Lip filler was definitely not on my growing-old-gracefully bingo card.

Botox? Sure. Skincare? Absolutely. But lip filler? I honestly never thought I’d be the person getting it.

And yet, here we are.

I had already been getting chin filler for about a year, and I absolutely loved the results. It made me curious about what a little lip filler could do, too.

I wasn’t looking for a dramatic transformation. I didn’t necessarily have thin lips to begin with, but as I’ve gotten older, I’ve noticed that my lips have started losing some of their volume.

And if you’ve been around Pretty Current for a while, you know how much I love a good lip combo.

I wanted my lips to look a little fuller, my lipstick to look a little better, and most importantly, I wanted the results to look natural.

Basically, I wanted fuller lips without looking like I had lip filler.

Sounds simple enough, right?

Well, let me tell you how that went.

Why I Decided to Try Lip Filler

Getting chin filler was really what opened the door for me.

I had such a positive experience with it that I started wondering whether I might like a little filler in my lips, too.

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve noticed some changes in my face, including losing a little volume in my lips. It wasn’t anything dramatic, but it was something I noticed.

I also love makeup, especially lipstick and lip liner. I have an entire collection of MAC lipsticks and liners, and I genuinely enjoy experimenting with different combinations.

I wanted to maintain that fuller lip look without constantly overlining my lips.

But I was very clear about one thing: I did not want giant lips.

I wanted to look like myself, just with a little more volume.

Why I Chose Half a Syringe Instead of a Full Syringe

When I went in for my appointment, I debated whether to get a full syringe or start with half.

Ultimately, I decided on half a syringe.

I wanted subtle results, and I figured I could always revisit the idea of getting more later if I wanted to.

A half syringe cost me about $300, while a full syringe would have been somewhere around $600–$700.

For me, $300 felt reasonable for something I was curious about trying, especially since I wasn’t interested in making a huge change.

I also liked the idea of starting small.

Looking back, I’m glad I did.

Because even with half a syringe, those first few days were something else.

Does Lip Filler Hurt? Because Mine Sure Did.

I’m not going to sugarcoat this.

Getting lip filler HURT.

Like, really hurt.

My injector applied a numbing agent beforehand, and I honestly thought that would make the whole thing pretty manageable.

Nope.

Even with the numbing, I found the injections incredibly painful.

The entire appointment took about 30 minutes, and the funny thing is that it took longer to numb me up than it did to actually inject the filler.

The injections themselves were relatively quick.

But those few minutes? Not fun.

In fact, if I had known beforehand just how much it was going to hurt, I’m not sure I would have gone through with it.

And that’s coming from someone who has had Botox and chin filler.

Of course, everyone’s experience with pain is different. This was just mine, and I was not prepared for it.

The Swelling Was NO JOKE

Remember how I said I wanted natural-looking lips?

Well, when I left that appointment, natural was not the word I would have used.

I looked in the mirror and immediately thought:

OMG. I have giant duck lips.

They were HUGE.

At least, they looked huge to me.

My lips were swollen, bruised, and very obviously looked like I had just had something done.

And unlike Botox, this was not something I could hide from my husband.

Not even a little bit.

I came home looking like I had made a very questionable decision.

My Husband Was Not a Fan

My husband has never liked the exaggerated lip filler look.

And when he saw me after that first appointment, he was not happy.

He hated how my lips looked.

He was mad and told me I didn’t need to do that to my face.

And honestly? I understood why he reacted that way.

I didn’t like how they looked at first, either!

They were swollen, bruised, and looked nothing like the subtle result I had imagined.

But I also knew I needed to give them time.

After about a week, the swelling had gone down quite a bit, and my lips started looking much more normal.

By around three weeks, my husband had completely changed his tune.

He told me they looked really nice and natural and that he couldn’t even tell I had filler anymore.

And now?

He supports me getting it done.

Funny how that works.

What the First Week After Lip Filler Was Really Like

The swelling and bruising were probably the hardest parts of the entire experience, aside from the actual injections.

The first time I got lip filler, it was hard to eat or drink anything comfortably.

And kissing my husband?

Forget about it.

My lips were just too sore and swollen.

I continued with my normal routine, but I skipped lipstick and lip liner while everything was settling down.

There really wasn’t much I could do to hide how my lips looked.

I just had to wear it.

And that was probably the biggest surprise for me.

I knew there could be some swelling, but I wasn’t prepared for how noticeable it would be or how uncomfortable those first few days would feel.

If I were planning to get filler before a wedding, vacation, family photos, or another big event, I would personally want plenty of time between my appointment and the event.

I wouldn’t schedule it right before something important based on my experience.

That said, my experience isn’t a universal recovery timeline. Your injector is the person to ask about what to expect and when to schedule treatment.

When Did My Lip Filler Start Looking Natural?

For me, the biggest change happened after about a week.

The swelling had settled enough that my lips started looking much more like what I originally wanted.

They were fuller, but they didn’t look overly done.

By around three weeks, even my husband was saying how natural they looked.

And that was exactly what I had hoped for.

I didn’t want people to look at me and immediately think, “Oh, she got lip filler.”

I wanted my lips to look like my lips.

Just a little fuller.

And once everything settled, that’s what I got.

The Best Part? My Lipstick Looks So Much Better

Okay, this is probably my favorite part of having lip filler.

My lipstick looks SO good.

You all know how much I love MAC lipsticks, lip liners, and glosses.

I love putting together different lip combinations, especially those pretty nude, rosy, and brown shades.

And now that my lips have a little more volume, I love how my lipstick looks on me.

I don’t feel like I need to overline my lips anymore, either.

I can just apply my liner and lipstick, and I’m happy with the result.

It’s a small thing, but for someone who genuinely loves makeup, it makes a difference.

And honestly, this is one of the biggest reasons I keep getting lip filler.

I love how my lips look with makeup, but I also love how natural they look without it.

How Long Does My Lip Filler Last?

I’ve found that my results last about six to eight months.

That’s my personal experience, not a guarantee of how long filler will last for everyone.

I’ve now had lip filler twice, and I’ve been happy enough with the results that I plan to continue getting it.

The second appointment was a little different from the first.

I think it felt less painful because I knew what was coming.

I was mentally prepared for it this time.

However, I actually bruised more after my second appointment.

So even though I knew what to expect, the recovery wasn’t exactly the same.

I’ve been fortunate that I haven’t experienced any complications that I’m aware of beyond the swelling, bruising, and discomfort I described.

That doesn’t mean filler is risk-free, though. It’s a medical procedure, and it’s important to discuss the potential complications, including rare but serious vascular complications, with a qualified medical professional before deciding whether it’s right for you.

Is Lip Filler Worth the Money?

For me, yes.

I paid approximately $300 for half a syringe, and my results have lasted around six to eight months.

I love the way my lips look, I love how my lipstick applies, and I feel like the results are subtle enough that I still look like myself.

That’s what I wanted from the beginning.

But I also think it’s important to be realistic about the experience.

The injections hurt more than I expected.

The swelling and bruising were significant.

And the first time I got it done, I definitely had a few moments of wondering what on earth I had done to my face.

I don’t think it’s something you should go into assuming you’ll walk out of the appointment with perfectly natural-looking lips.

At least, that wasn’t my experience.

For me, the results were worth it once everything settled down.

Would I Choose Botox or Lip Filler?

This might surprise you, but if I had to choose between Botox and lip filler, I’d choose Botox.

I love my lip filler results, and I plan to continue getting it.

But Botox is still my personal preference.

Part of that is simply because I find lip filler more painful, and the swelling and bruising afterward are much harder for me to deal with.

That doesn’t mean I regret getting lip filler.

Not at all.

I just have different feelings about the two treatments.

And I think that’s perfectly reasonable.

You can love the results of something without loving the entire experience of getting there.

My Final Thoughts on Getting Lip Filler in My 40s

Lip filler wasn’t something I ever imagined myself getting.

I was curious, I decided to try it, and I definitely wasn’t prepared for how painful or swollen my lips would be afterward.

But once everything settled, I got exactly what I was hoping for.

Fuller-looking lips that still look like mine.

I love how my lipstick looks, I don’t feel the need to overline my lips anymore, and I genuinely enjoy the results.

Would I do it again?

Well, I already have.

Twice.

And I plan to keep doing it.

But if there’s one thing I wish I’d known beforehand, it’s that the first few days might not look anything like the final result.

At least, they certainly didn’t for me.

And if you’re curious about lip filler yourself, my biggest takeaway is to have a thorough conversation with a qualified injector about your goals, the risks, and what recovery might look like.

Because while I love my results, I can only speak for my own experience.

And trust me, those duck lips were a humbling experience. 😂

Lip filler wasn’t my first experience with facial fillers in my 40s. I’ve also had chin filler, which was a completely different experience. If you’re curious about that treatment, you can read about my experience getting chin filler in my 40s, including why I decided to try it and what I thought of the results.