The Unexpected Pain of a First Lip Filler Experience
I was chewing like I had never eaten before. A piece of bread hung off my lip, and I could feel someone wiping it away from my chin. It was a bit sore, but honestly? It was funny. That moment, just hours after my first lip filler procedure, perfectly captured the strange mix of discomfort and amusement that defined the entire journey.
I had been putting off this experience for a while—not because I was afraid, but because I wanted to get the timing right. I didn't want to share it too soon, before the filler had settled, and I didn't want to wait too long, until the memories faded. So let me take you back to the end of last month, when I finally decided to do something I had been considering for years.
Why I Finally Decided to Get Lip Filler
For a long time, I carried a small insecurity about my lips. They were slightly uneven, and when I smiled, my top lip would completely disappear into my mouth—gone, just like that. There's nothing wrong with that, of course. Lots of people have lips that behave that way. But for me, it made me self-conscious when having photos taken. It got to the point where I thought, "If I want to try it, I can. I'm a free person. I earned the money. Why not?"
This is not me telling you that you need lip filler. It's your body, your choice. Some people are confident exactly as they are, and that's wonderful. Others, like me, might feel that a small adjustment could make them more comfortable in their own skin. I could have lived my whole life without doing it, but I chose to try. And that decision was mine alone.
The Options: Lip Flip vs. Russian Lip Filler
Before I booked the appointment, I had to learn about the different types of lip fillers. I didn't realize how many options existed until someone pointed it out to me. Two main paths stood out.
The first was a lip flip. This involves injecting Botox into the top lip to freeze the overactive muscle that pulls it upward. If that muscle stops working, the lip doesn't fold into your mouth when you smile. It sounded amazing, but Botox wears off after a few months. The second option was traditional filler, which stays much longer. Some of it dissolves over time due to your metabolism, but the bulk remains. That's how some people end up with that "duck lip" look—they keep adding more filler without dissolving the old stuff, and it just keeps growing outward.
But then I discovered something else: Russian lip filler. Instead of focusing on volume and pushing the lips outward, this technique flattens and shapes the lips upward. It was highly recommended for beginners, and it suited exactly what I wanted. I chose the Russian method, and it turned out to be the right decision for me.
The Procedure: Pain, Bleeding, and a Lot of Numbing Cream
I am genuinely scared of needles, which is ironic given that I'm covered in tattoos and have lots of piercings. But needles in my face? That's different. So I didn't film the procedure—I didn't want to see what was happening, or I might have passed out.
When I arrived, I filled out forms and they immediately applied numbing cream to my lips. I accidentally ate some of it, and my tongue felt like it wasn't attached to my body for a while—a bizarre sensation. After the numbing cream had set, the practitioner, Jessica Rose, wiped it off and began. She started around the bottom of my lips, then made incisions into the center of both lips, and finished with a few more precise injections.
I did not expect it to hurt as much as it did. I've had tattoos, piercings, even breast augmentation—but this was different. I would rate the pain an 8 out of 10 while it was happening. A little tear escaped my eye. I also bled a lot. I could feel her wiping it away from my chin. I'm glad I didn't film it, because seeing that much blood would have definitely made me faint.
The entire procedure lasted no more than ten minutes. I was in the building for about 25 minutes total. Jessica was lovely, friendly, and made me feel calm and comfortable. That feeling of safety is incredibly important when you're having any kind of aesthetic procedure.
The Aftermath: Swelling, Bruising, and a Very Strange Week
Right after the procedure, I sat in the car and looked at my lips. You could see the little holes where she had stabbed me—the blood was already clotting to heal the open wounds. I had my lips done around 5:30 PM, straight after work.
That first evening, the swelling wasn't that bad. But when I woke up the next morning? My lips were definitely swollen. My top lip took the worst of it, since it's naturally smaller. My bottom lip looked fine, but the top lip was puffy—like I had been stung by a bee. I couldn't feel my lips properly. At one point, I had a baguette, and the whole thing stuck to my mouth without me even noticing. That was when the bread incident happened.
For the first day or so, you can't put makeup on your lips because of the infection risk. You can't drink alcohol, as it can increase swelling. You're also not supposed to take anti-inflammatories, as they might interfere with the filler's "juju"—not a technical term, but you get the idea. My lips were also very chapped, which worried me, but the hyaluronic acid in the filler actually attracted water and helped keep them hydrated.
Day two: The swelling had reduced slightly, but the bruising started to emerge. I looked like I had been in a fight. I had never seen bruising on my lips before, and it was alarming. There were random spots, including one right on my top lip itself. The pain was down to a 2 out of 10.
Days three and four were similar—swelling continued to go down, but the bruising was still prominent. By day five, the swelling dropped significantly, and I started wondering, "Is this what my lips will look like now?" But I reminded myself: it takes two weeks for the filler to fully settle. What you see on day three can be completely different from what you see on day fourteen.
Day five, six, and seven saw the bruising vanish day by day. It was bizarre how different my lips looked each morning. By the end of the first week, all swelling and bruising were gone.
The Final Result: Two Weeks Later
After two weeks, this is what my lips looked like. There is a difference, but I wouldn't call it massive. It's definitely noticeable, especially comparing the before and after. Personally, I would have been happier with slightly more volume—maybe an extra 0.5 ml for a top-up. Some people naturally have plumper lips, and my lips were kind of in the middle—not small, but not big. For me, the goal was correction rather than plumping, and it achieved that. But if I do it again, I'd add a little more.
If you're thinking about lip filler, remember this: it is reversible. If you don't like it, there is something called dissolver that can reverse the results almost immediately. That knowledge gave me the courage to try.
In terms of cost, I paid £150 for 1.1 ml of EPTQ lip filler, which is a hyaluronic acid-based filler. It's one of the most widely used fillers now—cheaper than Juvederm but potentially better because the gel-like formula makes it easier to mold and shape the lips. I felt the price was fair, especially for the quality and safety. I've seen more expensive and cheaper options, but I got lucky with a practitioner who did a really good job. Everyone was worried my lips would look humongous, but they turned out natural, and I'm quite happy with them.
A Final Reflection
At the end of the day, it's your body, your life. Do what you want. If you don't want lip filler, don't get it. If you do, go for it—as long as you have the money and it doesn't hurt anyone else. It's really not that big of a deal. But if it makes you happy, it makes you happy. And that's the most important thing.