Straw Usage Post Lip Filler Treatment
At Bellava MedAesthetics & Plastic Surgery Center, we understand that our patients are eager to resume normal activities like drinking from a straw after receiving lip filler injections.
While there is no universal timeline for straw use after lip fillers, we generally recommend avoiding straws for at least 72 hours post-treatment.
Read on as we break down when it’s safe to use a straw again, plus other tips for protecting your results.
How Lip Fillers Work
Before jumping into post-procedure straw guidelines, it helps to understand what lip fillers are and how they work. Lip augmentation is a minimally invasive treatment that can plump, enhance shape, and reduce fine lines around the mouth. There are three main types of FDA-approved injectable dermal fillers used:
- Hyaluronic acid fillers – Such as Juvederm and Restylane, these gel-like substances integrate into the skin’s natural hyaluronic acid. Effects last 6-12 months.
- Calcium hydroxylapatite – Radiesse injections promote collagen formation for longer-lasting results of up to 18 months.
- Poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) – Sculptra boosts collagen gradually over time, with results lasting around 2 years.
Our skilled injectors at Bellava MedAesthetics & Plastic Surgery Center artfully inject these filler substances just under the mucous membranes of the lips using ultra-fine needles. The materials integrate with surrounding tissues to add natural-looking volume, shape, and definition.
Swelling, bruising, tenderness, and redness are common immediately after injections. It takes 2-4 weeks for fillers to fully settle into their final look. During this initial healing period, patients need to be extra gentle with their lips to avoid risks like filler migration and distortion. This brings us to our advice on straw use after lip fillers.
Can you drink out of a straw after lip filler?
We recommend avoiding straws for at least 72 hours after getting lip fillers. The repeated motion of pursing your lips around a straw can disrupt newly injected filler.
After the first 3 days, you may try sipping cautiously from a straw as swelling subsides. But continue avoiding vigorous sucking motions for 2 weeks.
Why can’t you use a straw after lip fillers?
Using a straw requires tight lip pursing that applies pressure internally.
This can shift filler material before it integrates, causing unevenness or lumpiness. Straw suction also aggravates swelling. So straws are best avoided while your lips heal.
Why Straws Are Discouraged Initially After Lip Fillers
Drinking from a straw requires pursing your lips tightly around the straw’s circumference and applying suction. This scrunching motion can potentially:
- Dislodge newly injected filler material.
- Cause asymmetry or irregularities.
- Worsen swelling and inflammation.
- Increase bruising.
- Draw blood to treated areas, raising internal pressure.
All of these effects can negatively impact lip filler results. That’s why our providers at Bellava MedAesthetics & Plastic Surgery Center recommend avoiding straws until your lips have sufficiently healed.
How long to not use a straw after lip fillers?
As a general rule, avoid using straws for 3-5 days after getting lip fillers. Your injector will advise you on a custom timeframe, commonly 1-2 weeks, before resuming gentle straw use. This allows new filler to integrate properly without distortions or bumps from suction forces.
When Can I Use a Straw After Lip Fillers?
As a general guideline, we advise patients to hold off on using straws for at least 72 hours after lip injections. However, every patient heals differently based on factors like:
- Filler type and placement technique used.
- Injection sites and depth.
- Personal anatomy and metabolism.
- Experience tolerating injections.
- Pre-existing conditions like blood vessel disorders.
During your personalized consultation at Bellava MedAesthetics & Plastic Surgery Center, your injector will assess your individual case and help establish an appropriate straw-free timeframe. They may clear you to resume straw use anywhere from 3 days up to 2 weeks post-treatment.
Our medical team will also demonstrate proper lip care following injections to avoid common issues like:
- Lumpiness, ridges, and asymmetry from filler displacement.
- Prolonged swelling or bruising.
- Under- or over-filled appearance.
- Drooping or shape distortion over time as filler settles.
We want your lip enhancement results to look gorgeous and last. Avoiding straws during the initial healing window helps prevent complications so you can flaunt a beautiful pout long-term.
Other Tips for Protecting Lip Filler Results
At Bellava MedAesthetics & Plastic Surgery Center, we provide patients with detailed aftercare instructions for preserving their lip filler outcomes. Here are some key guidelines to follow:
Avoid strenuous lip movements. Skip vigorous exercises like intense cardio for 24 hours. No kissing, wide smiling, puckering, or exaggerated facial expressions either.
Use a gentle cleansing routine. Gently wash your face and lips with lukewarm water only. Avoid scrubbing. We may provide an antibiotic ointment to apply sparingly as well.
Stay hydrated. Drink lots of water and eat fruits/veggies with high water content. Proper hydration reduces swelling.
No saunas or steam baths. Avoid exposing treated areas to excess heat, which can worsen swelling and inflammation.
Wear broad spectrum SPF 30+ daily. Sun exposure can break down filler materials prematurely. Apply a lip balm or gloss with UV protection.
Sleep elevated on your back. Use extra pillows to keep your head slightly raised. This decreases gravity’s effects on swelling and bruising.
Avoid blood thinners. Don’t take NSAID pain relievers like aspirin or ibuprofen, herbal supplements, alcohol, nicotine, etc, to prevent increased bleeding and bruising. Acetaminophen is usually ok. Ask your provider for recommendations.
Skip the gym. Avoid strenuous exercise and activities that raise blood pressure and circulation to your lips. Light walking is fine.
Monitor for signs of infection. Rare but serious. Contact our office if you have excessive pain, swelling, redness, warmth, or pus-like drainage.
Your injector may provide additional recovery instructions personalized to your treatment plan and medical history. Follow all guidelines closely for the first 14 days as your lips heal. Then you can gradually resume normal activities – including using straws again!
We’re happy to answer any questions about appropriate aftercare following lip injections. Call Bellava MedAesthetics & Plastic Surgery Center today to schedule your lip enhancement consultation!
Frequently Asked Questions About Lip Fillers and Straw Use
Many of our patients at Bellava MedAesthetics & Plastic Surgery Center have additional questions about using straws and drinking after getting lip filler injections. Here are some of the most common FAQs:
How long after lip fillers can I use a straw?
Every patient heals differently, but in general we advise no straw use for 72 hours minimum after lip injections. Your provider will assess your individual case and establish a custom timeline, often 1-2 weeks. They’ll monitor your healing and clear you to resume straw use when appropriate.
Can I drink from a straw after lip filler?
You’ll need to temporarily give up sipping from straws after getting lip fillers. The sucking motion can disrupt results. Drink normally from a cup or glass without using your lips to sip. After several days, you may try cautiously drinking from a straw as swelling improves. But continue avoiding vigorous suctioning motions.
Is it bad to drink out of a straw after lip fillers?
Drinking from a straw isn’t necessarily bad after getting lip injections. However, it does carry risks like shifting filler material and aggravating swelling if done too vigorously, especially within the first 72 hours. That’s why we advise patients to avoid straw use during the initial healing period as a precaution.
Why can’t I use a straw after lip fillers?
Using a straw requires tight lip pursing that can apply pressure to newly injected filler and tissue. This risks causing bumps, migration, drooping, and unevenness while lip filler integrates and stabilizes. That’s why providers recommend no straw use for 1-2 weeks post-treatment as a safety precaution.
Can you drink through a straw after lip fillers?
A: We don’t recommend sipping through a straw for at least 3 days after lip filler injections. Vigorous straw use can shift and disrupt newly placed filler before it settles. Drink normally from cups and glasses instead. After initial swelling resolves, you may try cautious sipping but avoid pursing too tightly.
Can I drink through a straw after lip fillers?
You’ll want to avoid drinking through straws while your lips heal after lip filler injections – usually for the first 72 hours minimum. The repeated suction motion can tug on and displace newly injected filler. After swelling subsides, you may try cautious sipping but avoid forceful pursing.
Can you drink with a straw after lip fillers?
We don’t recommend drinking with a straw for at least 3 days after getting lip fillers. The tight pursing action applies internal pressure that can shift filler material.
After initial swelling resolves, you may try light sipping from a straw but avoid forceful suction motions as your lips continue healing.
When can I drink from a straw after lip filler?
Most providers recommend avoiding straw use for at least 72 hours after getting lip fillers. The suction motion can displace newly injected material while it integrates. Your injector will advise you on a custom timeline for when to resume light straw use as your swelling and bruising subside – usually 1-2 weeks.
Can I use a straw after lip fillers?
You’ll need to skip drinking from straws temporarily after getting lip filler injections. Suction can disturb and misshape newly placed filler before it stabilizes. Avoid straws for at least 3 days, and use cups to drink instead. After your lips heal, you may try light sipping but avoid forceful pursing motions.
Can you drink from a straw after lip fillers?
We recommend no straw use for at least 72 hours after getting lip fillers. The sucking motion can shift and damage newly injected material. Some gentle sipping may be ok after initial swelling resolves over 1-2 weeks. But continue avoiding forceful pursing which applies pressure internally.
When can I use a straw after lip filler?
For best results, avoid using straws for 3-5 days minimum after getting lip filler injections. Your provider will advise you on a custom timeline for resuming gentle sipping that won’t displace new filler material. Most patients need 1-2 weeks before it’s safe to pucker lips around a straw again.
We hope these tips help explain our advice about drinking from straws and other activities following your lip filler treatment. Don’t hesitate to call Bellava MedAesthetics & Plastic Surgery Center with any other questions! We want to ensure your results are beautiful, natural-looking, and long lasting.
