Full, plumped-up lips are as sought after as great eyelashes and brows – but while makeup can help your lashes and brows, it doesn’t do much for your lips. There may be loads of topical treatments that promise to puff up the lips – but these are simply irritants that puff the lips for only a few hours. Thankfully, we now have lip fillers available to assist.

Introducing Lip Fillers

Possibly the most sought after cosmetic treatment, lip injections offer a natural and immediate change to your face. But lip injections aren’t just for those seeking an A-list celebrity look – they’re also the perfect solution for smoothing out and minimizing wrinkles around your mouth. Even better, the change is immediate, and the results can last up to six months.

However, any kind of cosmetic procedure should be thoughtfully considered, and lip filler treatment is no exception. So let’s take a look at the Pros and Cons of cosmetic lip injections.

PROS

1. Quick and Immediate with No Downtime

While you’ll always start with a consultation appointment to discuss your goals and concerns with your cosmetic physician, the actual lip injection appointment can take as little as 20-30 minutes. Cosmetic lip injections are a non-invasive procedure that’s only mildly uncomfortable. Your medical professional will start with a topical or local anesthetic to numb the injection areas, and then use a fine needle to make precise injections based on the proportion, symmetry, volume, borders, contours, and shape you’ve decided on. And the results are immediate – and while you’ll have some swelling the first day, within 24-48 hours it go away on its own. And maybe the best part is the ultra-short recovery time: you can continue on with your day immediately after the treatment – you don’t need to go home and hide out while you recover.

2. Natural and Subtle

When done properly with care and precision, cosmetic lip injections will provide a subtle, natural change to your appearance. You can plump up both upper and lower lips, or just one.  You can also choose other particular lip areas you’d like to change. After treatment, the difference in size and shape won’t be drastic, and can easily be adjusted over time through follow up treatments. There’s a certain subtle ‘magic’ with a great lip filler treatment: you’ll definitely notice the change yourself, but others likely won’t be able to pinpoint what exactly has changed about your face,  aside from looking more youthful. On top of all this, your lips won’t feel any different than they did before – injections don’t desensitize your lips or make them feel differently when you kiss, eat or drink.

3. Temporary and Tailored

Because lip injections are made of hyaluronic acid, your body will eventually absorb them – which is why follow up treatments are required to maintain your new look. But this isn’t necessarily a bad thing – because it allows you to easily adjust the look, expand on it, or lose it altogether. If you want more fulness in your bottom lip after your first treatment, that can be achieved. If you want to increase the plump over time, that can also be done. And if you don’t like your new lips, they will eventually return to their starting state, naturally, over time. And if you want them back immediately, your injector can use an eraser enzyme to dissolve the filler in minutes.

CONS

1. Temporary and Cost

While being a temporary treatment is a pro in some ways, it can be considered a con also. Because your body absorbs hyaluronic acid, you must repeat the procedure every three to four months to maintain your look. Unfortunately, cosmetic treatments are never cheap, so fillers can range from $500 – $2,000 depending on the course of treatment you select – but remember, it’s still far less expensive than lip implants or going under the knife for surgical augmentation.

2. Potential for Allergic Reactions and Side Effects

As with any kind of injection, there is a minor possibility of an allergic reaction, though it’s very unlikely with lip injections, as they use fillers that are already in your body (hyaluronic acid). Side effects, if they do occur, are only temporary and may include swelling, bruising, redness, tenderness, and possibly bleeding at the injection site. And if you suffer from occasional cold sores, it might trigger an attack. The rarer, but more serious, side effects may include lumps, lip asymmetry, scarring, tissue loss, and infection.

3. Preparation

To increase effectiveness and decrease the chance of any side effects, there are some key pre-procedure restrictions you should follow. For example, you should avoid any activity that increases blood flow to your face, such as a massage, facial, or strenuous exercise. Also, beginning 10 days prior to your treatment, stay away from medication and supplements that act to thin your blood (i.e. painkillers, fish oil, vitamin E). And if you suffer from cold sores, it’s a great idea to take preventative meds a couple of days before your treatment.

The Wrap

Great looking lips don’t have to remain unattainable, with the wide variety of great lip fillers available today. It’s no surprise this is one of the most popular procedures, with no signs of a slowdown. It’s always good to review the Pros and Cons of any medical procedure before proceeding, including today’s leading lip fillers. Licensed medical professionals can buy lip fillers at Health Supplies Plus.