Lip Filler
About Lip Filler
Lip filler is an injectable treatment that adds shape, definition or volume to the lips and can soften fine lines around the mouth. Most lip fillers are made from hyaluronic acid, a sugar molecule your body produces naturally, formed into a smooth gel and placed in small amounts with a fine needle or a blunt cannula. Many products also contain a little local anaesthetic to make the treatment more comfortable. Results are temporary and usually last somewhere between 6 and 18 months, depending on the product, the amount used and how your body breaks it down. A hyaluronic acid filler can be dissolved with an enzyme called hyaluronidase if a problem arises, which is one reason it has become the standard choice for lips. Treatment suits adults who want a subtle refresh, better balance between the upper and lower lip, a crisper lip border, or a gradual change built up over more than one visit. The injecting itself usually takes 20 to 30 minutes, with time for consultation, photographs and numbing on top. In England it is a criminal offence to give cosmetic filler injections to anyone under 18, and a face-to-face consultation with a qualified practitioner always comes first.
On the day, and after
During the treatment
Your practitioner will check your medical history again, talk through the look you want, take photographs and ask you to sign a consent form once you understand the risks. Your lips are cleaned thoroughly and a numbing cream may be applied for a short time. The filler is then placed in tiny amounts at a series of points in and around the lips, using a fine needle or a cannula. A careful practitioner works slowly, injecting small volumes and watching the colour of your skin throughout, because changes in colour can be an early sign that a blood vessel has been affected. They may gently massage the lips to smooth the product and will show you a mirror as they go so you can review the shape together. Most appointments end with aftercare advice, a contact number for any concerns and a review appointment, often around two weeks later.
How it feels
Most people describe lip filler as uncomfortable rather than painful. The lips are sensitive, so numbing cream and the anaesthetic mixed into many fillers make a real difference. You will feel a series of small pinches or a pressure as the product goes in, and a stinging or tight feeling in places, particularly near the lip border and the centre of the upper lip. Many people find the anticipation worse than the treatment itself. Straight afterwards your lips may feel numb, heavy or tight, and they can look lumpy or uneven while the swelling settles. Over the next day they may feel tender, warm or a little bruised. Firmness usually softens over the following days as the filler integrates. Pain that is severe, worsening or out of proportion to what you were told to expect needs prompt attention.
Results and maintenance
You will see a change straight away, but the true result shows once swelling has settled, usually at around two weeks. That is when your review appointment is most useful, as your practitioner can assess symmetry and, if needed, add a small top up. Hyaluronic acid filler is gradually broken down by the body, so results usually last somewhere between 6 and 18 months. People with a faster metabolism, very mobile lips or a lot of exercise in their routine may find it fades sooner. Many people choose to top up before the filler has fully faded, which helps keep the look consistent and often means less product is needed each time. Repeated treatment should be planned with care, and a good practitioner will regularly reassess rather than simply adding more. If you ever want to reverse filler, a prescriber can assess you for hyaluronidase.
Before and after your appointment
Before your appointment
Book a consultation before any treatment, ideally on a separate day, so you have time to think. Your practitioner will take a full medical history, so come ready to talk about medicines, supplements, allergies, previous filler and any history of cold sores. If you get cold sores, mention it early, as an antiviral can be prescribed to take for a few days either side of treatment. Blood thinning medicines such as aspirin, ibuprofen and warfarin, and supplements such as fish oil, ginkgo and vitamin E, can increase bruising. Never stop a prescribed medicine without speaking to the doctor who prescribed it. Plan any dental work for at least two weeks before or after your appointment. If you have had an infection or a course of antibiotics recently, your practitioner may ask you to wait. Arrive with clean lips, and leave a clear fortnight before any big event so swelling has time to settle.
Aftercare
Expect your lips to look fuller than the final result at first. Swelling usually peaks around 12 to 24 hours after treatment, most of it settles by day three or four, and the last of it can take up to two weeks. Leave your lips clean and untouched for the first 24 hours, then use a gentle balm. Avoid alcohol for at least 24 hours, and ideally 48. Keep exercise light for the first two days and save running, weights and intense workouts until after that. Stay away from saunas, steam rooms, hot tubs and sunbeds for 48 to 72 hours, and wait until the numbness has worn off before having hot drinks. Sleeping on your back for the first couple of nights helps. Use a soft toothbrush with light pressure on day one, and avoid pressing or kissing while the filler settles. Contact your practitioner straight away about any pain, colour change or worsening swelling.
Most people go back to work or everyday life straight away, although your lips will look noticeably swollen at first. Swelling is usually at its most visible over the first day, most of it settles within three or four days, and the final shape is clearer at around two weeks. Bruising is common and can take a few days to a week to fade. Plan around the first 48 hours by keeping exercise light, avoiding alcohol and heat, and sleeping on your back. Many people choose to have treatment before a weekend or a quiet few days. If you have a photo shoot, wedding or holiday coming up, leave at least two weeks between treatment and the event.
Safety and medical considerations
Safety essentials
In England there is currently no licence needed to inject lip filler. The government has confirmed it plans a national licensing scheme, but as of autumn 2026 no regulations have been made and no start date has been set. That makes your own checks especially important. Professional Standards Authority guidance is to look for a nurse, dentist, doctor or other healthcare professional whose profession is regulated and who also appears on an accredited register. For injectables, those registers are run by Save Face and the Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners (JCCP). Save Face accredits only registered healthcare professionals and inspects every clinic it lists. Your practitioner should hold insurance that names lip filler specifically, work in clean clinical premises, and be able to manage complications on the spot. That means having hyaluronidase available. Hyaluronidase is a prescription only medicine, so it must be prescribed by a prescriber after a face-to-face consultation with you, and a practitioner who is not a prescriber needs a prescribing partner in place.
Medical considerations
Lip filler is not suitable while you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have a known allergy to hyaluronic acid or lidocaine. Postpone treatment if you have a cold sore, a skin infection or any infection elsewhere in the body, and wait until you are fully well; some practitioners ask for at least four weeks after finishing antibiotics. Tell your practitioner about autoimmune conditions, bleeding disorders, immunosuppressant or steroid medicines, and any medicine that thins the blood, as these change the level of risk. The most serious complication is a vascular occlusion, where filler blocks or presses on a blood vessel. Warning signs include sudden or severe pain, skin turning pale, white, dusky, blue or mottled, and slow return of colour when pressed. These can appear during treatment or some hours afterwards. Contact your practitioner immediately, and if you have severe pain, any change in your vision or signs of infection, get urgent medical care.
Patch testing
A patch test is not usually carried out before hyaluronic acid lip filler. Hyaluronic acid is a substance your body already makes, and allergic reactions to the gel itself are considered very rare by experienced injectors. When a reaction does happen, it is more often linked to the local anaesthetic, such as lidocaine, that many fillers contain. For that reason your practitioner will screen you carefully instead, asking about any allergies, any reaction you have had to local anaesthetic at the dentist, and any previous filler. A known allergy to hyaluronic acid or lidocaine means treatment should not go ahead. A patch test, or a referral for allergy advice, would be worth discussing if you have a history of reactions to anaesthetics, multiple allergies, or have reacted to a filler in the past. If you have an active skin condition around the mouth, your practitioner may refer you to a dermatologist first. Whatever is decided, the screening conversation should happen at your consultation, in good time before the treatment day, so there is no pressure to proceed.
Knowing a good practitioner
Green flags
A reassuring clinic starts with a thorough consultation that explores why you want treatment, takes a full medical history and builds in time to reflect before you commit. Your practitioner is a regulated healthcare professional who is happy for you to check their registration, and they may also appear on the JCCP or Save Face register. They name the product they will use, explain how much they suggest and why, and talk you through common side effects and rare complications in plain language. Hyaluronidase and an emergency protocol are ready on site, and if they are not a prescriber themselves they can tell you who their prescriber is. The room is clean and clinical, consent is written, and photographs are taken before and after. You leave with written aftercare, an out of hours contact number and a review appointment. A natural, gradual approach is offered, and saying no is welcome.
Red flags
Take a step back if the person injecting cannot show you their professional registration, or does not appear on the GDC, GMC, NMC or GPhC register they claim. Be wary of treatment offered at a party, in a home without a clinical room, or booked with no consultation at all. Time limited offers that push you to decide quickly are a concern, as is any practitioner who will not explain the risks. Hesitation about how they would handle a blocked blood vessel, or no access to hyaluronidase on site, should give you pause. Unbranded or unnamed products, filler bought for self injection, and treatment offered to anyone under 18 are serious warning signs. Ask yourself, too, whether the clinic would answer the phone if you needed help that night.
Questions to ask
At your consultation, ask what your practitioner's professional background is and which register you can check them on. Find out how many lip treatments they carry out and whether their insurance covers lip filler specifically. Ask which product they recommend, how long it typically lasts and how much they suggest using. It is worth asking how they would recognise and treat a blocked blood vessel and whether hyaluronidase is kept on site. Finally, ask who you contact if you have a concern after hours, and when your review will be.
Frequently asked questions
Is lip filler legal for under 18s in the UK?
In England it is a criminal offence to give filler injections to anyone under 18 for cosmetic reasons, or to book one, under the Botulinum Toxin and Cosmetic Fillers (Children) Act 2021. Parental consent does not change this. Practitioners should check photo ID, because looking over 18 is not enough. The only exception is treatment approved by a doctor.
Can lip filler be dissolved?
Hyaluronic acid filler can be dissolved with an enzyme called hyaluronidase. It is used in emergencies, such as a blocked blood vessel, and to correct lumps or results you are unhappy with. Hyaluronidase is a prescription only medicine, so it must be prescribed by a prescriber after a face-to-face assessment, and it can cause its own reactions.
How long does lip filler last?
Lip filler is temporary and typically lasts between 6 and 18 months. How long yours lasts depends on the product, how much is used, your metabolism and how mobile your lips are. Many people choose a top up appointment before it fully fades, and your practitioner can guide you on timing.
Do you need a licence to do lip filler in England?
Not yet. The government has confirmed plans for a national licensing scheme for non-surgical cosmetic procedures, but as of autumn 2026 no regulations have been made and no start date has been set. Until then, checking your practitioner's professional registration, accredited register membership and insurance is the best protection you have.
What are the signs of a blocked blood vessel after lip filler?
Watch for sudden or severe pain, skin that turns pale, white, dusky, blue or mottled, and colour that is slow to return when pressed. Signs can appear during treatment or hours later. Contact your practitioner immediately, and seek urgent medical care for severe pain or any change in your vision.
This guide is general information, not medical advice. Speak to a qualified practitioner, and to your GP if you have a medical condition, before booking.