Lips are the defining feature of the face.
Even though they make up such a small portion of the face, lip filler can significantly affect a person’s overall appearance. Angelina Jolie’s lips will not look natural on everyone’s face. That’s why it’s essential to consider things like facial structure and the patient’s end goal.
People get lip fillers for different reasons.
Full lips are trendy right now. I am not sure who started this fun trend. Everyone from the Kardashians to your favorite model, socialite, or makeup artist on Instagram is getting lip injections to augment their lips.
Some people opt for lip injections to correct an asymmetry or give their lips more structure other than augmentation. The added structure can help prevent the dreaded “lipstick bleeding.” Hyaluronic acid (also known as H.A.) fillers are the ideal choice whether you want to correct or enhance your lips.
The structure of the patient’s lips is extremely important to consider.
The filler injection placement can affect the results of the intended correction. For example, building a cupid’s bow or philtrum columns where someone lacks them can create an elegant pleasing result, overall.
What about duck lips?
Do not make the mistake of seeing an inexperienced injector. The injector should consider your facial anatomy to determine how much volume should be added. The goal should be to enhance your lips without causing an unnatural look. Providers who make their clients look unnatural to have missed the mark. (Look under benefits of H.A. fillers to see what can be done.) It is also important to not let outliers that have had a poor result influence your opinion about lip enhancements.
How to avoid unwanted results:
Start by going to an experienced lip filler injector. Talk to them about your end goal, but also listening to their suggestions will go a long way towards reaching your lip augmentation goals.
There are different kinds of temporary lip fillers.
Restylane, Restylane Silk, Juvederm Ultra, Juvederm Ultra +, Juvederm Volbella. are all Hylaronic Acid fillers. The favorites that I prefer to use are Juvederm Ultra + or Juvederm Volbella depending on my patient’s goals. If they want super plump lips, I like to use Juvederm Ultra +, which is hydrophilic, meaning water-loving. (H.A. fillers can hold 300% of their weight in water, causing the desired plum lip) If they want the “New England look,” meaning a very subtle change, and are more interested in structural fixes rather than plumping, I will use Juvederm Volbella, which is a more structural filler but not as hydrophilic.
One of the benefits of using H.A. fillers is that there is an “antidote.”
Hyaluronidase can be injected and melt the filler away if, for some reason, the result is not what you were looking for.
Costs can vary between $400 and $675 per syringe.
Sometimes more than one syringe may be needed depending on what your end goal is. (For example, I think that Kylie Jenner’s lips most likely have 2-3 syringes of H.A. in them). Cost can vary depending on geographical location as well.
H.A. fillers are F.D.A. approved to last up to a year.
Truthfully, everyone metabolizes fillers at different rates. I have seen people come back as soon as four months, but most of my patients come back around eight months later. I get mine re-done every eight months, and even at that time, I still have a little bit left from the time before. By adding a minute amount of Botox to that area, I have noticed that it can decrease the loss of product from constantly moving your lips and prevent peri-oral lines.
One great aspect of lip filler is you will see the results almost immediately!
Your lips will be a little swollen and red after the injection, but after 24-48 hours, you will get to enjoy your beautiful natural result. Even though I take careful measures to prevent bruising, I usually tell people to schedule it at least a week before an event.
The procedure may be slightly uncomfortable, depending on your pain tolerance.
I begin by applying a topical numbing agent, followed by using ice and other comfort measurements to help alleviate the pinching sensation of the injection. The product is also pre-mixed with lidocaine(which is a numbing agent) to help with continued comfort during the procedure.
Try to avoid consuming anything that can thin your blood.
The list includes fish oil, vitamin E, Ibuprofen, Motrin, and Aleve. Thinner blood will make the area more prone to bleeding during the procedure and bruising after.
There are measures you can take to speed healing and reduce post-filler bruising and inflammation.
Arnica is an herbal medication that can be taken orally to help with bruising and swelling. Fresh pineapple (not pineapple juice or canned pineapple) has an enzyme called bromelain that can help with bruising as well.
Lip filler is not permanent.
Your lips will return to their original state in 5 to 10 months if you stop treatment. Your lips will not turn into wrinkly deflated lips if you stop; however, H.A., in theory, can help jumpstart your own collagen production, so after numerous treatments, you might find that your lips might be slightly fuller naturally.
There are risks associated with lip fillers.
Although the safety profile of hyaluronic fillers has made them so popular, there are risks a patient needs to consider, such as vascular occlusion, bruising, and swelling. (There are many precautions that I have been heavily trained on how to avoid Beauty Time RN does not recommend Semi-permanent and permanent fillers such as silicone by Beauty Time R.N.
They have a high incidence of granuloma or nodule formation (lumps and bumps on your lips). In addition, your facial anatomy is constantly changing with your age. If your lips are thin due to age, but the filler remains exactly where it was put, it will look bizarre.
