How Long Does It Take For Dermal Fillers to Settle?

If you’re reading this, you’re likely considering dermal fillers, have booked a session, and are now stuck waiting for the effects to set in. Dermal fillers are incredibly effective at eliminating wrinkles and increasing volume where it's most needed.

However, people ask one recurrent question: “How long does it take for fillers to settle? In this guide, we shall go through the process, what to expect, and answer all of your questions. Explore!

What are Dermal Fillers?

They’re gel-like compounds that aestheticians inject into the skin to plump it up, restore lost volume, and lessen the visibility of fine lines and wrinkles. But there are various dermal fillers on the market today, like injectable hyaluronic acid, and calcium hydroxylapatite.

Dermal fillers are always an option because they are quick, relatively painless, and can produce great results.

Where Do Dermal Fillers Work Best?

Understanding how and where these fillers are best used will help you decide how and where to apply them.   

1. Lips

According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, lip fillers are commonly sought-after procedures. Fillers restore volume, shape, and even the edge. However, the impacts are not the same. What size of lips do you want? Wider or?

Lip fillers also eliminate lines around the lip area, popularly known as smoker or lipstick lines, giving a youthful look. However, it’s important to understand lip filler swelling stages, as initial puffiness is common before the filler settles.

2. Cheeks

The cheek area reduces as one age, resulting in hollow-looking sunken cheeks. Dermal fillers help return the volume needed, helping you attain the youthful look you want.

Cheek fillers can also improve your innate cheekbone shape, giving it the much-needed structure. However, poorly injected filler can result in bad cheek filler, leading to an unnatural appearance or asymmetry.

3. Nasolabial Folds

Nasolabial folds sink in as you age. These lines can be quickly filled, and the depth of those lines is greatly minimized so you can look younger.

4. Under-Eye Area

The area under the eyes is sensitive and becomes problematic for most people with dark circles or hollowness. Tear troughs can be treated using fillers, eliminating dark circles and giving you a young-looking face.

5. Marionette Lines

Marionette lines start from the corners of the mouth and go downwards into the chin, giving a sad-looking general appearance. The fillers can eliminate these lines and lift the muscles to provide a more positive and youthful appearance.

6. Jawline and Chin

The jawline is the most prominent physical feature on the human face, and defining it can drastically improve one’s appearance. Dermal fillers effectively alter the jawline to create a more defined, appealing look.

It is also essential to learn that fillers can augment the chin, improving its shape and size. This can help with some issues related to facial proportions and enhance and balance the facial structure.

7. Temples

The structure can also be shaken, causing a decrease in its internal volume, and the temples might look like the ones with hollowness. Age-related sagging of the skin in this area is also possible.

What Should You Expect Immediately After Getting Dermal Fillers?

After getting your fillers, it's natural to want to see the results immediately. However, lip filler swelling stages occur, starting with initial puffiness that gradually reduces over a few days.

It's important to remember that your face needs time to heal. Here’s what you can expect in the normal healing process:

● Swelling and Redness: Both swelling and redness are common, especially face swelling after cheek fillers, which typically subsides within five days. It is your body’s reaction to the injections.

● Bruising: A few individuals may experience bruising in the locations where the injections were administered. Once more, this is not something to be concerned about and usually resolves within one week.

● Lumpiness: Sometimes, you may find it rough, slightly irregular, or lumpy. ” This is generally due to the filler settling and consolidating, and the decent-sized pimples should flatten out after time.

When your procedure is done, it’s essential to adhere to your healthcare provider’s guidelines to the letter, especially during the first few days after the procedure. Do not engage in heavy exercise, go swimming, go to the beach, or engage in any activity where you will expose the treated areas to too much heat.

This will help reduce inflammation and bruising, giving your fillers the best chance of integrating correctly.

How Long Does It Take For Dermal Fillers to Settle?

Now, let's get to the main question: how long does it take for fillers to settle? The short answer is it varies. But I’ll help you understand how this happens using different types of fillers.

Here's a breakdown of some popular dermal filler types and settling time:

1. Hyaluronic Acid (HA) Fillers

Hyaluronic acid fillers, like Restylane and Juvederm, are among the most often used. They usually take anywhere from one to two weeks to settle. Many patients report face swelling after cheek fillers, which gradually resolves as the filler integrates.

At some point within this time frame, the filler meshes with the surrounding tissue, and if there is still some initial puffiness present, this should also resolve at this time.

● Pros: You retain your natural appearance, it works well in different parts of the body, it is compatible with body tissues, and it is not permanent (this means that if the person desires, they can revise the modification).

● Cons: A process that necessitates follow-up appointments every six months to 2 years due to the products used.

2. Calcium Hydroxyapatite (CaHA) Fillers

The effectiveness of calcium hydroxylapatite fillers, such as Radiesse, may be slightly delayed. They usually take two to four weeks to implant and blend.

● Pros: It lasts 2-5 years and generates collagen to improve the skin’s quality. It is recommended for areas requiring more volume, such as the cheek and jawline.

● Cons: They may induce more inflammation early than HA fillers and feel slightly more complex than the skin; their high viscosity makes them unsuitable for mild wrinkles.

3. Poly-L-Lactic Acid (PLLA) Fillers

Polylactic acid Fillers (e.g., Sculptra) work differently and boost your body's collagen production. The final result may take several months, although your body will settle after the initial four to six weeks.

● Pros: Collagen stimulation can have long-lasting effects for up to 2 years. It also provides immediate volume uplift and improves skin texture.

● Cons:The final result may take longer to show, the procedure may have to be repeated, and it can cause slight inflammation and pain.

4. Polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) Fillers

PMMA fillers are expected to have much longer lifetimes. Their settling period varies tremendously and can take a few weeks, and in some cases, up to three to six months.

● Pros: As a long term filler, PMMA may last 5-10 years or even more, making it ideal for those looking for permanent results. It is most productive for deep and differentiated wrinkles.

● Cons: It is biodegradable, removed with great difficulty and expense, and is, hence, more permanent than other fillers. Because it is permanent and less flexible than other fillers, it is also more likely to cause complications if not appropriately injected.

What Factors Influence the Settling Time of Dermal Fillers?

During this period, patience is key. Many wonder ‘how long does it take for fillers to settle?’ But the process varies based on multiple factors. Delve in!

1. The type of filler used

As detailed, different types of dermal fillers take different periods to settle. Of the four types of dermal fillers, hyaluronic acid fillers take the least time span to settle. That’s because they are soft and contain hyaluronic acid (a natural component of skin tissue).

Calcium Hydroxylapatite (CaHA) fillers take more time to settle than hyaluronic acid fillers followed by Poly-L-Lactic acid fillers.

Lastly, Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA) fillers take the longest because they contain microspheres that trigger minor lumpiness, leading to prolonged swelling during the settling period.

2. The treatment area

Yes, dermal fillers work best on aesthetic concerns within the lips, under-eye area, chin, jawline, cheeks, and nose. However, the settling time varies for each.

Factors including injection depth, skin thickness, blood supply, and skin thickness impact how long fillers within a treatment region take to settle.

For instance, fillers placed in the lips take around 7 days to settle because of constant movement and a rich blood supply. Conversely, fillers injected into the cheeks may take more than 7 days to settle because of the cheeks’ thickness and the need for deeper injections.

3. Your body’s response

Everyone’s body responds differently to dermal fillers. While you may have a good experience, some may unfortunately have to deal with an allergic reaction or a severe inflammatory response.

Generally, one’s healing ability, immune response, and metabolism affect how long fillers settle. While some body responses may be resolved, like a higher inflammatory response — some responses may call for complete filler dissolution or surgical removal.

4. Post-treatment habits

Some call it an after care routine. Overall, an after care routine or post-treatment habits refers to the behaviors or actions you should engage in to reduce the likelihood of complications during the filler settling period.

Your practitioner should leave you with a clear after care routine right after receiving fillers. Most of the instructions, including specific lifestyle choices and skin care routines, are meant to ensure you get the best results.

When to worry

While it’s normal to experience some swelling, redness, and even a bit of lumpiness initially, these signs should prompt you to contact your healthcare provider:

● Severe Pain: Slight pain is expected, but chronic pain could indicate complications such as botched lip filler that may require intervention.

● Prolonged Swelling or Bruising: If there is swelling or bruising, for instance, after two weeks, it is advisable to consult the doctor again so that they can evaluate it.

● Signs of Infection: Redness, warmer skin, and fever could be signs of infection and must be treated immediately.

● Asymmetry or Unevenness: While some unevenness is expected, significant imbalance may indicate bad cheek filler that requires correction by a professional.

What Should You Do During the Settling Period?

In this period, one must be very patient when pursuing goals. Here are some tips to ensure the best possible results:

● Follow Aftercare Instructions: As much as this can be said and emphasized. Your provider knows best!

● Stay Hydrated: Regular water intake will benefit your skin and the fillers, enhancing the skin's healing process.

● Avoid Touching Your Face: It is also important not to scratch the area as one feels after the treatment.

● Gentle Skin Care: Do not use products that could harm the skin, such as harsh washes and scrubs that may rub off the treated areas.

● Avoid Alcohol and Blood Thinners: These can worsen the potential of a person getting bruising.

Maintenance and touch-ups

Since dermal fillers are temporary, adjustments may be needed. If you’re unhappy with the results, you may wonder how to get rid of lip filler — options like hyaluronidase injections can dissolve hyaluronic acid fillers quickly.

The degree of corrections depends on the type of filler used. If you’re looking for a long term filler, options like PMMA or calcium hydroxylapatite may reduce the need for frequent touch-ups. 

Discuss the schedule with your provider to establish the appropriate time for the maintenance treatments.

Some guidelines for obtaining the best results when fillers have not yet fully settled:

● Reduce Swelling: Apply cold packs to the injection sites immediately after the treatment to reduce pain and inflammation.

● Manage Bruising: Soreness is usual, and more specifically, a large number of people remarked that they had ugly bruises, which they found very often when they were applied to sensitive parts of the body. Taking arnica by mouth as a supplement or applying arnica lotion to the skin might reduce bruising.

● Massage (Gently): Quite often, the dermatologist may suggest that you gently massage the area that has been filled to enhance the distribution of the filler. However, one must be careful not to use filler over, as this may lead to the displacement of the filler.

● Steer clear of intense activity: Over the first 24 to 48 hours before the treatment, it is recommended that the patient avoid vigorous activities or engage in anything that will cause an elevated heart rate.

● Sun Protection: Sun protection is crucial as it can disintegrate and fade the filler faster; wear a sunscreen lotion with SPF 30 or higher daily.

Closing Words

How long does it take for dermal fillers to settle? As we have established many times, it largely depends on the type of filler used, the region being addressed, and the physiology of the recipient’s body. A person should strictly adhere to aftercare recommendations, avoid impatience, and observe the outcomes.

Remember that successful dermal filler treatments improve your appearance and sense of self. While the waiting period can sometimes create pressure, the results obtained at the end are always worth the wait.

Moreover, if you’re unhappy with the results, knowing how to get rid of lip filler can help you make informed decisions about dissolving or adjusting your filler.

The Ultimate Beauty Boost Awaits!

Just picture the boost in confidence you'll get from knowing that your skin looks its best.

Thanks to Diaminy’s injectable hyaluronic acid fillers, getting the deserved and dreamed beautiful, young skin that attracts attention is possible. Begin your beauty journey today, and you will feel a remarkable change in your life.