The Journey of a Second Lip Filler Appointment: A Story of Volume, Bruising, and a Surprise Correction
It all started with a simple thought: my lips could use a little more plumpness. The first time I got them done, back in January, I only received about 0.7 of a syringe, and I never got the chance for the crucial two-week follow-up appointment because I was heading back to school. Now, it's almost June, and I’m convinced the filler has dissolved. So, I'm on my way to Spring House Dermatology, a place I trust, to see Dr. Margaret Weisser. She did my lips before, and she’s fantastic—a theater gal just like me, so we can chat about that while she works. They're located in Springhouse, Pennsylvania, and if you’re in the Philadelphia area, she’s one of the best, even featured in Philly Mag. They offer everything: facials, vampire facials, dermaplaning, you name it. Today, I’m planning on getting about half a syringe, then we'll see how it looks in two weeks and possibly add more. I’m just going to bring you along to show you the whole experience.
I drive over, and I’m thinking, you know, I feel like the filler is almost all gone. I’m talking in the car, saying, "They're not that big right now, they're almost back to normal." That’s what I thought. Little did I know, I was completely wrong.
The Surprise Reality of My Existing Filler
When I walk into the office, Dr. Weisser pulls out the before and after pictures. She shows me a clear side-by-side of what my lips looked like before I ever had filler, and what they looked like when I came in this time. You know what? The filler had not even remotely dissolved. I was shocked. She explained it: "January to May, that’s four months. Normally, filler lasts eight to nine months, so you’re only halfway through. You still have quite a bit there." Wow. I genuinely thought I was back at square one. She then asks me what I want, and I tell her, "I want the volume." She laughs, saying, "If we do more, you’ll have just the volume you want." That’s exactly what I wanted to hear.
She even showed me a great example from another patient she’d treated earlier that day—a tiny amount, half a syringe, and the patient looked great the next morning. But she also warned me: "People do freak out." And I had to laugh, because I’ve been that person. I promise I’ll insert the pictures of me crying the first time because I was absolutely panicking for no reason. The swelling can be intense, but it always goes down.
The Injection Process: Numbing and the Needle
We get started. She cleans my lips, and I mention I have a bit of lip balm on. "That's fine," she says. Then she numbs me up. "Just go ahead and relax your mouth, open just a tiny bit," she guides me. She applies the numbing cream, which has to sit for about ten minutes. "We'll let it set, and I'll hand you a tissue so you can put it in your mouth if you need to," she says. It gets so numb that I almost forget it's there. I jokingly ask if she can feel my face, and I say, "I can feel my face, but my lips not really." She reminds me not to put my tongue on it.
If you don't like needles, be warned: here comes the injection part. She uses a syringe with a built-in numbing agent. "The thing about the lip is definitely more sensitive," she says as she starts. There’s a bit of a pinch, but it’s quick. She does a few tiny pricks, molding my lip as she goes. "Smile," she instructs, and I can see the filler settling in, smoothing out the lines. She was supposed to use just half a syringe, but by the end, she had used most of it. And at first, I freaked out. I looked in the mirror and thought, "Oh my god, they’re too much. I’m going to have to get these dissolved." My camera died during the appointment, so you’ll see those pictures from my phone later, but I was worried.
The Immediate Aftermath and Healing Journey
Right afterward, I was in full-blown "Kylie Jenner" mode, but not in a good way—I was panicking. My lips were huge. They were swollen, numb, and I knew I had a long road ahead. But I reminded myself: the last time, I was way more worried because I went straight back to school. This time, I can actually go to my two-week follow-up. So I tried to relax. They’re supposed to go down by 50% from what they are right now, and they only get prettier. They keep my natural shape, but make them more even, with fewer lines, and more plump.
I go home and start taking Arnica—which I forgot to take *before* the appointment, oops—and I’m icing them with my Volley water bottle, which feels nice. It’s not too cold. I’m also trying to sleep elevated, which is hard but necessary. It’s a process.
Day 2: The swelling is still intense, but the bruising isn't as bad as last time. My lips feel tight. It’s not painful, just a weird, tight sensation. I can’t really purse my lips together. My friends are screenshotting my Snapchats, and I’m like, "Don't do me like that." But I’m a little worried about going down the shore this weekend—first time people aren't wearing masks, and I'm going to look like I got punched.
Day 5: Surprise! They’re not bruising as bad as last time. I’m at the shore, drinking, even though I know alcohol is a blood thinner and can make bruising worse. I actually looked it up: you should avoid alcohol for at least 24 hours after lip injections. But it’s been 48 hours, so whatever. My lips are still swollen and a little bumpy up close, but from afar, they look good. I’m coating them in lip gloss like it’s my job.
It’s now about three and a half weeks after the injection. I’m heading back to Spring House Dermatology for my follow-up—which was supposed to be at two weeks, but I was away. I’ve never been to a follow-up appointment before, so this is entirely new. I’m thinking they’ll take some before-and-after pictures, and Dr. Weisser might even out a tiny line on my right side that’s always bothered me. But honestly, I think they look awesome as is. I’d be perfectly happy leaving them alone. The filler I got is something called Restylane Kysse—a softer texture filler designed specifically for lips.
The Follow-Up and a Surprise Correction
I walk in, and Dr. Weisser takes a look. "Yeah, they look gorgeous," she says. "It's so good." She has a tiny bit of the syringe left, and she asks me if I want to use it. I say, "I don't think we need it." But then I point to a tiny line on my right side, the one that creases when I smile. "That line is so annoying," I say. She looks and agrees. "Oh my god, that line is so small," she says. "We could do a little bit right there if you want." I’m all in. "Why not?" I say.
Before she does it, she shows me a cool device—it’s like a vein finder. She puts it on my hand, and I can see the blue of my veins. "This helps us see what’s going on superficially under the skin, so we can avoid bruising," she explains. "One millimeter to one side versus the other can be the difference between a bruise and no bruise." She looks at that area on my lip, and there’s no real vessel there, so she’s comfortable. She cleans the area, noting I have some makeup on, and then uses the same filler from before to do one tiny injection right into that crease. "Smile," she says. I do, and it’s gone. "Oh my god, it's gone now," I exclaim. She replies, "Of course, that’s right where you smile, it's going to crease. But now it's fixed." She explains that people tend to get a little more creasing on the side they sleep on, which makes sense. "I think you're good," she says. And she’s right.
I’m so excited. I didn’t know I was getting that line taken care of today, but it’s a pleasant surprise. She says there will be a tiny bit of redness, but it’ll settle down. And it does. That tiny injection made a world of difference.
The Final Reflection
So, here’s the lesson from my lip filler journey: The first time, I panicked. The swelling was terrifying, but it always goes down. This time, I learned that my filler had lasted way longer than I thought, and even a small correction can make a huge difference. If you’re thinking about getting lip filler, I definitely recommend it—just make sure you go to a good, reputable doctor. And even better, if you know someone who’s been to them, ask to see their lips so you can gauge what yours might look like. For me, the journey from that initial panic on Day 1 to the satisfaction of a perfectly smooth, plump lip on Day 28 was totally worth it. And that line? Non-existent. You can’t even tell there’s filler there.