Just like jumping off a diving board or getting your ears pierced for the first time, that first lip filler appointment is one of those moments that you can only prepare for so much. You can scroll all the before-and-after pics in the world, but that back corner of your mind that always stops you from doing cool stuff will keep chirping away.
Our team of expert injectors at Phoenix Med Spa has witnessed firsthand the stages of post-treatment jitters that most patients go through. The good news is, once your results come in, any anxiety you still have will be replaced by a wave of infectious confidence.
If it’s your first time getting lip fillers, you’ll probably still be a bit nervous no matter how you prepare. And that’s okay. Knowing what to expect can help, so here’s a breakdown of the stages of lip filler treatment anxiety.
I’m Going to Ruin My Face (Right Before Lip Augmentation Treatment)
If you’re the nervous type, no amount of evidence, positive testimonials, or constantly repeated self-assurances (you won’t look like a balloon, you won’t look like a balloon) is going to silence that voice in your head while you’re in the waiting room or consultation appointment.
The inner monologue of the anxious brain is like Rembrandt when it comes to catastrophizing right before big decisions. Even though you’ve picked an expert injector and a highly well-reviewed filler product, it will artfully locate and expand on the tiniest vulnerability. Yeah, but you weren’t clear enough about how little of a dose you actually wanted for your first session.
Point made. You’re freaking out on the inside. But you go through with it anyway, because you want that Russian lip look.
Did I Overdo It? (Right After Lip Augmentation Treatment)
The thing about lip augmentation treatment is that the mild swelling it produces will obscure your results for a few days. In other words, that hamster wheel of self-sabotaging thoughts in your brain gets a few more days to run before you finally begin to see results.
But with just a day or two more, you’ve reached the end of the jittery phase and the beginning of the turning point. Up until this point, you may find yourself checking the mirror or your phone’s camera way too often. Full transparency, this can be the toughest part of the process, thanks to the delayed catharsis and the “hurry up and wait” nature of this time period.
Our advice? Find something to occupy your mind during this time. Whether it’s a hobby you’re passionate about, a book, work, or whatever else keeps you locked in for hours at a time. Just remember that no amount of worrying is going to make this time pass any faster.
Hold On a Second… (3-4 Days After Treatment)
First and foremost, let us begin with a key disclaimer here: everyone is slightly different in how their body recovers from swelling. Both the initial extent of the swelling, in fact, as well as the speed with which it is handled, can vary between people of similar ages, skin types, and health status.
In other words, we use the term “3-4 days” a little loosely here. Still, for most people, this is the point at which the swelling, discoloration, and any other post-treatment effects have subsided enough to start unveiling the results. You’ve still got a way to go, but your lip contours have been chiseled out enough by this point to give you a peek at early results.
For most people, this is their first big sigh of relief. It’s the touching down of the wheels. Yes, the plane still has to slow down and come to a complete stop safely, but you’re officially on the ground. You can see the results, and you can finally say to yourself, “See? You weren’t crazy for doing this.”
As you progress through this period, the frequent mirror checks take on a new tone, from anxious to excited.
Wait, No, I’m a Goddess (~2 Weeks After Treatment)
Every day after you first start to turn the corner results-wise sees a continued boost in your confidence. By the end of that first two weeks following your lip augmentation treatment, the results are fully settled.
Lipstick seems to pop more. People take notice. You’re taking selfies and finding every opportunity you can to photobomb.
Looking back at how anxious you were before and just after treatment, you laugh and say to yourself, “Why was I being so silly?” with all the bravado of a second-time skydiver showing everyone else on the plane how to adjust their equipment.
We kid, but hey—a little overconfidence at this point is earned, so have your moment. This experience wasn’t just about getting the fuller lips you’ve always wanted. It was about making a promise to do something that gave you anxiety and fulfilling it.
What Next?
Now that you’ve summited that initial peak (which turned out to be an anthill), you may find yourself eagerly planning your next non-surgical lip augmentation treatment, or even an entirely different cosmetic treatment.
And no, this does not mean you’re “addicted” anymore than a person with more than one tattoo is addicted. It just means that you’ve found your way into an entirely new realm of possibility, and you’re looking to build upon your results over the long term.
If this is you, give our team at Phoenix Med Spa another call, and we’ll explore this new arena together with the help of a customized treatment plan.
