Working Out After Lip Fillers: Is It Safe?
You finally did it. Got those lip fillers you’ve been thinking about for months. Your lips look amazing, but now you’re staring at your gym bag, wondering if you can actually use it.
Lip fillers are essentially gel injections into your lips to make them appear fuller. The stuff they use is usually hyaluronic acid – sounds fancy, but it’s already in your skin naturally. After you get them done, your lips will be puffy and might feel weird for a bit. That’s just how it goes.
Everyone wants to know the same thing: Can I work out or not? It’s not black and white. Light workouts are fine, but something more challenging has to wait. You’re not going to be glued to your couch forever, we promise.
Why Exercise Affects Lip Filler Recovery
Think about what happens when you exercise. Your heart starts beating faster. All that extra blood pumping around your body includes your newly filled lips. More blood flow means more puffiness and potentially worse bruising.
Plus, when you’re really going hard at the gym, you make all kinds of faces. Grimacing during that last rep or clenching your jaw can put extra pressure on your lips. If the filler hasn’t settled yet, this pressure might move things around.
Your body temperature also rises during workouts, which can make inflammation worse. Did you notice how your face gets red and hot during cardio? The same thing happens to your lips, except they’re trying to heal from tiny needle pricks at the same time.
It’s not permanent damage or anything. Your lips just need some time to chill out and get used to their new situation. Think of it like letting a bruise heal. You wouldn’t go poking at it constantly.
How Long to Wait Before Exercising After Lip Fillers
Most doctors say to wait 24 to 48 hours before you start worrying about how to reduce swelling after fillers at the gym. This gives everything a chance to start healing without you making it worse.
Easy stuff like walking around the block is fine after day one. But anything that gets you breathing hard or sweating buckets should wait longer.
Your injector will tell you what they think based on how much filler you got and how your lips looked when you left. Some people bounce back faster than others. There’s no universal rule here.
The type of filler matters too. Hyaluronic acid fillers like Juvederm and Restylane typically have shorter downtime compared to other types. If you got a lot of filler or had multiple areas done, you might need to wait longer before jumping back into your routine.
Best Types of Exercise to Resume Gradually
When you get the okay to move again, start small. Walking is perfect because you’re moving but not stressing your face out. Basic stretching works too, just don’t do anything where you’re hanging upside down.
Riding a stationary bike is good since you’re sitting normally and not bouncing all over the place. Swimming laps might work, but watch out for tight goggles pressing on your lips.
Save the intense workouts for later. Things like CrossFit, running, those insane HIIT classes, heavy lifting, all that take at least a week. Hot yoga is also out because heat makes everything more swollen.
Your regular gym routine probably involves a mix of these activities, so plan accordingly. If you’re someone who does Orange Theory or F45 classes, you’ll need to modify or skip for a few days. Spin classes might be okay sooner since you’re mostly sitting, but avoid the super intense ones where you’re jumping around on the bike.
Tips for Working Out Safely Post-Treatment
When you start exercising again, cut your usual time in half. If you normally do an hour, try 30 minutes. Your body will let you know if you’re overdoing it.
Drink water like it’s your job before, during, and after. Keep that water bottle handy. Good hydration helps with healing and keeps extra swelling down.
Stay away from saunas, steam rooms, or anywhere super hot for at least two days. Heat makes your blood vessels bigger, which can make swelling and bruising worse.
Don’t touch your lips! No wiping sweat with your hands or absent-mindedly touching your face. Keep those hands busy with weights instead.
If you wear a face mask while working out (some gyms still require them), make sure it’s not too tight around your mouth area. A snug mask pressing against freshly filled lips isn’t doing you any favors. Consider switching to outdoor workouts for the first week if masks are mandatory at your gym.
Also, avoid anything that might bump your face. Contact sports, partner workouts where someone might accidentally elbow you, or even aggressive towel-off sessions, require extra care for the first few days.
Skincare and Lip Care After Workouts
After you sweat, wash your face gently with something mild. Pat it dry instead of rubbing, your lips are still healing and don’t need extra friction.
Skip the makeup after dermal fillers for the first day, maybe two. When you do start wearing makeup again, make sure your brushes are clean and stick to gentle products.
A simple lip balm helps keep things comfortable. Nothing with weird chemicals or strong smells. Even plain Vaseline works great.
When to Pause or Stop Exercise After Lip Fillers
Listen to your body. If your lips feel puffier after working out, or if they hurt more than before, take a break. It’s not worth pushing through.
Weird stuff like really bad pain, crazy swelling, or anything that looks infected means call your injector immediately. Don’t mess around with that.
Everyone heals differently. Your workout buddy might be back to normal in two days, while you need four. That’s totally normal and nothing to stress about.
The good news is that once people learn they can buy dermal filler injections online and work with good providers, the whole process gets easier because they know what to expect.
References
Czumbel, L. M., Farkasdi, S., Gede, N., Mikó, A., Csupor, D., Lukács, A., … & Varga, G. (2021). Hyaluronic acid is an effective dermal filler for lip augmentation: A meta-analysis. Frontiers in Surgery, 8, 681028. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsurg.2021.681028
Goo, B., Leo, M., Choi, K. Y., & Kim, S. T. (2022). Lip lifting efficacy of hyaluronic acid filler injections: A quantitative assessment using 3-dimensional photography. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 11(15), 4554. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm11154554
Kashani, M. N., Zartab, H., Elahi, E., Javidi, Z., Falavarjani, K. G., & Ameri, H. (2017). Assessment of the efficacy and safety of hyaluronic acid gel injection in the restoration of fullness of the upper lips. Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery, 10(3), 139-144. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5561704/
Stojanović, L., & Majdič, N. (2019). Effectiveness and safety of hyaluronic acid fillers used to enhance overall lip fullness: A systematic review of clinical studies. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 18(2), 436-443. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocd.12861
