Lip Filler Migration: What It Is, Why It Happens, and How to Avoid It
Lip fillers are wildly popular for augmenting and enhancing the shape of the lips with minimal downtime. However, as with any type of aesthetic treatment, it’s possible to get some unwanted side effects from lip filler injections. Lip filler migration is a common concern for people considering augmentation with fillers. It can occur if your injections aren’t done properly or if you don’t follow your provider’s post-treatment instructions.
The good news is that migrated lip filler isn’t as common as people think. Even better, it’s both preventable and treatable when managed correctly. Here’s what to know about filler migration, why it happens, and how you and your injector can avoid it in the first place.
What Is Lip Filler Migration?
When someone refers to migrated lip filler, they’re talking about what happens when lip filler moves out of its injection location into unwanted areas. This scenario isn’t very common, but it does happen on rare occasions. When filler travels away from the original injection sites in the lips, it can cause lumps, uneven-looking lips, and other undesirable outcomes.
Lip filler migration is more likely to occur if you receive injections from an unskilled or unlicensed provider. That’s why it’s imperative to only receive treatment from a trusted injector who knows how to avoid filler complications with precise injection practices.
What Causes Lip Filler Migration?
If your lip filler migrates, it’s usually because something went wrong with the initial injection or your aftercare practices. The incorrect placement of lip filler is one of the most common reasons it migrates later. When a provider injects filler in the wrong places, it may migrate more easily into adjacent areas. This is highly unlikely to happen if your injector is licensed and qualified to perform lip filler augmentations.
Too Much Filler Too Soon
The delicate tissue in the lips can only accommodate so much filler. If your provider injects too much filler too soon, the excess filler may get forced into surrounding tissues. It’s far better to start with conservative filler injections. Then, your provider can add a bit more later on if you decide you want your lips to look bigger. Keep in mind that the hugely popular “duck lip” look of years past is no longer in style. The new trend is to subtly augment the lips without making it obvious that you’ve had work done.
Poor Injection Technique
Poor injection technique is one of the most common causes of bad lip filler migration. An untrained or impatient injector might make one of the following mistakes that could lead to migration:
You can get a good idea of how experienced an injector is by studying before and after pictures of their previous clients. Online reviews may also yield valuable information about whether your selected provider has a history of using good or bad injection techniques.
Low-Quality Filler or Product Incompatibility
Unfortunately, there is no lip filler that doesn’t migrate. However, as long as your provider uses a high-quality filler combined with excellent injection techniques, your migration risk is low. Hyaluronic acid (HA) filler is the most common type for the lips. It’s silky smooth, easier to inject than other types, and gives the most natural look.
If your injector uses low-quality lip filler or a type of filler that’s not intended for the lips, your risk of migration goes up. Some fillers swell excessively after injection, which can make them more likely to make their way out of the lip tissue into nearby tissues.
Muscle Movement and Anatomy
Even if you get high-quality lip fillers from a skilled and qualified injector, it’s possible to experience unwanted migration. Regular mouth movements like eating and talking can potentially push filler out of its intended location. Since your top lip tends to move the most on a regular basis, you’re more likely to experience top lip filler migration than bottom lip filler migration.
Additionally, your unique lip composition and shape can play a role in whether your filler migrates after injection. People with softer lips have a higher risk of filler migration than people with firmer lips. Your provider should be able to analyze your lip composition to determine what type of filler will work best.
Frequent Touch-Ups Without Dissolving Old Filler
If you get frequent lip filler touch-ups without having your provider dissolve the old filler, your migration risk goes up. Each touch-up adds more filler to the lips. Over time, injecting too much filler in the form of little touch-ups can force some of the filler to move into surrounding tissues.
How to Spot Lip Filler Migration
It’s natural for the lips to look swollen, lumpy, and a little unnatural in the days following your initial injections. These symptoms typically go away within a couple of weeks. Lip filler migration tends to look a little different, and the symptoms don’t go away after your lip swelling subsides. Here are some indications your filler is moving away from its original injection site.
Visual Signs
If your lip filler migrates, you may notice:
How It Feels
It’s normal for your lips to feel different after getting filler. However, the following sensations may be an indication of unwanted migration:
When to Seek Professional Evaluation
Lip filler migration typically occurs within the first few weeks after treatment. However, it can potentially happen at any time after your initial injections. If you notice any of the above symptoms and suspect your fillers are migrating, contact your provider right away. The sooner you catch the problem, the easier it will be for your provider to correct it.
How to Treat Lip Filler Migration
There are a few possible ways to treat filler migration. It’s crucial to work with an experienced injector for any lip filler corrections you may need. If your filler migrated because your original injector used poor techniques, the last thing you want to do is return to that provider for corrective action.
Some providers may recommend using hyaluronidase to dissolve the migrated lip filler. It can take up to a few days for hyaluronidase to deliver noticeable results, so try to be patient. Lip fillers don’t last forever, so it’s OK to wait for your body to break down and absorb your fillers if you’d rather not have them dissolved.
How to Prevent Lip Filler Migration
Can lip filler migrate despite your and your provider’s best efforts to prevent it? Yes. However, you can significantly reduce your risk of migration by taking these simple precautions:
Finally, be sure to follow your injector’s lip filler aftercare instructions. Massaging your lips or putting too much pressure on them too soon after treatment can push filler outward. If you’re concerned about lumps or bumps, consult with your injector instead of trying to massage the lumps out on your own.
The Role of Experience: Why Your Injector Matters
Choosing a skilled injector is paramount to getting satisfactory lip filler results. Properly trained injectors have an excellent working knowledge of facial anatomy. They know how important it is to inject fillers in precise areas to get the desired results and avoid lip filler migration. The best injectors have an artistic eye plus excellent medical training that helps them deliver natural results. Here are some questions to ask before choosing your preferred provider:
The way a provider answers these questions can give you valuable insight into how skilled and trustworthy they are.
Get a Professional Lip Filler Migration Assessment
Lip filler migration is avoidable with the right fillers and the right approach. If you’re currently experiencing migration or are unhappy with your previous lip filler injections, there are safe solutions available. Contact Hollywood Body for a professional assessment from our experienced injectors. We’ll help you book a correction appointment as needed or learn more about safe, natural lip enhancement options. Call 303-800-1878 to schedule your lip filler consultation with a leading lip filler provider in Denver, CO.