re probably going through right now. The swelling will gradually go away, and you’ll most likely regain the subtle, satisfying improvement you had right after your treatment. Just follow your injector’s care instructions to help with the swelling. For example, you may want to avoid vigorous physical exercise to help ease swelling.

Timothy Jochen, MD · Answer

By the time you read our response the condition will have probably resolved on its own.  The swelling should be gone within a week. Give it time. If the problem persists and you are still not comfortable with your smile appearing natural, you can massage the area or have it melted out with hyaluronidase.

Jason Lichtenberger, MD · Answer

Often, but not always, there is some increased swelling in the areas treated by hyaluronic acid fillers such as Perlane, Restylane, and Juvederm.  These fillers work by attracting water into the filled areas.  If you were happy with the immediate post-injection results, you will most likely be happy with the long term results as well.  See your treating physician if there are any more concerns.

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD · Answer

Having said that, this is too early to judge the treatment.  There is always immediate swelling and this may take a week or so to settle.  If you still have these concerns in a week, you may benefit from enzyme to take the volume down and possible a new injector who knows what they are doing.

Grant Stevens, MD · Answer

Greetings~

	Fear not, you will look like your normal self again before long.  It is quite common to be more swollen the day after injections than you were the day of...especially when you first wake up.  Swelling can cause a full, stiff feeling that can easily effect your smile and make you look worse and not better.  It is not uncommon for one side to swell more than the other, making you appear asymmetric or lop-sided as well.  This will resolve.  The best thing you can do is to ice (10 minutes or so every few hours) and avoid vigorous exercise. When you sleep for the first few days, you may want to have your head slightly more elevated than usual.  If after a week, you still stiff, crooked or unnatural looking in anyway, return to the office that injected you for follow up.  If you are truly unhappy with the results the Restylane can be easily dissolved with hyaluronidase and you'll be back to your normal smiling self.

	Good luck~

	Dr. Grant Stevens

Is Swelling/my Smile Looking Weird Normal After Perlane/restylane in Mid-cheek/NSF Normal?

Answers (9)

Answer: You probably have had too much volume placed too low in the cheek.

Answer: You probably have had too much volume placed too low in the cheek.

Answer: Swelling after injections is totally normal

Answer: Swelling after injections is totally normal

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Restylane

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.

Is Swelling/my Smile Looking Weird Normal After Perlane/restylane in Mid-cheek/NSF Normal?

Answers (9)

Answer: You probably have had too much volume placed too low in the cheek.

Answer: You probably have had too much volume placed too low in the cheek.

Answer: Swelling after injections is totally normal

Answer: Swelling after injections is totally normal

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Restylane

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.