What Does Migrated Lip Filler Look Like? Migrated lip filler is a rare complication of dermal filler injections in the lips. It involves the filler, which was injected into the lip, moving to another area of the face. The most common areas for the filler to migrate to are the cheek, nasolabial folds and perioral lines.
Migrated filler can result in a very unnattractive facial appearance. It can be difficult to treat and may require hyaluronidase injection, surgical removal or further surgery such as a facelift.
When lip fillers go wrong, they can go very wrong.
This is what I learned when I asked renowned New York City plastic surgeon Adam Kolker, MD, to show me what happened when a patient of his experienced filler migration — that is, filler no longer in the spot where it was injected. Apparently, it’s pretty common for this to happen when lips are injected with fillers not designed for that use.
“In my practice we see patients who want correction from other people’s mistakes,” Dr. Kolker tells Allure. “It’s really important to know what filler you’re using and who’s injecting you.”
Migrated filler can be anything from a slightly lumpy appearance, to a really strange appearance
Filler migration is caused by injecting filler into an area where there are no muscles beneath it. This means that the filler has nowhere to go and can move around the face.
This can happen in several places:
Cheeks – If you inject too close to the surface of the skin, it can migrate into areas and create lumps. This is why we always inject cheeks deep and not on the surface.
Chin – Again, if you inject too close to the surface you may get lumps on your chin. This can also happen when fillers are used for a chin implant, or in someone with a weak chin where the entire area becomes lumpy.
Lips – This is one of the most common areas for migration to occur because there are no muscles here. Filler will often migrate laterally into fine lines on the sides of your lips and create very unnatural, “duck-like” lips. It’s also common for filler to migrate upwards into what looks like a mustache above your lip. And if it migrates down towards your chin, it’s called “dropped lips” or a “dro
My lips were very asymmetric. I was very excited for my appointment, but also nervous about looking like duck lips. My lips were not as full as I had wanted, but I still got compliments on them. The filler migrated to the left and right sides of my mouth. It looked like a lumpy mess.
As a plastic surgeon, I know that the lips are one of the most challenging areas to inject with fillers. The lips are mobile and have a thin skin layer. Injected HA fillers can migrate in this area, which is not desirable. I would recommend you seek out an experienced injector.
Restylane Silk and Juvederm Ultra XC are both hyaluronic acid fillers made with a smooth consistency gel, which makes them ideal for lip augmentation and smoothing out fine lines around the mouth. Both fillers have been approved by the FDA for use in the lips, and both can last up to one year. However, Juvederm Ultra XC contains lidocaine, a topical anesthetic that is mixed with the hyaluronic acid to minimize discomfort during injection. Both of these products are made with hyaluronic acid, a substance that is naturally found in your body. Hyaluronic acid helps to attract and maintain water at the injection site, which adds volume to skin and soft tissue.
Restylane Silk is specifically designed for delicate areas such as lips. The smooth consistency gel makes Restylane Silk a good choice for patients who want precise lip definition and natural-looking results. While Juvederm Ultra XC contains 0.3% lidocaine to minimize pain during treatment, Restylane Silk does not contain any anesthetic; your dermatologist can apply a topical numbing cream or cold pack before injection if you wish.
How do I Know if my Lip Filler has Migrated?
The signs that your lip filler has migrated, or moved from its intended place, are swelling and bruising.
Bruising is common after lip injections, but if you start to notice it in areas other than your lips, such as around your nose and mouth, this could mean the filler has shifted.
If you are unsure about the bruising occurring after a lip injection, it is best to consult with a board-certified dermatologist. They can advise you whether they think the bruising is due to migration or just normal reactions.
The most common sign is the overfilling of the lip causing a duck like appearance. Another sign is if the lips are no longer symmetrical.
If you believe that your filler has migrated, please consult your injector as soon as possible to determine if any action needs to be taken.
The migration of lip fillers does not happen often, but it can happen.
If and when it does, the lip filler may move from its original injection site to another area of the face.
When this happens, you will notice that lips swell in areas other than the injection site.
Although in most cases the procedure is very safe, there are some things that can go wrong and cause complications.
One of them is migration.
Lip fillers are not permanent and will only last for a few months. They can migrate if they are placed incorrectly or your body doesn’t absorb them properly.
If you had lip fillers, but they haven’t lasted as long as expected, they may have migrated.
The short answer is that you don’t need to do anything, as long as your filler has been injected properly. If it has migrated, it will eventually be metabolised by the body and disappear. If your lips are looking uneven or lumpy, see your doctor so they can correct this.
If you notice that your lips suddenly became asymmetrical, it is possible that the filler has migrated to other areas. However, this is something you should see a doctor about because not all lip fillers are the same and if you do have a problem, your doctor will be able to help fix it.
If you’re worried about migration, you should look for signs of asymmetry. If one side of your lips is larger than the other, it’s a sign that the filler has migrated out of the desired area.
How Long Does lip Filler Migration Last?
How long does lip filler Migration last?
The process of lip filler migration is a very rare occurrence, but it does happen. In the majority of cases, the occurrence is due to an injection of the lip filler into a blood vessel by an inexperienced injector, or a reaction to the hyaluronic acid in the product.
When this happens, it can lead to the appearance of lumps and bumps around your lips and face. Fortunately, there are some ways to remedy this.
Firstly, if you suspect that your lip filler has migrated, do not attempt to solve the issue yourself. The best way to go about solving the issue is by visiting a cosmetic nurse or doctor that has experience with treating this condition.
With the influx of celebrities and influencers getting lip fillers, people are wondering how long lip fillers last.
Lip filler migration is a rare but potentially serious complication that can occur after lip filler is injected.
It’s hard to estimate how many people have experienced this complication as most patients will not make a complaint.
Migration of fillers into facial tissue outside the lips is known as Lip Filler Migration.
We spoke to an expert in the field of lip filler, Dr Tijion Esho, to find out how long it takes for lip filler to settle and what you can expect when it comes to the migration process
The first thing Dr Esho wanted to make clear was that there is no such thing as permanent lip fillers. ‘The most popular filler on the market today is hyaluronic acid-based. It’s a naturally occurring sugar molecule that binds moisture into our skin. It’s found in our joints and eyes.
‘It is a highly biocompatible material so when we inject it into lips or any area of the face, it will hang around for a period of time, but then naturally dissolve away.’
Hyaluronic acid fillers are temporary and typically last six to nine months before being absorbed by the body. But Dr Esho explained that this time period can change depending on lifestyle factors such as smoking and sun exposure.
‘If you smoke or have sun damage, this will break down collagen in the face and lead to faster degradation of the hyaluronic acid.’
Lip filler migration is the movement of the filler material after it has been injected. It is more likely to occur in areas that move a lot, like the lips and cheeks. Lip filler migration can be prevented by having your lip fillers done by an experienced injector.
The most common type of facial filler is hyaluronic acid, also known as HA fillers. Hyaluronic acid is a molecule that occurs naturally in the body and helps cells retain water. The most common types of fillers are Juvederm, Restylane, Voluma, Belotero and Lyft.
Filler can cause lumps and bumps for two reasons. One of the reasons is due to poor injection technique such as injecting too superficially or not massaging the filler properly after injection. Hyaluronic acid filler can only be massaged for a few minutes after injection before it starts to set up so it’s important that your injector massages it within this time frame.
Another reason why lumps and bumps can occur with lip fillers is due to improper placement. This usually happens when the injector uses a blunt cannula instead of a sharp needle or when they accidentally hit a blood vessel during injection.
If you have bruising
Lip filler migration is a rare side effect that occurs when hyaluronic acid lip fillers are injected incorrectly, which causes the filler to move away from the injection site into other areas of your face.
It’s also known as “hyaluronic acid diffusion” because of the way in which the filler spreads away from where it was injected.
Although lip filler migration is rare, there are some people who are more susceptible to it than others.
If you have naturally thin skin or have recently taken a course of steroids, you may be at higher risk of experiencing lip filler migration.
Migration occurs when the volume of lip filler is too high for the area, causing the product to move outside of the intended area. When this occurs, there are several options, including massage and waiting for the filler to dissolve naturally. In some cases, a doctor may inject an enzyme called hyaluronidase to dissolve the filler.
Migration is rare but can occur if you have too much filler injected into your lips or if they’re overfilled beyond what’s safe. Overfilling can cause:
spreading to areas outside your lips
uneven results that don’t look natural
lumpiness or bubbles in your lips
changes to your facial features as your skin stretches over enlarged lips
In some cases, migration might not be noticeable until a year or more after you get permanent lip injections. Migration becomes more likely as you age and your skin loses elasticity.
Lip fillers last for different amounts of time for different people, but there are a few common factors that affect how long lip filler lasts.
The type of filler that was used, where it was injected, the skill of the injector and the individual’s own body chemistry all determine how long lip filler will last.