Yes, you should keep the treatment for the best results, but each injection should be properly scheduled and spaced out for an appropriate amount of time. Finally, touching or “massaging” areas of the face after the injection may cause the product to move. The dermal filler usually doesn't move after treatment. Immediately after the procedure, our doctors suggest gently massaging the injected areas to ensure proper product distribution and minimize the risk of lumps.
It usually takes about two weeks for the filler to settle and integrate into the surrounding tissue. To maintain the desired results and prevent filler migration, we recommend following our aftercare instructions. Horn is quick to point out that the migration of fillings is “rarer than the media and social media have described,” especially when performed by a board-certified plastic surgeon or dermatologist. Dra. Sherber agrees and adds that migration occurs a little more frequently with fillers from previous generations, which have a “slippery texture”, in his words.
Although individual aesthetic preferences may influence the injection process and the desired final appearance, the “more is more is more” approach, clinically speaking, simply cannot be used with the filler to obtain the best results. The world of post-filling activities is full of advice as important as the treatment itself. If you notice discoloration around the injection site, roundness of the corners of the mouth, loss of lip shape, unusual lumps, persistent asymmetry, or a swollen area above the upper lip, these could be signs of filler migration, so you should seek advice. Filler migration is another unwanted scenario that can occur, but it's important to keep in mind that, in the hands of an experienced professional, the chances of either happening are very slim.
For example, the migration of filler on the lips “may seem like you lack definition at the border,” Logerfo says. After a few days, when the filler has settled on the facial tissues, normal activities, such as smiling, winking, or resting your chin from time to time, should not cause the filler to migrate. Like characters in a play, fillers with larger particles or more cohesive formulations can take time to develop, extending the time before the curtain falls. After the aftercare it is not only a matter of avoiding movement, but also of taking care of the results, so that the filler is deposited on the skin.
In that case, “the injector can dissolve the filler with hyaluronidase, an enzyme that breaks down the hyaluronic acid used for fillers,” he says. The lips, those curved expression symbols and the delicate areas under the eyes are the most prone to a noticeable migration of the filler. This is precisely why you will want to consult a qualified professional before treatment to identify which filler is best for the tissue in the area where you are going to be injected and to make sure that they are using that filler and not another. Properly spaced treatments allow fillers to do their job and disappear 9 to 12 months before your next appointment. Understanding the most common causes of filler migration can help you avoid it if you decide to undergo aesthetic treatment.
If you suspect that the filler is migrating, “it will look like there are bumps or swelling in an area that wasn't injected.”, says Dr.