Discover how to get gorgeous, fuller lips without the sting at Montville MedSpa.
You’ve considered getting lip fillers to enhance your pout, but the idea of needles makes you anxious. Like most clients, your main concern is – do lip fillers hurt?
At Montville MedSpa, your comfort is our top priority. Our founder, Dr. Donna D’Alessio, is an expert injector with a gentle touch. We offer personalized numbing treatments so you can achieve gorgeous lips with minimal to no pain.
How Much Discomfort Can I Expect from Lip Injections?
If we’re rating lip filler pain on a scale of 1 to 10, most patients report it between a 3 and a 7.
The upper lip tends to be more sensitive than the lower lip. Areas like the delicate cupid’s bow and corners of the mouth also tend to feel more pinching or stinging during injections.
Each injection will feel like a quick bee sting or ant bite. There might be a bit of residual soreness after but this fades rapidly. With smaller needles, you’ll hardly feel the initial pierce. It’s more the pressure and odd sensation of the filler going into the lip that creates discomfort for a few seconds per injection.
For a 1ml syringe of filler split between both lips, you’ll generally need 15-30 injections. That may sound like a lot but each one is over in a flash. The whole process from start to finish takes 15-30 minutes.
Why Do Lip Injections Hurt for Some People More Than Others?
First off, every client has a different pain tolerance and experience.
For some, the procedure feels like little more than some pinches and pressure. For others, it can range from uncomfortable to moderately painful depending on the technique and anatomy.
There are a few key factors that determine an individual’s pain perception when getting lip fillers:
Needle Size
We use ultrafine 32G needles that have a diameter less than a human hair. This leads to very little pain upon injection.
Injection Speed
Quick injections in the proper plane cause less discomfort. Slow or incorrect techniques drag and pull the lip tissue more.
Filler Thickness
Thinner fillers like Belotero spread easier, reducing swelling and ache. Thicker ones like Juvederm Voluma require more pressure.
Anatomy
Those with thicker adipose fat in their lips often report less painful injections than those with thin lips/skin.
Tolerance
Some individuals simply have lower natural pain thresholds and nerves that are more sensitive.
Anxiety Level
Those who feel more anxiety or fear about the injections tend to perceive worse pain. Relaxation is key.
Hormones
Women report higher pain during certain phases of their cycle when estrogen and progesterone fluctuate.
The bottom line is that many factors contribute to how much lip fillers may hurt or feel uncomfortable during and after injection.
At Montville MedSpa, our priority is to minimize any pain you experience through precision technique, gentle hands and a smooth process from start to finish.
How Long Does Pain and Discomfort from Lip Injections Last?
You’ll experience two stages of pain and discomfort with lip fillers:
During the injections you’ll feel acute discomfort that comes and goes quickly with each individual injection. The nurse will give you time between injections to recuperate.
After the procedure for roughly 3 days the lips will be swollen, tender, and slightly painful due to the inflammation from the injections. This soreness gradually decreases over the first week as the swelling goes down.
Using cold compresses, OTC pain relievers and gentle massage can alleviate most of the post-procedural discomfort. Avoiding vigorous exercise and excessive mouth movements for the first 72 hours prevents putting pressure on the area before it fully stabilizes.
Tips to Minimize Pain During Your Lip Filler Procedure
You don’t have to dread or “grin and bear it” when it comes to pain with lip injections! Here are some of our proven tricks we use to make the procedure as smooth and comfortable as possible for clients:
Before Your Appointment:
- Avoid caffeine, alcohol, blood thinners like aspirin, and anti-inflammatory medicines which can heighten pain.
- Drink lots of water to stay hydrated and use cool compresses to numb the lips.
During the Procedure:
- We’ll have you use a topical numbing cream containing lidocaine for 20 minutes before we begin. This helps significantly reduce sharp pinch of the needle prick.
- Application of ice packs, cryotherapy wands, and vibration devices interrupts pain signals during the injections.
- Breathe slowly and deeply. Tensing up amplifies any discomfort.
- We inject in small aliquots, allowing the lip time to accommodate to the filler with minimal swelling.
- Most patients state the first few injections are the worst, with discomfort reducing as the lip gets number.
After Your Appointment:
- Continue using ice packs on and off for 24 hours to minimize throbbing and swelling. Gentle lymphatic drainage massage also relieves achiness.
- Take acetaminophen/Tylenol as needed per directions for any residual tenderness over the first few days.
- Drink lots of fluids and consume a soft, cool diet to prevent irritation to the inject sites.
- Avoid strenuous activity for 3 days and do not manipulate your lips while they heal. No kissing!
See? A few simple preparation and recovery tips can help take the “sting” out of lip injections. Now let’s go over what kind of pain you can expect with different types of lip fillers.
Ready for Your Luxury Lip Makeover?
At Montville MedSpa, your comfort and satisfaction are our top concerns. We use advanced techniques to minimize pain so you can focus on achieving your most gorgeous lips yet.
Whether you want subtle definition or a show-stopping pout, we’re here to make your experience as painless and perfect as possible.
Contact Montville MedSpa today to schedule your complimentary lip filler consultation. Now is the time to transform your lips and enhance your natural beauty.
