It is clear we are in the era of full luscious lips!
Perhaps you are in that group that loves voluptuous lips, or maybe you are terrified of that exact outcome and simply want a hydrated, natural looking lip? Both are possible!
Have you looked in the
mirror and thought that your upper lip seems to be becoming thinner, or the corners of your mouth are dropping downward?
Perhaps you have noticed these annoying vertical lines
around your lips ( even though you have never been a smoker), lip filler can help!
We want to answer all your questions regarding lip injections: Are fillers safe? Does it hurt?
Am I destined to have a “duck lip” or will it look natural? What is the best lip filler?
How much does it cost? What are the side effects?
Here is everything you wanted to know about lip augmentation?
Safety
We only recommend fillers that are FDA approved, Hyaluronic Acid fillers being the product of choice for many reasons . Hyaluronic Acid is found naturally in our skin ~ acting as our body’s hydrator, helping our skin stay healthy, supple, and resilient. Another reassuring benefit of Hyaluronic Acid is that it can be dissolved, making these fillers very safe. Or, if you just can’t get used to the results of lip filler, it can be removed!
Unlike the skin found on our face, our lips do not have oil glands that help prevent signs of aging such as the vertical lip lines seen both inside and outside the border of the lip. That effect not only makes us look older but contributes to the appearance of wrinkles and dehydrated, thinner lips.
Pain Control
Our lips do have a large concentration of nerve endings therefore pain control is key. All of our fillers at Silhouette Medical Spa come premixed with lidocaine from the pharmaceutical company. Most Medical Spas will apply a topical anesthetic cream and have the client apply ice prior to injecting. At times the injector may decide that in addition to the topical lidocaine cream a partial nerve block would be helpful as well. With these techniques most clients find the process very manageable.
Technique
Know what you have in mind ~ plump, hydrated, full, defined? A short consultation should always be part of the treatment session so your injector knows what your desired outcomes are and so you know what is achievable with filler and your anatomy. Different techniques of injecting are used for different outcomes. In general, injecting into the body of the lip will create a fuller lip, whereas injecting closer to the border of the lip will give more definition and shape to the lips ( often softening those smokers lines).
It's important to keep in mind that injecting the vermillion border of the lip can restore the lip to what we had when we were younger, and result in a more subtle, natural looking lip. However, the corners of the mouth should be avoided because this can lead to the dreaded trout pout. The lips should always taper near the corners. Some fillers are also more prone to migrating outside of the lip when the vermillion border is injected creating an unnatural appearance or duck lip.
Choosing the best filler is often dependent on the result that you are wanting and your budget. JUVÉDERM® VOLBELLA™ XC is in the Juvederm Family of Dermal Fillers and is used to define lips and correct the fine wrinkles around the lips (“smokers lines” or “laugh lines”). It has smaller Hyaluronic Acid particles which allows for a softer, hydrated, more natural looking lip.
RESTYLANE® KYSSE is designed specifically to work with the movement of the mouth. Its cross-linking gel technology provides elasticity to the filler allowing natural movement and achieving a plump, soft, longer lasting result. One syringe of filler (1 ml) is typical for one treatment, this is equivalent to a ⅕ of a teaspoon ~ such a small amount when you think about it! If you are wanting to achieve that very voluptuous, fuller lip you will often need to do this in stages, allowing your lip tissue to adapt to the added volume before adding more. Most of the fillers used for lips will last between 8-14 months, this will also vary depending on your metabolism. If you're planning to have lip fillers in Albuquerque the average price per syringe ranges from $525-$650.
From my experience, one filler is not better than the other, they are just used for different outcomes and purposes.
Side Effects
The effects of lip filler are immediate but the side effects aren’t far behind. The most common side effects are bruising and swelling, so plan the next couple days accordingly. The embarrassing swelling should go down in 2-3 days, if you bruise, that will usually hang around for 5-7 days.
Here are a few things you can do in preparation for your treatment.
The week before your appointment, you should avoid Aspirin, anti-inflammatories (Advil, Ibuprofen, Aleve), fish oil, omega 3’s, and Vitamin E. In addition to these medications/supplements you should also avoid alcohol and caffeine 24 hours before injections. Each of these will thin your blood making it more likely that you will bruise post-appointment.
Arnica, a homeopathic herb, helps reduce bruising. Arnica tablets can be taken pre and post-appointment and you can also use arnica cream to the treated site following your appointment.
Ice will be your best friend for the first 24 hours.
Silhouette MedSpa’s medically qualified practitioners are essential for making sure you leave with your desired outcome, and most importantly, a safe treatment. Using someone who lacks the proper training, qualifications, and experience can result in an expensive, sometimes troublesome treatment - so, it’s your job to make sure your lips are in the right hands!
