As many people seek to get those beautiful luscious lips, lip filler has become the go-to procedure that helps add volume and definition to the lips, improving lip symmetry and treating vertical lip lines. It is a minimally invasive cosmetic procedure performed at a doctor’s office with minimal downtime. In general, fillers are made from natural or biocompatible compounds such as hyaluronic acid.
What Are Different Types of Lip Fillers?
Lip fillers are injectable treatments containing hyaluronic acid or collagen to improve lip volume significantly. Published reports confirm HA fillers’ efficacy and safety for worldwide usage and confirm the efficacy and safety.
As Hyaluronic Acid becomes the most popular choice of injectable treatments, not only that it is safe for use, but it also provides more immediate effects compared to other filler alternatives, such as collagen. HA fillers instantly plump the lips while stimulating the skin’s natural collagen production when injected.
Juvéderm
A dermal filler brand that not only adds volume to the lips but also restores the volume in the cheeks as well as around the mouth that are lost due to age. Juvéderm has a smoother gel formulation to move around and evenly plump the lips compared to other brands. It now has several types, such as Juvéderm Ultra XC, Juvéderm filler, and Juvéderm Volbella XC, specially formulated to plump the lips.
Juvéderm effects can be seen right after the procedure, and to see the final result, wait for the swelling to go down. Juvéderm’s results can last for up to twelve months on an average.
Restylane
Another HA filler is most commonly used to plump the cheeks and lips; however, it is mainly used to reduce lines and wrinkles in other face areas. Restylane has a firmer gel consistency than Juvéderm, which means it maintains a firmer and more rigid position at the injection site. On the other hand, Restylane Silk has been specifically developed for lip augmentation, approved for use to those more than 21 years of age.
The same result with Juvéderm, visible results can be seen right after the procedure. Like any dermal filler, wait for swelling and redness to ease before seeing the actual results. Restylane’s results after lip injections last around six months on average but may last for ten months.
Perlane
An HA filler, also known as Restylane Lyft, is much like other Restylane products with a thicker and more rigid gel formula. It is primarily used to treat more severe and deeper wrinkles on the face due to its larger particles than other HA fillers. The Perlane’s effects typically last around six months and can be noticed immediately after the procedure. Due to its dense formula, it is not typically used for lip augmentation.
Collagen Lip Fillers
Once used as lip fillers’ main ingredient, collagen is now less commonly used for the safer HA alternative. Instead of providing an instant plumping effect on the lips, collagen is now primarily used to boost the skin’s collagen levels.
Bellafill
A collagen lip filler that combines bovine collagen and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) beads. Bellafill is mainly used to treat acne scars by filling out the skin while also stimulating collagen growth. Sometimes used as off-label to treat the lips, giving immediate plumping results, but it’s not approved for lip augmentation yet. Lasting an average of five years, the Bellafill’s effects last much longer than any other filler alternative.
Sculptra
Another injectable collagen treatment has poly-L-lactic as the primary ingredient that is absorbed into the body and encourages collagen production in the skin. However, it cannot provide immediate volume to the face, unlike fillers. It is used to gradually restore fullness back to wrinkled areas of the face and is not typically chosen for lip augmentation, in which the effects usually last between two to three years.
Will It Be Difficult To Smile With Lip Fillers?
The most important thing to realize is that lip fillers don’t just affect the size of the lips, but they can completely alter the dimensions of the smile, which is something that isn’t mentioned enough. Also, excessive use of fillers can result in long-term damage that may include lip wrinkles and the disturbance attachment of the facial fat pads, as well as some degree of irregularity and aging of the skin.
Who Are Good Candidates Of Lip Fillers?
Getting lip fillers is a personal decision. To be considered for lip fillers, the person should:
- Have good physical health.
- Know how to set realistic expectations.
- Don’t have any oral infection that includes cold sores or canker sores.
A lot of people who get lip fillers want to increase the size of their lips. Enlarging the size of the lips for many reasons can include:
- Restoring a previous lip size. With age, the lips may get smaller or thinner, the philtrum (the groove between the upper lip and septum) may get flatter and longer, and the distance between the corners of the mouth (intercommissural distance) may increase.
- Correcting the shape of the lips. It’s common for the lips to be of different sizes or shapes (asymmetrical).
- Smoothing wrinkles. When smiling or laughing, wrinkles sometimes develop on the sides of the mouth.
- Boosting confidence. Lip fillers can help improve self-esteem and body image.
What Happens During A Lip Filler Procedure?
The healthcare provider will apply a topical anesthetic to the lips during a lip filler procedure. It will help numb the lips so the patient won’t feel any pain and the process is as comfortable as possible. If the patient is given a BLT allergy, the healthcare provider may provide a nerve block injection to numb the lips.
A thin needle with the filler will be injected into any or all parts of the lips, including its edges(vermillion border), the curve in the center of the upper lip (Cupid’s bow), and the oral commissures (corners of the mouth). There wouldn’t be any pain, but only a pinching sensation. The healthcare provider will insert 1 milliliter (mL) of lip filler into the lips on an average, about one-fifth of a teaspoon, and it won’t go deeper than 2.5 millimeters (mm) into the skin.
After this, an ice pack will be applied to the lips throughout the procedure to minimize bruising and swelling. The procedure may take 30 minutes to two hours to be finished.
What To Expect After The Procedure?
The provider may gently massage the lips to absorb the filler after the procedure. The application of ice may also continue.
The provider will monitor for 15 minutes to see any side effects that may be felt, such as nausea, dizziness, or substantial bleeding. Once done with monitoring, the patient will be discharged.
Aftercare
Following the procedure, some patients may experience swelling and bruising for two weeks but to speed up the recovery and avoid complications, below are some simple instructions to follow:
- Apply an ice pack to the injected site to reduce swelling
- Avoid massaging or unnecessarily touching the injection site
- Avoid strenuous activities and direct sun exposure for 48 hours
- Avoid aspirin NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs), such as Ibuprofen, as they may cause bleeding.
Who Should Not Receive A Lip Filler?
The following people with conditions may want to avoid receiving the procedure yet:
- Autoimmune conditions like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis
- Active infections like a cold sore
- Bleeding or blood clotting problems
- Diabetes
- Allergy to lidocaine (local anesthetic)
What Are Lip Filler’s Side Effects and Risks?
Lip filler is a safe injection only when administered by an experienced provider. Some common side effects are as follows:
- Pain
- Bleeding at the injection site
- Swelling and bruising for up to weeks
More severe side effects and complications are rare. These may include:
- Reactivation of cold sores
- Skin infections
- Allergic reactions
- Asymmetry and poor aesthetic outcome
- Tissue damage-causing scarring, ulceration, scarring, or necrosis (tissue death)
The good news is lip fillers don’t have any downtime following lip filler injections – the daily routine can immediately resume right after the treatment, considering the aforementioned precautions.
The Bottom Line
The lip region is a significant area for facial aesthetic enhancement. The lips have since time immemorial been highlighted along with the eyes as the two most beautiful regions of a woman’s or a man’s face. Utah Facial Surgical Arts offer lip enhancements to add volume, plumpness, and symmetry to your lips.
