Lip fillers are becoming increasingly popular but do they hurt and how does it feel? We discuss how painful if at all, the procedure is in this post.
Spoiler alert: the answer is NO, lip filler injections don’t hurt but ultimately, it depends on a few factors which we’ll discuss.
Want fuller looking lips? BOOK NOW for a consultation with Dr Simon Zokaie
Both male and female patients are reaping the benefits of this lip augmentation procedure if they suffer from lips that are naturally thin or that have experienced volume loss over the years.
Part of its popularity and why so many patients are having this treatment is the fact that it is one way to avoid having any real invasive surgery performed, with instead a lip filler being injected directly into the lips.
While these fillers do not produce permanent results, they can last for between six months in most cases and sometimes up to two years. This sounds good, but how badly does the treatment hurt?
Do Lip Injections Hurt?
With that description, one question that may come to mind if it is your first time is “do lip fillers hurt?” It doesn’t exactly sound comfortable getting lip fillers and having a needle pierced into your lips. Taken at face value, it doesn’t really sound like one of those things you would do voluntarily.
However, as you will see, these specialist injections are not nearly as painful an experience as they sound for patients.
Interestingly, the lip procedure is more or less pain-free. A topical cream is applied before the surgeon starts injecting your lip and this numbs the injection sites to reduce how much you feel.
Even if the numbing cream doesn’t work, (this admittedly is rare, but some clients do not feel the benefit of the cream as much as others) many clinics offer a nerve block, which works by stopping communication between your lips and your brain.
You can discuss any concerns you have about how much pain and discomfort you are likely to have from the treatment with the nurse practitioner or surgeon performing it.
The injection sites and amount of filler required for your desired results will be discussed during your consultation, as well as aftercare.
Generally, it won’t disrupt your life, but you may need to take a break for a short time to heal.
In the following post, to help you make the decision about whether the lip filler procedure is right for you or not, we are going to look at how lip fillers as a process actually feel, ways you can make the treatment less painful and reduce the side effects and whether it still hurts afterwards or not.
How do lip fillers feel?
To understand the amount of pain and discomfort, if any, you are likely to experience from having lip fillers and those kinds of procedures, you need to know how it actually feels to have it done.
Once the numbing cream has been applied and 30 minutes have passed, you should have an almost complete reduction in sensation around your lip or lips, of at least 80 to 90%.
The actual injection of the lip filler is done using an extremely fine needle.
This is different from the way these kinds of procedures in the past were performed when products containing collagen were used.
Those needles needed to be big because collagen had a high viscosity. Hyaluronic acid, HA for short, is not as dense, allowing for a much smaller and slimmer needle which helps to reduce the bruising, swelling and pain it causes.
The acid helps to stimulate the body’s natural collagen production.
In terms of how they actually feel, many clients comment that the injections feel a little similar to a slight pinch at the beginning when the needle pierces into the lips.
Then a stinging or cold sensation as the acid is injected and the content spreads through to the different areas of your lips.
How do you make lip fillers less painful?
There are a number of ways you can reduce the pain, swelling and bruising caused by the procedure.
By far the most effective way, however, is to make sure you choose a qualified clinic who are especially experienced in performing the filler procedure.
There are certain techniques that have also been shown to be less painful than others.
For example, one study showed that the anterograde method was less painful (when the contents of the needle are slightly pushed out as it is piercing the patient’s skin) versus the retrograde method, which is injecting the solution after the needle has penetrated.
Both methods ultimately work and you can ask your practitioner which method they use and why.
Aside from this, you can also do the following to help make any pain from treatment easier to cope with:
- Do not consume alcohol 24 hours, at the very least, before your treatment
- Avoid taking Ibuprofen and other anti-inflammatory medication
- Avoid taking garlic and fish oil supplements which can thin out your blood
- Do not book your lip filler appointment the week before your period is due to start, as your sensitivity is heightened during that time.
You can find out more about lip fillers and whether you should get lip fillers <– in our guide here
A lot of what determines how much pain and discomfort you feel during your procedure will depend on your pain threshold.
Do lip fillers hurt after?
As noted above, your life does not need to be put on hold after this treatment on your lips. Most patients do not have too many problems.
The one real side effect you are likely to notice is some discomfort and a little pain caused by the bruising and swelling around the injection sites and areas around your lips.
This can be reduced, however, with the use of a cold compress and keeping your head elevated when you sleep at night, for at least two days following your treatment, or until you start to see a reduction in the adverse effects.
You should also avoid taking part in any energetic sports or exercise and stay away from high temperatures, as these can exacerbate the problems.
Treat Your Lips Today at Our London Clinic
Our advice would be not to let this put you off having a lip fillers injection treatment, as most patients would suggest the positives and amazing results outweigh the negatives and problems. Pain is something patients rarely complain about.
Get full and natural looking lips – BOOK NOW for your consultation with Dr Simon Zokaie
Say goodbye to thin and lifeless lips and hello to full volume lips with hyaluronic acid HA fillers.
