Dermal filler being injected into a patient's upper lip at The Spa by Sheena, a medical day spa in Lubbock, TX

POST CARE GUIDE

Dermal Filler Aftercare

Dermal filler restores volume by sitting beneath the skin and drawing water into the treated area. The first 48 hours are when most swelling and bruising show up, and the first two weeks are when the filler settles into its final shape. This guide walks you through the full recovery — what is normal, what is not, the 4-hour upright rule, the 48-hour exercise pause, and the symptoms that need a call right away.

Download Post Care Guide (806) 701-5840

YOUR RECOVERY, IN ORDER

What happens, and when

Here is the path from treatment day to final result.

Two Weeks

Let it settle

No massaging the treated area, delay dental work, and book your 2-week follow-up so we can assess final settling and symmetry.

First 48 Hours

Ice, no blood thinners

Cool compress for swelling, 10–15 minutes at a time. Tylenol only for discomfort — no NSAIDs, alcohol, flying, or strenuous exercise.

The First Night

Sleep face up, elevated

Keep your head slightly raised on an extra pillow and stay off the treated area. No pressure on the face for the first night.

YOUR RECOVERY, IN ORDER

How to Care for Your Skin After Dermal Filler

Hydration matters

Drink 6 to 8 glasses of water daily. Hyaluronic acid fillers draw water into the treated area, and good hydration helps them plump evenly. Skip excess salty foods, which hold water in the wrong places and worsen visible swelling.

Stay upright (first 4 hours)

Stay upright for the first 4 hours — no lying flat, no bending forward, no face-down massage. This keeps the filler exactly where it was placed before it begins integrating with your tissue.

Arnica reduces bruising

Topical arnica gel or oral arnica tablets started the day of treatment help reduce the size and duration of bruising. Bromelain (from pineapple) has a similar effect when taken with food.

Sleep face up, elevated (first night)

Sleep on your back with an extra pillow under your head for the first night. Side-sleeping or face-down position can shift filler before it sets into your tissue.

Tylenol only for discomfort

Use acetaminophen (Tylenol) for any soreness. Skip ibuprofen, aspirin, naproxen, fish oil, and vitamin E — all thin the blood and worsen bruising at injection sites.

Cool compress (first 48 hours)

Apply a cool compress wrapped in a clean cloth for 10 to 15 minutes at a time, repeated as needed. Cold constricts blood vessels and reduces both swelling and bruise visibility. Never put ice directly on the skin.

WHAT TO EXPECT

What's Normal: Dermal Filler Downtime

Normal, temporary, and part of the process.

Asymmetry (first 2 weeks)

Bruising (up to 10 days)

Tenderness (2 to 3 days)

Peak swelling (day 2)

Swelling (first 3 days)

FOR ONE WEEK

What to Avoid After Dermal Filler

Flying

Avoid air travel for 48 hours after treatment. Cabin pressure changes can increase swelling and affect how the filler settles.

Strenuous Exercise

Skip the gym, hot yoga, and HIIT for 24 to 48 hours. Elevated heart rate and blood flow worsen both swelling and bruising. A walk is fine.

Sun & Heat

Avoid direct sun, tanning beds, saunas, steam rooms, and hot tubs for 72 hours. Heat dilates blood vessels and increases swelling and bruise visibility.

Alcohol & Salt

Avoid alcohol for 24 hours and limit salty foods for several days. Alcohol thins the blood; salt holds water — both worsen visible swelling.

Sleep Position

Sleep on your back with the head elevated for the first 2 weeks when possible. Side or face-down sleeping can shift filler before it fully integrates.

Dental Work

Delay non-urgent dental work for 2 weeks. Cleanings, procedures, and prolonged mouth opening can move filler in the cheek, lip, and mid-face areas through pressure or vibration.

Massage

Do not massage, press, or rub the treated area for 2 weeks unless we specifically instruct otherwise. That includes facial massage, lash extensions face-down, and microcurrent treatments.

Lip Filler — Straws & Puckering

If you had lip filler, avoid drinking from straws, puckering, smoking, and applying lipstick that requires firm pressure for 3 to 5 days. These all squeeze the product before it settles.

When to call the spa

Contact The Spa immediately if you experience:

Mild swelling, pinpoint bruising, and tenderness for the first 3 days are all normal. Call us immediately if you notice any of the following:

Skin color change in or around the treated area — white, grey, blue, or dark purple discoloration. This can be a sign of vascular occlusion and needs evaluation within hours, not days.
Severe pain disproportionate to the procedure, especially throbbing, burning, or pain that worsens after the first day.
Vision changes — blurred vision, double vision, or vision loss. Go to the ER immediately and call us.
Signs of infection — increasing redness, warmth, pus, fever, or pain that is worsening rather than improving.
Lumps or asymmetry that persist past 2 weeks beyond what we discussed at your appointment.

During business hours, call us at (806) 701-5840. For vision changes, severe pain, or any sign of vascular compromise outside business hours, go to the nearest emergency room and notify us as soon as you are able.

Call us right away at (806) 701-5840.

KEEPING RESULTS

When to Book Your Next Filler Touch-Up

Final settling (day 14)

Your final result is visible at the 2-week mark, once all swelling has resolved and the filler has integrated. Some hyaluronic acid fillers continue to draw water and refine for up to 4 weeks.

Maintenance cadence

Maintenance depends on filler type and area. Lip filler typically lasts 6 to 12 months, cheek and mid-face fillers 12 to 18 months, and deeper structural fillers up to 24 months. Schedule your next session when you start to see your original concern returning.

Touch-up window (2 weeks)

If you want any adjustment — added volume, better symmetry, refinement — the 2-week follow-up is the moment to book it. We do not assess or touch up before 2 weeks because swelling can mask the actual result.

FAQ

Your questions, answered

We’ve answered some of the most common questions below to help make your experience simple, transparent, and stress-free.

Dermal fillers are injectable gels—mostly hyaluronic acid (the same substance your skin naturally produces) plus a few biostimulators like Sculptra—used to restore lost volume, add contour, and smooth lines. We use them in lips, cheeks, jawline, under eyes, temples, nasolabial folds, and hands. Results are immediate and last 6–18 months depending on the product and area.

What are dermal fillers and what do they do?

We typically use Restylane Kysse, Juvederm Volbella, or RHA Redensity for lips—soft, flexible gels that move naturally with expression. For more structure (a defined lip line), we'd choose Restylane Refyne or Juvederm Ultra. The right product depends on the look you want—natural plumping vs. defined shape—and your lip anatomy. We'll choose together at consultation.

What's the best filler for lips?

Most patients see 9–12 months from a full syringe of lip filler. Some patients metabolize faster (especially if active in cardio) and see 6–8 months; others see 14+ months. Touch-ups every 9–12 months maintain consistent shape. Don't expect a single treatment to last 2 years—that's not how lip filler works.

How long do lip fillers last?

Lips: usually 1 syringe per treatment, sometimes 1.5 for full restoration. Cheeks: 2–4 syringes per side over 1–2 sessions for full restoration. Jawline: 2–4 syringes. Under eyes: 1–2 syringes total. Nasolabial folds: 1 syringe. Your provider calculates based on your face and goals. We don't push more product than you need.

How much filler do I need?

Hyaluronic acid fillers run $550 to $1,100 per syringe depending on the product. Common products: Volbella .5ml $550, Eyelight $550, SkinVive $550, Kysse $800, RHA-1/2/3/4 $800 each, Lyft $750, Defyne $850, Refyne $850, Juvederm Ultra $850, Vollure $925, Contour $925, Voluma $1,000, Volux $1,025. Radiesse (calcium hydroxylapatite) $1,100. Members receive discounted per-syringe pricing.

What does a syringe of filler cost in Lubbock?

Less than you'd think. We apply topical numbing for 15–20 minutes before treatment, and all hyaluronic acid fillers contain lidocaine that further numbs as the product is injected. Areas like lips are more sensitive than cheeks. Most patients are comfortable throughout. We can use a cannula instead of a needle for certain areas (less bruising, less pain).

Does filler hurt?

Swelling is normal for 24–48 hours (lips can swell visibly for 3 days). Bruising is possible at any injection site. Most patients return to normal activity immediately—just skip strenuous exercise, heat, and alcohol for 24 hours. Final shape settles at 2 weeks once swelling resolves.

What's the recovery from dermal fillers?

Yes—hyaluronic acid fillers can be dissolved within 24 hours using hyaluronidase (Hylenex), which we offer in-house. We use this if you're not happy with the result, if there's been migration, or if a complication arises. Sculptra and Radiesse are NOT reversible—we're more conservative with those products as a result.

Can fillers be reversed?

Fillers replace lost volume—they add to your face. Botox relaxes muscles to soften wrinkles caused by movement. Fillers treat lines that show up at rest (deep nasolabial folds, sunken cheeks); Botox treats lines that show up when you move (forehead, crow's feet). They work in different ways and most patients use both for complete results.

What's the difference between fillers and Botox?

Improperly placed filler can migrate, especially in lips. Migration is a sign of overfill or wrong product placement. Our team is trained to place product in the correct anatomical plane and to use proper dosing. If you've had filler elsewhere and have concerns about migration, we offer dissolving and re-treatment plans.

Can filler migrate?

Not when used correctly. The myth comes from patients who've been chronically over-filled. Properly dosed filler integrates with surrounding tissue and supports the area without stretching. Skin stretches from massive volume changes (major weight loss/gain, pregnancy), not from appropriately dosed filler.

Will fillers stretch out my skin?

Yes—and they often work better in combination. We frequently pair fillers with Botox (volume + muscle relaxation), with Sculptra (immediate fill + long-term collagen building), with PRP microneedling (skin quality + structural support), and with skincare protocols. We'll build a combined plan if that's what your goals require.

Can fillers be combined with other treatments?

A follow-up appointment is recommended 2 weeks after treatment so swelling resolves and you see the true result. For staged restoration we typically space additional sessions 2 to 4 weeks apart so you can evaluate and we can refine. Maintenance treatments are typically needed every 6 to 18 months depending on the area treated and filler used.

How long should I wait between filler sessions?

Pregnant or breastfeeding patients, patients with active infections in the treatment area, patients with certain autoimmune or bleeding disorders, and patients on certain medications. We screen for all of this at consultation. If filler isn't appropriate for you, we'll tell you and suggest alternatives.

Who shouldn't get dermal fillers?

Book a complimentary consultation online or call (806) 701-5840. We'll examine your face, talk through what you'd like to change, recommend products and amounts, and give you honest pricing. No obligation—we want you to make the right decision for you.