Lip fillers have become an incredibly popular aesthetic procedure – from the red carpet to the parents’ bleachers at little league baseball games. In this article, we will be looking at lip enhancement with fillers, that involve giving your lips more volume and a better shape, thereby changing the overall appearance of your face. If you have ever wanted lip fillers and are curious about how they work, read on to learn more.
What Are Lip Fillers?
Lip fillers are injectable products designed to add volume and enhanced shape to your lips, no matter their current size. Lip fillers are a type of filler that most commonly consist of hyaluronic acid (HA), and there are many brands of lip filler, including Juvederm and Restylane. Lip fillers are designed to restore your lips to their previous younger shape, address unevenness, and smooth wrinkles around your lips. And if you haven’t yet seen the effects of aging on your lips, but still want to experiment with an enhanced look, fillers can make your still-young lips more shapely and voluminous.
Why Would Someone Want Lip Fillers?
There are lots of reasons why someone would seek out treatment with lip fillers, but they generally fall into one of four categories:
1. To Add Fullness
Lip and dermal fillers can be a beneficial treatment for nearly any adult age group. From younger women looking for sexier, more plump lips to older women who want to restore their youthful look, almost everyone is a good candidate for lip filler.
2. To Reduce the Appearance of Wrinkles Around the Mouth
Wrinkles and fine lines can give away your age, especially for women over 50. “Smokers lines” around the mouth can happen to anyone, regardless of whether they smoke or not. Lip fillers can effectively treat these lines by smoothing them out.
3. To Define Lip Shape
Some people have lips that are not well defined, with a border that flows into the skin and sort of disappears, rather than having a clear separation of skin/lip. Today’s lip fillers can add dimension and sharpen that lip line. They can also be used to better define “cupid’s bow”, the area above your top lip that looks like a gently curved “M.”
4. To Correct Asymmetries
Sometimes, a person’s lips are naturally asymmetrical, causing self-consciousness. Sometimes one side is fuller than the other, or even the shape of the lips has been altered by aging, trauma or scarring. In these cases, lip fillers can be used to make their lips in proportion to each other.
Are Lip Fillers Safe?
Every aesthetic treatment has its pros and cons, but lip fillers have a very low risk of complications and side effects. The most common side effects are very minor, and temporary. They include:
- Bleeding from the injection
- Swelling or bruising
- Tenderness or redness
- Reactivation of fever blisters or cold sores if you have had them in the past
More severe side effects – while extremely rare – include prolonged swelling and soreness, infection, scarring, or an asymmetrical appearance of your lips. You can ensure you avoid the possibility of severe side effects by entrusting your care to a practitioner with advanced training in these procedures – always ‘shop around’ when selecting an aesthetic physician or cosmetic clinic. Check out their social media, read their reviews, and ask around in your peer groups.
And don’t forget: one of the great things about lip fillers is that if an unwanted side effect does occur, your medical professional can quickly reverse the procedure using hyaluronidase to reduce any damage or complications.
Should I Get Lip Filler?
Lip filler is an excellent option for those who want to gain creative control over the appearance of their lips. Patients have the option of choosing exactly how much filler gets injected. Any unwanted lumps and bumps can be easily removed, and there is a very low risk of infection with modern fillers like Juvederm. And while lip filler isn’t permanent, you will experience long-lasting results that are sure to make you smile. You will also likely find yourself getting more compliments from friends, family and new acquaintances.
Can I Get Big Pouty Lips Like I See on TikTok and Instagram?
The idea that you can go from extremely thin, non-existent lips to large, plump lips with one injection is unrealistic. Many clinics will advise against injecting more than a single syringe in one session, if this is your first time experimenting with lip fillers. Overfilling can be uncomfortable and could even be damaging.
To get the look you want, you should keep in mind that less is often more, and you can always receive additional injections to top off the original one after a couple of weeks. It’s often best to take a natural approach to lip filler and add lip filler a little bit at a time until you are at the ideal amount of plumpness for your facial anatomy.
When Will I Notice the Results, and How Long Will the Lip Filler Last?
At first, you’re likely to have minor swelling after the treatment, so you’ll want to let your lips settle down before being able to judge if you like your new look or not. Then, after two weeks to a month, you’ll be looking at the final treatment results. At this point, you can properly decide whether you want more or you’re happy with where you’re at.
What Should I Do Before Getting Injected?
For treatment to be successful, there are a few simple steps patients should follow to prepare for their appointment:
First, avoid Advil, aspirin, and other pain relievers for about three or four days before injection. These medicines are blood thinners that can worsen bruising and swelling. Patients should also temporarily stop taking any vitamins or supplements known to thin the blood.
It’s best to avoid alcohol for 24 hours before injection since it is also a blood thinner. And for patients who suffer from cold sores and usually take medication for a flare-up, they should take their prescription on the morning of their appointment. This is because the injections can sometimes awaken the dormant herpes virus and reactivate it. Taking regular cold sore medicine will suppress this response.
Keep the mouth clean as usual, but it’s also a good idea to use an antiseptic mouthwash before the appointment as an added layer of protection against infection.
What Should I Expect During a Lip Filler Treatment?
Your aesthetic doctor will consult with you before your procedure to discuss your goals, facial anatomy and condition, medical history, any potential complications, and what you should expect during your treatment session.
During your procedure, your injector will apply a fast-acting numbing cream to your lips to make the injections more comfortable. After between 15 and 30 minutes, your lips should be numb. Next, your provider will use a very thin needle to inject lip filler into all parts of your lips, including the edges and the corners. You may feel a slight pinch, but there shouldn’t be any significant pain. Wrapping up, the provider may inject around 1ml of fluid into the lips to kick-off the hydration process.
What Should I Expect After a Lip Filler Treatment?
The total lip filler procedure should take anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours to complete, and afterward, your provider may gently massage your lips to minimize bruising and pain. You also might be provided some ice to apply, to reduce swelling. You will be monitored for a few minutes to ensure you don’t have any immediate side effects. After this, you are free to depart and carry on your day.
For the next 24 to 48 hours, you may experience swelling and bruising of the lips, which might take up to a week to disappear entirely. You can apply ice packs periodically to help with any pain. You should avoid wearing lip cosmetic products or exercising for 24 hours following your procedure. Avoid touching, licking, or wiping your lips, as this can disturb the injection sites. Do not consume alcohol for at least 24 hours. Also, be careful when brushing your teeth not to strike the lips, and be sure to drink plenty of water. Try to stick to easy-to-eat foods and avoid salty meals, which can be dehydrating.
Your goal in this recovery time is to provide maximum hydration to the lips, so taking any actions that reduce hydration should be avoided.
How Long Do Lip Fillers Last?
Generally, lip fillers last six to 12 months. All cosmetic fillers slowly wear away and dissolve over time, typically around a year after getting it. So always keep in mind that lip filler treatments are not permanent solutions. However, aesthetic physicians offer routine “touch-up” services for those who want to keep their lips looking plump and fresh for many years to come.