Tips for staying active while ensuring proper healing after your lip enhancement procedure
While resuming exercise requires care after lip filler injections, with certain precautions you can maintain an active lifestyle during the recovery period. It’s important to gradually increase workout intensity over a couple weeks, listen to your body, and follow your doctor’s specific aftercare guidelines to support optimal healing.
Lip fillers have skyrocketed in popularity as a cosmetic treatment to add volume and definition to the lips. Dermal fillers offer an effective way to plump your pout without surgery. If you’re considering lip injections or have a treatment planned, you may be wondering: can I work out after getting lip fillers?
It’s understandable to have concerns about exercising too soon after your lip appointment. However, with the proper precautions, you can maintain your active lifestyle while still allowing your lips adequate time to heal.
Schedule a consultation with our medical professionals at Bellava MedAesthetics to receive personalized advice on when you can safely resume exercise after your lip filler procedure.
How Long Should You Wait to Exercise After Lip Injections?
Most cosmetic dermatologists recommend avoiding strenuous activity for at least 24-48 hours after lip filler injections. However, your individual timeline will vary based on factors like:
| Factor | Description |
| Type of Filler Used | Different fillers have varying recovery times. For example, hyaluronic acid fillers like Juvederm and Restylane typically require less downtime compared to collagen stimulators like Sculptra. |
| Injection Technique | The amount of filler injected and the technique used can affect recovery time. More injections usually mean longer recovery. |
| Personal Healing Ability | Individual factors such as age, genetics, and overall health can influence how quickly one heals. |
| Lip Anatomy | Individuals with thinner lips may experience more bruising than those with fuller lips, which can also affect recovery time. |
It’s crucial not to rush back into your typical high-intensity workouts too soon. Exercising prematurely can increase swelling, bruising, tenderness, and irritation around the injection sites. It can also potentially disturb the filler placement before it has integrated properly into the tissues.
Listen to your body – if an activity causes pain or discomfort, avoid it for a few more days. Increase duration and intensity gradually over 1-2 weeks as swelling dissipates.
What Exercises Are Safe to Do After Lip Fillers?
While you’ll want to avoid high-impact exercises immediately after your appointments, you can engage in light activity after 24 hours:
- Walking: A short 20-30 minute walk is generally considered safe a day after injections, as it promotes circulation without excessive strain.
- Gentle Yoga: Basic stretches are acceptable, but inversions should be avoided to prevent pressure on the lips.
- Low-Intensity Swimming: Freestyle laps can be performed a day or two post-injection, but caution is advised to avoid any pressure on the lips from goggles.
- Stationary Cycling: Light pedaling with minimal resistance is safe after 24 hours.
- Mat Pilates: Low-impact routines can be resumed after a couple of days.
Avoid high-impact exercises such as running, weightlifting, HIIT workouts, or hot yoga for at least a week post-injections. These activities can increase blood flow and swelling, potentially affecting the filler placement. Refrain from facial movements that stretch or contort the lips, like certain squats.
Will Exercise Affect My Lip Filler Results?
Exercise does not negatively impact the long-term results of lip fillers in terms of maintaining the added volume. The filler material itself remains stable, and regular exercise should not diminish its longevity significantly.
However, intense physical activity can temporarily exacerbate swelling and bruising around the injection sites due to increased blood circulation. This is a normal physiological response to exercise, particularly right after the injections.
Post-workout inflammation is normal but can be minimized by:
- Staying hydrated before, during and after exercise
- Using cool compresses on lips after working out
- Avoiding heat – no saunas, steam rooms, or hot tubs
- Massaging lips gently to help dissipate fluid buildup
- Taking anti-inflammatory medications as recommended
The filler material itself will not shift due to exercise. But blood rushing to the lips may temporarily enlarge them beyond the desired result. With proper rest and aftercare, your lips will settle within 1-2 weeks.
How to Gradually Resume Your Normal Routine After Lip Fillers
Once the first week has passed and initial swelling has resolved, you can begin to slowly reincorporate more intense cardio and strength training into your routine. The key is gradually ramping up the duration, frequency, and level of exertion over time to allow your lips to adjust.
Follow these tips for progressively resuming exercise:
| Week | Recommended Activities |
| Week 1 | Engage in light walking, stretching, and gentle swimming to promote circulation without stressing the lips. |
| Week 2 | Introduce brief non-impact cardio, such as cycling or using an elliptical machine. |
| Week 3 | Begin incorporating light weights, running, and potentially start HIIT workouts, depending on how your body feels. |
| Week 4 | Typically, you can resume your regular high-intensity training regimen. |
Always start workouts slowly after a day or two of rest post-injections. Stop exercising immediately if you feel pain, swelling, numbness, or irregularity. Avoid overheating and stay diligent about hydrating and icing.
Allow our specialists at Bellava MedAesthetics to create a custom return-to-exercise plan tailored to your lip filler treatment and fitness goals. Start your journey with us!
Lip Massage Techniques for Recovery
Gently massaging the lips can also help minimize bruising and swelling after lip filler injections. A light massage helps break up pooled blood trapped under the skin that causes bluish discoloration. It also helps promote drainage of fluid buildup that leads to puffiness.
Here are some tips for effectively massaging the lips after fillers:
- Allow the numbing medication to fully wear off before massaging to avoid discomfort.
- Wash hands thoroughly prior massaging to avoid introducing bacteria.
- Soak the swab in warm water and gently roll over lips to massage.
- Massage using minimal pressure to avoid moving the filler material.
- Target any reddish or purplish patches to dissipate the trapped blood.
- Take care not to overdo it, several short sessions (5-10 minutes) are best.
- Use a gentle, fragrance-free balm to moisturize your lips.
- Continue massage sessions for 2-3 days until bruises subside.
With a careful touch, lip massage can minimize the common side effects of injections and support proper healing. But take care not to disturb the treatment area – let our provider know if you have concerns.
Conclusion
Getting lip fillers doesn’t mean you have to put your fitness routine on hold indefinitely. With some simple precautions, you can continue to live an active lifestyle while ensuring your lips heal properly after injections.
Be sure to listen to your body, take it slow, stay gentle on your lips during exercise at first, and follow your doctor’s recovery instructions. Gradually ramp up the intensity over a couple weeks as swelling subsides. Before you know it, you’ll be ready to show off your beautiful, plumped lips even during intense workouts!
If you’re considering lip fillers and want to learn more about optimizing results while staying active post-treatment, contact the experts at Bellava MedAesthetics & Plastic Surgery Center.
Our skilled injectors will create a customized filler plan to help you achieve your ideal lip look. Their staff will also provide specialized aftercare instructions so you can continue exercising safely during your recovery.
