Kayla Young
Lip blushing is a procedure that uses a tiny needle to insert some color on your lips, not unlike microblading or a tattoo. This process will improve the color of your lips and help make your lips look fuller by enhancing their shape.Â
Although lip blushing could bring great results, some people might still be hesitant to go through it. There are various things to expect when you go through the procedure and one of them is lip blushing swelling.
Swelling is part of the healing process after lip blushing. But too much may be a sign of something wrong.
This is an expected outcome as it is a natural reaction of the body. What causes the swelling? When is it considered normal? And when should you take action and get help?
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The Lip Blushing Process
Before we get to the swelling, let’s first get to know what the procedure entails so we can understand what happens to the lips because of it.
Lip blushing uses microneedles to insert colored pigment into the deeper layers of the skin. Like tattoos, the ink isn’t just on the top surface of the skin, it is inserted underneath the top layer so it stays there longer and won’t be washed out immediately.
The skin is a natural barrier. You don’t usually have openings in the skin that will let the pigment pass through and be deposited on the deeper layers.
For that, the skin surface needs to be broken or cut through the use of microneedles. With the cuts made, the pigments can now travel in the deeper layers where it is supposed to settle so that the results last longer.
This needling process injures your lips, and there is healing that must be done (similar to ombre brows and microblading).
Before the microneedles are used, a topical numbing cream will first be used on your lips. This helps lessen the pain you feel while the procedure is being done. Once the numbing cream works, they can now start the procedure.
Why Does Lip Blushing Swelling Happen?
As we’ve mentioned, the skin is a natural protective barrier of the body. It protects the body from the entry of bacteria and other things that could cause harm to the body.
Due to that, the pigments or ink used will not be able to go to the deeper layers of the skin. The color needs to be in the deeper layers for it to last longer. If it is only on the surface of the skin, then it would be easily washed off.
With the microneedles, tiny, microscopic cuts are made on the surface of the skin to allow pigments to go deeper. The cuts on the surface of the skin provide access for the pigments to enter the lower layers of skin. However, those openings also leave you more prone to infection if you do not practice proper hygiene.
The cuts on the surface of the skin provide access for the pigments to enter the lower layers of skin. However, those openings also leave you more prone to infection if you do not practice proper hygiene.
The cuts made cause inflammation. As a result, lymphatic fluid is produced and instructed by the body to go to the area of the lips to fight off any potential source of harm. This causes swelling and can also cause you to see some fluid on the lips.
Swelling is a common response of the body to lip blushing as well as tattooing. It is typically observed within the day that you get the lip blushing procedure.
Swelling is a common response of the body to lip blushing as well as tattooing.
As the lips heal, the swelling could subside. Usually, the swelling on the lips would only last for about 1-2 days.
How Do You Get The Swelling To Go Down?
The swelling on your lips affects how your lips look, and could lead to discomfort after the procedure. That’s why it isn’t surprising if you are looking for ways how to get the swelling to go down!
Just a Little Patience
The first thing that you could do is simply be patient and wait. The swelling might be uncomfortable and you might feel that your lips are too heavy because of it, but that’s just how the body reacts.
You should just wait for it to subside, because the swelling typically eventually subsides on its own. Although there could still be a bit of swelling after a day, the size should be significantly different.
Chill Out
Another way to help the swelling subside is to use an ice pack on the area. You can apply the ice pack for 15 minutes on the lips, then remove it for 15 minutes then repeat.
However, you must make sure that you don’t rub the ice pack on your lips. You’d want to lessen the swelling but if you irritate the lips due to friction, it could still be painful.
You should make sure that the lips don’t get wet either. And make sure that the surface of your ice pack is clean. You wouldn’t want to introduce an infection while getting the swelling down!
When To Call Your Artist or a Doctor
It’s a great idea to take a photo of your lips each day and send it to your lip blushing artist. They can review it and make sure you’re healing as expected, and there’s nothing strange going on.
If the swelling doesn’t seem to be subsiding, then you should contact your lip blushing artist, or a doctor if you feel you’re having an allergic reaction.
It is possible that the swelling isn’t only caused by the cuts on your lips but because of an allergic reaction that you could have due to the products used.
Aside from the pigment, you could be allergic to the topical anesthesia used. If you are experiencing allergies, your lips may not be the only ones that are swelling.
You could expect swelling around the lips and on the neck. You could have difficulty breathing so make sure you check on yourself carefully.
If you are having allergic reactions, your doctor could give you medication to counter the allergy. It is best to be safe as some allergic reactions could be so severe that they are already fatal.
