The Unvarnished Truth About Lip Filler: My Journey from Balloon Lips to Perfect Plumpness
It started with a simple desire: a little more volume. I decided to get my lips done for the first time, and I thought, why not Vlog it? I wasn't sure if I’d be allowed to film inside the clinic, and to be honest, I was terrified of the pain. All I could do was show you the way there and promise to reveal the results later. So here are my lips before—ready to become a bit plumper, a bit bigger.
Well, the filming inside never happened. It was so painful I couldn't even hold the camera. The result, just an hour later, was shocking. My lips were huge. They felt like balloons. I couldn't feel them, couldn't move them. I knew the swelling would go down eventually, but at that moment, I looked like a different person. I literally cried during the procedure—the tears smudged my makeup around my lips. It was that intense.
The practitioner used Juvederm Ultra 3. She told me I should come back in three weeks for a follow-up, but I honestly didn’t want to. I had only wanted a little bit of volume. I decided to wait and see how they looked in a week or two.
Day Two: The Swelling Peaks
The next morning, day two, my lips were still swollen and bruised. I felt like my whole face was puffy, and my head ached. I knew I wasn't supposed to drink coffee, but I ordered a Frappuccino from Starbucks anyway—only to realize I couldn't use a straw because it hurt too much. The irony wasn't lost on me. But even through the discomfort, I noticed something: as the swelling gradually decreased, I started liking my lips more and more. The smaller they got, the better they looked.
Day Three: Bruises and First Public Outing
On day three, the swelling was still present but much improved compared to the first day. There were bruises where the filler had been injected—that was expected. I could still feel a strange presence in my lips, like something was inside them. Was that permanent? I didn't know. It was still a bit painful to talk a lot, so I couldn't fully move my lips or be very expressive. But I decided to put on dark lipstick to cover the bruises and head out to see a friend—my first time showing my lips to the world.
Day Four: An Unexpected Reaction—Herpes Outbreak
On day four, I noticed something alarming on my upper lip: it looked like a cold sore. It was itchy, and there were clusters of small bumps on one side. The other lip seemed almost normal, but this side had grown larger. I immediately texted the aesthetician. She told me it was totally normal—lip filler can trigger a dormant oral herpes virus. I had no idea that could happen. I did my research and learned that the herpes virus, once you have it, lives in your body forever. Getting lip filler can reactivate it. This outbreak was the worst I’d ever experienced—normally I’d get just one small spot, but this was extensive. I felt self-conscious and uncomfortable, especially since I had therapy that day and looked like a plastic surgery "victim." The aesthetician recommended an over-the-counter cream, so I asked my husband to pick it up on his way home.
Day Five and Beyond: Yoga, Creams, and Patience
On day five, the cold sore was still there. I went to yoga, thinking it had been long enough since the procedure. Later that evening, after my yoga session, I noticed the herpes turned yellow—a clear sign of infection. I knew it wasn't permanent, but it didn't look okay. The next morning, I woke up to even more swelling on that side. I immediately started applying the gel the aesthetician recommended, and while it helped, it took about a week for the herpes to fully heal. During that time, I avoided going out because my upper lip was so gigantic. I looked like a before-and-after photo gone wrong.
I eventually found out from my tattoo artist (who had the same experience) that there are pills you can get without a prescription for herpes outbreaks. I bought those, and they helped a lot. I didn’t want to go to my general practitioner because I feared judgment—people shame women for getting aesthetic procedures, which I find absurd. We need to normalize choosing to change your body, whether it’s lips, nose, or boobs. Let people do what they want with their own face.
One Month Later: A Second Scare—Inflammation and Massage
Just when I thought everything was fine—about a month after the procedure—I got sick with a high fever. And my lips went crazy again. They swelled up dramatically, feeling like they would explode. It was scary. I had stopped massaging my filler around that time, thinking it was no longer necessary. Either the fever or the cessation of massage (or both) caused this inflammation. As soon as I resumed massaging my lips morning and evening, the swelling instantly began to decrease. Now, I massage my lips every day as part of my skincare routine, along with massaging my nose (I had that done in July) and using a gua sha and facial roller.
Two Months Later: The Final Result—and Honest Advice
Now, two months after the initial injection, I love my lips. The size is exactly what I wanted: a little bigger and plumper. Yes, the process was painful—the insertion itself had me crying—and the aftermath with the herpes outbreak was challenging. But I am happy with the results. I still have the herpes virus in my body, so future injections might trigger another outbreak, but knowing that, I can prepare. I plan to go back to the same aesthetician to add a bit more Juvederm Ultra 3 to my lower lip (0.5 ml) to achieve better symmetry, since my upper lip is naturally bigger. I paid 6,000 Czech crowns for one milliliter, which is a decent price compared to other places. I highly recommend researching your aesthetician thoroughly—look at unedited before-and-after photos on Instagram, check reviews, and ensure their style matches what you want.
If you have a history of oral herpes, please consult with your aesthetician beforehand. They can prescribe antiviral medication to prevent a reactivation. Also, plan to take at least two to three days off from social activities—ideally a whole week—in case you have a reaction like mine. And above all, don’t feel ashamed about wanting to change your appearance. It’s your body, your choice. Whether it’s lips, nose, or anything else, let’s normalize being open about our beauty procedures.