I Got Lip Filler For the First Time, and My Life Will Never Be the Same

This was about a week before I got my lip injections. My upper lip was my biggest point of concern: it was shaped like an upside-down W, and when I smiled, it would usually disappear entirely.

This is me with numbing cream on my lips, and there are few sensations as bizarre as having your lips numbed. Prepare to drool, and whatever you do, don't swallow any of the cream if it gets into your mouth (I learned this the hard way, and soon enough, my tongue was completely numb for about 45 minutes). Try your best to wait until your doctor thoroughly cleanses your lips of the numbing cream and spit it out.

Dr. Doft was very careful at making sure my lips looked natural, even with the injections. So instead, she started off with only injecting about half of a syringe at the first appointment. Unlike other cosmetic procedures (like Botox), the results are relatively immediate. Dr. Doft spent an equal amount of time injecting my upper lip first, then my bottom lip last, constantly pulling back to make sure everything was even and balanced. After about 15 to 20 minutes, this was the result.

Dr. Doft informed me during the appointment that the brand she was using on my lips (Volbella) also included some lidocaine, a numbing agent, to further defuse any discomfort. As far as pain went, I felt every puncture of the needle. This, I suspect, is because I drooled and licked a lot of the numbing cream off my lips initially. Even still, the pain was worth it and only momentary. In fact, I'd describe the pinching sensation to that of getting an extraction from an aesthetician during a facial.

Recovery for the first round of lip injections was easier than expected. Dr. Doft gave me an ice pack to soothe the area from swelling immediately after, and almost no bruising occurred. Although my lip size fluctuated for days, I knew about 48 hours after my appointment that I was ready for more filler. The goal: to add more volume to the outer corners of the upper lip, so they looked plush vs. pouty.

Like Dr. Doft said, it could take a little less than a week for the lips to fully heal. While my lips were definitely bigger, I knew I wanted to even out some of the volume with a second round of injections and booked my next appointment with Dr. Doft.

For my second appointment, I brought inspiration images. Dr. Doft cosigned this and said that giving your doctor a clear idea of what you want will help you two collaborate to get the results you both agree are best. This time around, Dr. Doft only injected less than half a syringe into my upper and lower lips. Between both appointments, she used one full syringe (1 cc) for the injections.

By the next morning, my bottom lip was significantly bruised, but I was in zero pain or discomfort. My lip size didn't fluctuate nearly as much as the first round of filler. The swelling went down quickly (within 48 hours), and I was left with what my lip size was expected to be for the remaining months. Note: your lips might feel dehydrated after lip injections; at least mine did. While some people actually find that, in the winter months, filler boosts moisture retention, I found that the filler made my lips incredibly dry. Luckily, the side effect was only a short phase of recovery. As if I had let my lips soak in BabyFoot, the skin peeled for a few days before going back to normal. Now, I wake up every morning with perfectly soft lips.

Before leaving my second filler appointment, Dr. Doft warned me about my bottom lip bruising. She had predicted it might considering how much the specific area hurt during the first around of injections. Less than 12 hours later, my bottom lip had two dark purple spots surfacing, so I called in backup: the Alastin INhance Post-Injection Serum ($62). Even though you're meant to use the entire tube (applying the cooling cream four times a day), I noticed a significant decrease in the bruising within two days, and since the bruised areas were so small, I only needed a pea-size dot on each spot. I guess that means I have enough left to use for my touch-up appointment in six months . . .

At this point, it had been a month since my first lip filler appointment, and my lips were exactly as I imagined — maybe even better. Now that the bruising, swelling, and peeling phase is completely over, I am noticing a few tiny bumps on the inside of my lip (nearly undetectable to the naked eye). Dr. Doft said this is called filler migration and a normal side effect of lip filler. "Sometimes, when the hyaluronic acid is injected, it can clump and form a little bump," she explained. "These bumps can usually be easily massaged, so that they flatten." Even so, I've never felt more confident than with my new cloud lips. So, yes, the hype is real.

Samantha Sasso is an editor of branded content for Vox Media, and covers the latest trends in beauty, fashion, and entertainment. Beyond POPSUGAR, her work has appeared in The Cut, NowThis, and Refinery29, among others. When she's not exploring the new launches at Sephora, she can be found at her local thrift store, the baking aisle of the supermarket, or in a group chat asking everyone if they've a Shiv or a Kendall.