People who have concerns about their lips or are considering getting lip augmentation with minimally invasive procedures may have many questions. We can't always rely on the information we find on social media or the internet. That's why we've put together answers to the top questions about lips and lip fillers with answers from Swedish aesthetic nurse and master injector, Julie Horne.
Why do people request lip fillers?
There are many reasons people have for wanting to get injectable filler treatments on their lips. Our lips are a focal feature on our faces. We use them to speak, eat, kiss, and express how we feel. Making our lips appear more luscious, shapely, youthful, and healthy with aesthetic procedures just makes sense.
I have thin lips. Is there a procedure that can help with thin lips?
Yes, there is. It is important not to add too much volume to your lips, since you only need a small amount of the facial fillers to lift the lips and create shape. In the first year of lip treatment for thin lips, you will need to have patience and trust the process. It could take three or four treatments in the first year before you achieve the ideal results you want.
What is a dermal filler?
A dermal filler is a hyaluronic acid-based gel. A doctor injects the hyaluronic acid dermal filler into the deeper layers of the skin to create volume and lift facial features, such as your lips.
Are there different kinds of dermal fillers?
Yes, there are several types of fillers. The type of filler you need depends on the area of the face and the results you want to achieve. Some fillers lift more than others, and they each have different formulas. Others are more. Galderma Aesthetics offers a diverse range of Hyaluronic Acid dermal fillers.
A broader range allows administering doctors to treat individual needs more accurately. The filler product they choose will depend on your skin tissue quality and the results you want to achieve. Those with loose tissue in the lips, for example, could benefit from a softer filler. This will allow for high tissue integration to address lines and wrinkles on the surface of the lips, for a smooth and natural looking result.
When you treat lips with a softer filler, you plump them up naturally. After 4 weeks, a firmer filler is injected into the lips to create the desired shape, height, and lifting of the lips. That means the lip filler procedure takes at least 2 sessions.
What is hyaluronic acid?
It is a molecule that occurs naturally in our bodies. Hyaluronic Acid (HA) is also a polysaccharide that we have in our bodies. A polysaccharide is a carbohydrate such as cellulose, starch, or glycogen made up of sugar molecules that are bonded together. Its role is to keep our skin firm and hydrated. Most lip fillers today are hyaluronic acid fillers that contain this compound in a stable form that lasts longer.
What if I don't look like myself anymore? Can you change the way you look by changing your lips?
When you visit an experienced doctor, they will assess your facial proportions. A good doctor won't give you volumising filler injections that fill your lips disproportionately. It is meant to bring balance and aesthetic beauty to your face.
Are there any standards or ideals for how my lips should look?
Around the world, different ideals exist for what beautiful lips look like. For me, definition takes preference over size. I like to give my patients a crisp, defined lip border while creating some height in the centre of the lip, while allowing the height to fade laterally.
Giving a patient the correct proportions is important. It helps to inspect the patient in a profile view and draw a line from the tip of the nose to the chin. Their lower lip should touch that line, and the upper lip should be 2mm behind to create the perfect "Ricketts line". During dermal filler treatments, my aim is always to balance the Ricketts line. To get a nice balance to the lips, it's important to give the lower lip a good protrusion.
What is the lip treatment process?
Your lip filler procedure starts with a consultation. We'll discuss your lip goals for lip augmentation. Next, you'll need to fill out some paperwork.
After that, I apply some topical numbing cream in a relaxed setting, which takes 10 - 15 minutes. The treatment itself follows, and it usually takes about 10 minutes. After your injectable treatment is complete, I will give you information about what to think about and expect post-treatment.
One important thing to remember is that it takes around 2 weeks for the lips to settle. It's a good idea to return for a second consultation at this time. We can then discuss your experiences, thoughts, and whether you are satisfied. Based on our discussion, we can plan your next treatment date and book an appointment.
If I bring a picture of lips that I feel look beautiful, could you replicate them?
Bringing a picture is a great idea, since it can help give the doctor a good idea of what you think is beautiful and what you're aiming to achieve with the dermal lip fillers. That said, your natural anatomy will play a role. Your doctor should be able to tell you what you can achieve with it.
It is great to know what our patients like and think is beautiful so that we can personalise their injectable filler treatment. We can also work towards achieving results that are as similar as possible in the cosmetic lip augmentation process.
Is getting lip fillers painful?
Lips are the most sensitive area that administering doctors treat on the face. Before getting dermal lip fillers, some doctors can inject a local anaesthetic or numbing medication so that you don't feel a thing. Others prefer to apply a topical anaesthetic. It takes about 15 minutes for the anaesthetic to take effect.
Will there be a lot of swelling that shows?
You can expect about 48 hours of visible swelling during the healing process. For this reason, many people choose to get lip fillers on Fridays. it allows them to recover over the weekend.
After day 2, your lips will start to feel natural again as they settle. Sometimes, you can also get bruising, but you can easily cover it with makeup such as lipstick, for example.
Is there anything that can go wrong with the cosmetic procedure for my lips?
Yes, all lip augmentation procedures come with a level of risk, although injectable filler treatment presents less risk than surgery. It is important to go to an experienced administering doctor and have a full prior consultation.
Even though an injection of hyaluronic acid is considered minimally invasive, there are some risks you should be aware of. Medical professionals should discuss these with you in the consultation before your treatment, along with the benefits and side effects.
You should feel comfortable with the doctor and tell them any concerns or questions you have. You can also tell them what you want to achieve. It is important that you are both on the same page regarding your lip augmentation goals and that you feel safe.
Make sure they know what you want to look like, what you want to highlight, and what you want to enhance. In this way, you can feel safe in their guidance.
Can I go back to my normal routine when I get home? For example, running, washing my face, etc.
Try not to touch your lips directly after treatment to avoid getting any bacteria on the area that could cause infections. Do not apply any makeup for at least 6 hours. You should also wait at least an hour before eating (until the anaesthetic has faded).
You can use anti-histamine and ice packs to reduce swelling, but don't apply the ice directly to the skin. Rather use a cloth-wrapped pack. It is a good idea to sleep with an extra pillow under your head for the first night. After four to five days, you can feel your way around your lips, searching for lumps or bumps. You can then rub them out by flattening your lips and massaging them.
My lips are getting wrinkles on and around them as I get older. Is there anything I can do about that?
Due to a decrease in collagen, hyaluronic acid, and elastin as we age, our skin quality can drop. This is when facial lines start to appear. As we age, we also lose facial volume.
With the injection of fillers, I like to give support to the tissue on the upper lip and restore volume loss. It really helps to address fine vertical lines. I would recommend a thin and soft filler for vertical lines on your upper lip. I would inject it superficially (right under your upper skin layer) to provide tissue support.
Will my lip treatment with dermal fillers last forever?
No, lip fillers are not permanent. Your initial treatment can last up to twelve months. It's a good idea to have 2 or 3 treatments in total within the first year to build up the volume in your lips.
Are there any specific lip fillers you'd recommend?
I would recommend a flexible filler which works in mobile areas like the lips. This is because the filler follows the tissue, giving my clients a natural result. It’s a very versatile filler that is neither soft nor firm. As far as filler choices go, it is an excellent option, since you can achieve both sharp definition and nice, soft lips with it.
Will someone notice the filler if I kiss them after my treatment?
It should make them want to kiss you again, for sure.
What are your top tips for lip care?
- Drink plenty of water to hydrate the lips.
- Apply virgin coconut oil or an effective lip balm frequently.
- Get rid of dead skin cells by scrubbing your lips once or twice a week.
- Aim for good lifestyle choices that encourage healthy lips, such as not drinking too much alcohol or smoking.
- Always apply sunscreen to protect your lips.
REFERENCES
"1 Data on file (MA-33939).
2 Öhrlund A. Poster presented at AMWC 2019.
3 Carruthers JD et al. Plast Reconstr Surg 2008;121 (Suppl 5):5S–30S. "