“Sadly we are seeing more and more filler fatigue in recent times,” she says. “This is a result of patients having multiple millilitres of dermal filler injected and the area treated becoming augmented in a negative way.
Filler Warnings
Filler fatigue is caused by a decrease in skin elasticity, fibrosis, and the creation of an unnaturally wide face. All of these changes can occur not only because of excessive use of collagen-inducing fillers such as calcium hydroxyapatite but also owing to the overuse of hyaluronic acid.
Filler fatigue occurs when you repeatedly get too much dermal filler. This can cause skin laxity once the filler dissolves, leading to a droopy facial appearance, explains Dr.
Injectable fillers are normally well tolerated by patients with little or no adverse effects. The most common side effects include swelling, redness, bruising, and pain at the injection site.
“It can happen with any filler or any part of the face,” says Debra Jaliman, MD, a board certified dermatologist in NYC, though she adds that it's less likely for younger patients to notice the effects of filler fatigue.
What is filler fatigue? Although the term suggests we're perhaps exhausted at the global obsession with fillers, it actually refers to what happens when hydrophilic filler draws in more water and creates a swollen-looking finish rather than the sculptured result intended.
While some say it's a myth, others say it can and does happen. Ultimately, Botox can make some patients feel drowsy or tired, but it's not very common at all. The side effects you may experience vary from person to person.
That said, these injectable treatments take some time to integrate into your tissues, and it's normal for your dermal filler to take up to two weeks to fully settle into your face.
In reality, fillers take up to four weeks to “settle,” according to Healthline. Different types of fillers can settle more quickly, and your lifestyle and similar factors can also affect the amount of time it takes to settle.
These include redness, bruising and tenderness at the injection sites. Discomfort or tenderness lasts only a few days and can generally be managed with over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen. Hypersensitivity and numbness are also common for the first few days after treatment.
You can resume most activities right away, but it is generally recommended that you avoid intense physical activity for the first 24-48 hours to minimize swelling and bruising. Be sure to discuss your specific recovery plan with your physician prior to scheduling your injections.
In rare cases, patients develop flu-like symptoms after their injections, and it is possible to feel fatigued. This is simply your body adapting to Botox. It is more common with patients who are new to Botox and after repeated treatments, it's not likely you'll encounter this particular side effect again.
Some patients like to sleep on their back the first night after treatment, although there is no hard evidence that sleeping position might affect your filler treatment. Avoid sleeping on your face for a week after treatment.
The filler can take several weeks to soften and settle into your skin. This means that patients won't see the ultimate results of their treatment immediately. Although individual results will vary, many people achieve the full effect within two weeks after receiving their injections.
#1: Persistent Puffiness
The first sign of a facial injection filler gone wrong is puffiness long after the initial injection. It's typical for patients to experience slight swelling or puffiness in the area for up to 24 hours.
Make sure to sleep on your back with your head elevated using 2 pillows for 3 nights-this will ensure that the newly injected filler stays in place. Another option would be to use a wrap around neck pillow to stabilize your head.
Even though the results of filler will be visible right away, migration can happen almost immediately, with a few days or weeks, or even up to years later in rare circumstances, depending on what the root cause of the issue is. “If overfilling is the culprit, it will be noticeable almost immediately,” says Dr. Horn.
Dermal filler doesn't 'normally', move after treatment. Immediately after treatment, in certain areas of the face, I do gently massage the area/s that were injected to help mold the product and prevent lumps. It does take about 2 weeks for the filler to settle and integrate into the tissue.
Upon injection, dermal fillers may feel firmer or harden due to a healing response of the body. Additionally, the filler needs to settle into the correct and ideal position. Some fillers may feel firmer than others.
Traditionally cosmetic practitioners would inject 1mL of dermal filler into one area of the face. For example, 1mL lip filler and 1mL cheek filler, however, only 1ml of filler can enhance your entire face.
Swelling will reach its peak at around 24-72 hours after treatment, at which point, it will begin to gradually subside. Occasionally, swelling can last for 1-4 weeks, but this isn't as common. Most people do see an improvement within 3 days.
Can I Sleep On My Side After I Get Fillers? Try to sleep on your back for 24-48 hours after filler injections. After that, you can safely sleep on your side without worrying that the filler will move with gravity.
Drink plenty of water. HA based fillers such as Juvederm work by using the water naturally stored in our tissues, by drinking plenty of water after having a dermal filler treatment it helps the filler hold its chaos and last for longer. Juvederm actually attracts water from to keep your filler looking fresh and full.
The treated area will feel different after your injections. It will likely seem fuller than usual due to the presence of the filler and post-treatment swelling. Some tenderness is also to be expected, particularly when the cheeks and temples have been injected. These sensations usually subside within a few weeks.