So that you shelled out for lip filler hoping for a wonderfully pouty look, however you wound up completely hating the outcomes. What the hell are you able to do about it—moreover, effectively, cry and complain? Lip injections are an ultra-popular nonsurgical process that may virtually instantaneously give your mouth a fuller look, however nonetheless, they’re not with out threat.

We’re not speaking concerning the potential for severe, albeit uncommon, well being penalties like pores and skin necrosis (tissue loss of life ensuing from harm or trauma) or a hematoma (a pool of blood beneath your pores and skin, a.okay.a. a very dangerous bruise); these points must be addressed by a health care provider—both the dermatologist or plastic surgeon who did your filler or your main care supplier, when you have one—ASAP. We’re referring to much less excessive, however nonetheless upsetting, unwanted side effects like extra swelling or bumps and lumps, which may occur when dermal injections are positioned inconsistently or start emigrate, Melissa Doft, MD, a double board-certified plastic surgeon based mostly in New York Metropolis, tells SELF.

Possibly your injector was inexperienced and added an excessive amount of filler—one purpose why it’s best to all the time see a board-certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon for any beauty injectible, per the consultants SELF consulted. Or maybe you merely underestimated how completely different you’d take care of a dozen photographs, as a result of a sudden, dramatic change in your look might be fairly daunting, Rawn Bosley, MD, board-certified dermatologist and supervising doctor at Ever/Physique in Dallas, tells SELF.

Sadly, there isn’t a complete lot you are able to do to right away reverse the look of dangerous lip filler, however don’t freak out simply but: There are measures you’ll be able to take to really feel higher concerning the outcomes. Right here’s how you can deal if you happen to hate or remorse your new and not-so-improved lips.

First, decide in case your lips are literally botched or simply swollen.

Regardless of these superstar before-and-afters (that will have impressed you to you get plumped within the first place), there’s a excessive likelihood that your lips will look fairly funky inside minutes of receiving filler. However there’s excellent news: Their jarring look received’t be indicative of your closing outcomes, David Goldberg, MD, board-certified dermatologist and director of beauty dermatology at Schweiger Dermatology Group in New York Metropolis, tells SELF.

“There’s often preliminary swelling, which may make your lips look larger than you’d like, as a result of hyaluronic acid fillers (comparable to Juvederm, Belotero, and Restylane) take up water,” Dr. Goldberg says, which is how they assist your lips keep a sure form and quantity. On the flip aspect, this could additionally result in a brief (phew!) overfilled, swollen, or uneven look.

One other tremendous widespread and unglamorous doable aspect impact is bruising, Dr. Doft provides. Give it some thought: Your lips have a ton of blood vessels, so when that delicate space is poked, prodded, and punctured by a large needle, patches of black, blue, and/or purple pores and skin are fairly commonplace reactions to the bodily trauma, she says.

Each swelling and bruising are, once more, short-term and will subside inside 10 to 14 days of your appointment, in line with all of the consultants SELF spoke with; in very uncommon cases, Dr. Bosley notes that delicate irritation can persist for as much as 4 weeks. Any unwanted side effects that last more often point out poor method and can be an indication of an infection. So in case your lips are nonetheless swollen after two weeks otherwise you discover issues like pus or expertise excessive ache, see your supplier ASAP to rule out problems.

Use ice or arnica to scale back swelling.

Ready even two weeks can really feel like a lifetime if you happen to’re self-conscious about your lips. Whereas it’s all the time finest to hunt skilled steerage, there are some at-home steps you’ll be able to take to alleviate irritation.