The Day I Finally Decided
There are moments in life when you just know it's your day. That Tuesday morning, I woke up with that feeling. I had an appointment that I had been thinking about for so long, and I was finally going through with it. For months, I had talked about wanting lip injections. Last year, I was dead set on getting them, but then life had other plans. I found out I was pregnant, and that dream had to wait. After giving birth, I pushed the thought aside for a while. But every time I did my makeup, I would look in the mirror and think, "I wish my lips looked like this all the time, even without makeup." That was the seed that grew into action.
The Hunt for the Right Place
I started asking around everywhere, like a woman on a mission. The thing is, lip injections can be pricey. I didn't think I needed a full syringe, so I began my search for places that offered half syringes. To my surprise, many clinics don't do that. But persistence pays off. I found a med spa whose work I really admired, and to my delight, they had a sale going on. The price was reasonable, so I booked it. I was anxious, not necessarily nervous, but that kind of anxious excitement that makes you wonder, "How is this going to go? What if I get botched?"
The Morning Rush
Getting ready that morning was a blur. I put on sunscreen, curled my lashes, and debated what to do with my hair. I had so much to do before leaving. I needed to eat, I needed to pump milk for my baby, and I was running on a tight schedule. I kept thinking, "If my body dissolves the filler too fast, then maybe it's not meant to be." But I was ready to find out. I decided to document the entire experience, even though I was hesitant at first. After mentioning it in my last video, I received requests to share the journey, so here I was, vlogging it all.
The Final Look Before
I put together a simple outfit: a white basic top from Zara, Levi jeans, and my first pair of low dunks that my brother gave me for my birthday. They were super cute. I switched my bag to something I thought was cuter, transferred my belongings, and headed out the door. On the way to the med spa, my heart was pounding. I kept asking myself, "Why am I so nervous? It's not like I'm getting a major surgery." But it felt significant. I wanted to know the results already. I even had my sunglasses on from Dime's Let's Do Makeup collection, which I always get compliments on. They were my shield of confidence.
Arriving at the Med Spa
I parked and met my friend there. She came along for moral support. When I got inside, the staff applied numbing cream on my lips. I had to wait about thirty minutes for it to take effect. My friend kept joking and asking, "Do needles bother you?" To be honest, the numbing process made my lips feel strange. I kept swallowing my saliva, wondering if I was supposed to just let it drool. We laughed about it, but underneath the laughter, I was truly nervous. I remember looking at my lips in the bathroom mirror, thinking, "This is the last time you'll see these lips."
The Procedure
When it was time, the practitioner was professional and reassuring. She asked me to rate the pain, and I only felt a slight pinch, like little skins being pressed. She massaged the filler into my lips, and I could see the change immediately. After it was done, she told me the truth: "You're not going to recognize yourself for a little bit, and that's normal. Within 24 hours, the swelling will get worse. You have to be prepared for that." I could already see it. My lips looked bigger, fuller. I felt a mix of excitement and anxiety. "I'm in my plastic surgery era now," I joked. I looked like a duck, but she assured me it was just the inflammation and that it would go down.
The First Few Days
Driving home, I felt weird. My lips were tight, and I couldn't feel them normally. I had stopped to get some chocolate and food, but eating was a challenge. I used a knife to cut everything into tiny pieces. I tried to use a straw for drinks, keeping my lips off the rim. When I got home, I showed my partner. He saw the swelling but said it didn't look bad. I was worried about how to care for them. I didn't want to touch them, and I freaked out when my toddler accidentally tapped them. It hurt, and I kept thinking about infection.
The Swelling and the Lumps
That night, my lips were definitely more swollen. I could feel lumps and hard bumps when I touched them. Washing my face was hard because I was afraid of getting cleanser on my lips. Brushing my teeth was even harder because I wasn't supposed to move my lips too much. I applied the arnica ointment they gave me and went to sleep. The next few days were a rollercoaster. The swelling did get worse before it got better. By day three, my lips were still hard and dry, despite drinking plenty of water. I noticed a little bruising, especially on my lower lip. When I smiled, my teeth looked smaller. It was disorienting.
The Turnaround
By day five or six, the swelling started to go down noticeably. I put on lip liner and gloss, and I could already see that the lips were getting smoother. The hyaluronic acid in the filler was doing its job, hydrating my lips from within. I noticed one side was still slightly more swollen, but it was evening out. By the end of the first week, I was truly starting to like them. The lumps were almost gone, and the shape was settling. The inflammation had dropped dramatically. I was getting used to my new look.
A Week Later: The Final Verdict
One week after the procedure, I looked in the mirror and saw my lips with fresh eyes. They were still not the final result, as they say it takes about two weeks for the filler to fully incorporate and the swelling to completely subside. But I was happy. I liked how they looked. The transformation from the initial duck-like appearance to a more natural, fuller shape was remarkable. I had documented every day of the first week so others could see the real process: the swelling, the lumps, the dry lips, and finally, the settling. It was a journey, but I was glad I did it. I had overcome my anxiety, found the right place, and trusted the process. Now, I could smile with confidence.