Headache After Cheek Fillers

Why You Might Get Headaches After Cheek Fillers (And What To Do For Relief)

If you've gotten popular cheek fillers like Juvederm or Restylane, you may be familiar with one of their side effects—headaches. While some discomfort is expected, waking up with a pounding migraine after dermal filler injections in the cheeks can be worrying if you weren't expecting it. 

No worries! This guide covers everything you need to know about headaches after cheek fillers—from causes and types to duration, treatment, and when to see a doctor for persistent, severe migraine pain that doesn't respond to medication or cold compresses.

What Causes Headaches After Cheek Fillers?

First things first - why do cheek fillers hurt afterward anyway? There are a few reasons you might get headaches after injections:

1. Inflammation From The Injection Process

The main cause of headaches after getting cheek fillers is the inflammation from injecting a foreign substance (dermal filler gel) into the delicate facial muscles and tissues. Your body responds to these injections with swelling, redness, and irritation as the surrounding tissue gets disrupted. This triggers the release of chemicals like histamine that dilate blood vessels and result in inflammation. 

With most fillers being hyaluronic acid-based, they also attract water to the injection sites and cause added swelling. The combination of swelling and inflammation right by your temples and cheeks is what typically leads to side-effect headaches.

2. Muscle Tension and Bruising 

The injected gel lifting and stretching the facial skin can make connective tissue and muscles like the zygomaticus major and orbicularis oculi tense up. This sudden muscle tension, coupled with internal bruising from the needle injury, creates ideal conditions for a tension headache. 

These types of headaches cause continuous, dull pain described as feeling like a tight band around your forehead or scalp. The sensation starts soon after the trauma of the injection and can last for days to weeks if swelling remains high.

3. Rare Side Effects Like Vascular Occlusion

In very rare cases, severe headaches after cheek fillers can signal vascular occlusion - where the injected gel cuts off blood supply to facial tissue. Symptoms arise when an artery gets blocked, reducing oxygen and nutrients to surrounding muscles and nerves. 

This causes ischemia and inflammation in facial structures, leading to immediate and intense migraine-like headaches, as well as vision issues or sudden skin discoloration. This is an emergency complication that needs prompt medical care.

4. Stress and Anxiety

Feelings of anxiety and stress related to getting injectable procedures can also trigger headaches for some patients, separate from the physical effects of the injections. This headache-inducing mechanism is likely caused by surges in stress hormones and increased muscle tension due to anxiety surrounding the cosmetic treatment. 

Relaxation techniques and counseling before the procedure may help patients prone to stress-related headaches manage those feelings and avoid post-treatment headaches caused by anxiety.

What Types of Headaches Are Common After Cheek Fillers?

The most prevalent headaches reported following cheek augmentations are:

• Tension Headaches - Constant dull aching and tightness felt across the forehead, temples, or back of the head. Caused by strained facial muscles.

• Migraines - Throbbing pain typically on one side that worsens with activity. Can be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, light, and sound sensitivity.

• Cluster Headaches - Sudden onset of very severe, sharp pain around or behind one eye. These repeat frequently over weeks or months. 

Each of these common headache types has a slightly different presentation and duration. But most resolve within 3 days with conservative treatment and ample rest. Let's look at how long you can expect side-effect headaches to last after cheek filler injections.

How Long Do Headaches Last After Cheek Fillers?

For the average patient, mild to moderate headaches are common for 2-3 days after non-surgical cheek augmentation. As your injection sites recover and swelling goes down, headache frequency and intensity should steadily decrease. 

Here's a general timeline of headache duration after cheek fillers:

• Day 1 - 2: Severe headaches at their peak due to acute inflammation from the injections.

• Day 3 - 5: Moderate headache pain and tightness as swelling remains elevated.

• Day 6 - 7: Mild residual headaches that are on and off again.

• 1 - 2 weeks: Most headaches fully resolve but some dull tightness may remain.

Severe or persistent headaches that don't respond to medication for over 3 days post-procedure could indicate complications and warrant medical examination.

How To Treat Headaches After Cheek Filler Injections

Your provider will recommend an aftercare regimen to minimize the headaches, but here are some at-home remedies for relief:

• Cold compresses - Apply wrapped ice packs to injection sites to constrict blood vessels and reduce inflammation.

• Pain medication - Over-the-counter drugs like ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and naproxen can alleviate tension and migraine headaches.

• Temple/forehead massage - Use gentle pressure with your fingertips to relax strained facial muscles causing headache pain.

• Stay hydrated - Drink plenty of water and avoid strenuous exercise that exacerbates swelling.

• Rest and limit activity - Give your body time to recover by resting with your head elevated on pillows.

Avoid rubbing or massaging the treated areas for 3-7 days as this can worsen irritation. Hot showers, steam facials, and alcohol should also be avoided temporarily when recovering from cheek filler headaches.

See A Doctor for Persistent, Severe Headaches 

In most cases, headaches from cheek fillers will resolve naturally within 1-2 weeks. But if you experience any of the following, consult a healthcare provider immediately:

• Sudden vision changes or loss of coordination
• Severe headache pain persisting for over 72 hours
• Unusual swelling rapidly worsening on one side 
• Migraines getting more frequent or intense
• Muscle weakness making it hard to chew or move facial muscles

These can be signs of a rare but serious vascular occlusion, allergic reaction, or other complication that needs medical treatment. For very severe migraine headaches after cheek fillers that don't respond to prescription meds, your provider may dissolve some of the filler to relieve pressure on nerves.

The Takeaway - Expected Headaches Are Temporary

Mild to moderate headaches are par for the course after injections to the sensitive cheeks and under-eye area. But these side-effect headaches due to swelling and muscle tension should steadily improve after a few days. Staying hydrated, limiting activity, and using cold compresses can speed up recovery.

Schedule an appointment with Dr. Lanna Aesthetics to discuss cheek augmentation in a safe and comfortable clinic environment. Their team will walk you through all potential side effects and make sure you have the optimal post-procedure regimen for smooth healing. You'll be in the best hands to minimize headaches and maximize your cosmetic filler results.