Some people are naturally born with thin lips while others experience it as part of aging. But regardless of your reason for wanting a fuller lip shape, lip filler injections are great for enhancing your pout without the need for cosmetic surgery or lip implants. However, there are a few things patients should know about the treatment first to see if they really want it.
So what should patients know first before getting lip injections? Lip filler injections are safe and effective for increasing lip volume and erasing visible facial wrinkles around the mouth. Before getting a lip injection, patients must understand how it works, how much the right dosage is, who the best candidates for the treatment are, what the risks and results are, and which dermal filler injections are best used on the lips.
The Basics of Lip Augmentation With Dermal Fillers
Many people agree that having a full pout and nicely-shaped lips is a sign of beauty and youthfulness. Almost everyone wants to have perfectly luscious lips, but not everyone is willing to undergo facial plastic surgery to achieve them.
The good news is that soft tissue fillers are a popular way to increase lip volume and improve its shape. According to the ASPS Plastic Surgery Statistics Report, about 3.4 million dermal filler treatments were performed in the country for different treatment sites – including the lips and mouth area.
But before heading to the nearest medical spa and trying this lip enhancement procedure, it’s important to do some research and know the basics of this treatment first.
a) How Hyaluronic Acid Dermal Filler Works for the Lips
There are several types of dermal fillers used to erase wrinkles and increase volume in the face, lips, and other parts of the body. Some of them may contain calcium hydroxylapatite, poly-L-lactic acid, or collagen, but the most common type used for lip treatments is hyaluronic acid dermal fillers.
Hyaluronic acid is a natural substance found in the body that attracts water molecules, keeping the skin firm and hydrated. As people age, the levels of hyaluronic acid in the body slowly decline – resulting in a decrease in volume and the appearance of wrinkles.
A synthetic form of hyaluronic acid is found in HA fillers, making this injectable highly effective in erasing fine lines, facial wrinkles, vertical lip lines, nasolabial folds, and more. A hyaluronic acid lip filler injection works similarly to a facial filler – when injected into the treatment area, the HA filler instantly adds volume to thin lips and attracts water molecules to maintain its shape.
Hyaluronic acid fillers also boost the body’s collagen production, leading to long-lasting results even when the injectable filler itself has been fully absorbed by the body.
b) Recommended Dosage Dermal Lip Fillers
Knowing the right dosage of HA fillers for a non-surgical lip augmentation procedure is crucial because it ensures that the patient gets the best results for their lips without looking overdone. The exact number of dermal lip fillers needed varies per patient depending on the type of filler used and how much volume they want.
Most patients are satisfied with their results after just 1 syringe of hyaluronic acid filler distributed evenly throughout the treatment area. If they still want to increase their lip volume after their initial dermal filler treatment, then they’re advised to return after a few weeks for an additional dose of lip filler.
Gradually plumping the lips is the key to subtle lip enhancement using fillers. It takes some time for the filler injection to settle in the treated lips and increase collagen production there, so providers advise patients to wait for a few weeks before adding more fillers.
c) Patient Qualifications for Dermal Lip Filler Treatment
Lip fillers are generally safe as long as they’re injected by a plastic surgeon or an experienced provider. Getting this treatment is a personal decision, but it might not be the best option for everyone. To be qualified for lip dermal filler treatment, patients must:
- Have good overall health
- Have realistic expectations about the procedure
- Not have active oral infections like cold sores or canker sores at the time of the treatment
Are Dermal Fillers for Lips Effective?
Lip fillers are great for restoring or adding volume to thin lips and erasing fine lines and wrinkles around the mouth, but they don’t stop the patient’s aging process. They provide subtle results for patients who only want a natural-looking lip enhancement.
To find out if lip fillers are an effective way to reach your personal beauty goals, then it’s important to know more about their possible results, risk, and other benefits.
a) Dermal Filler Lip Enhancement Results
The initial results of lip filler treatments are usually noticeable immediately after the treatment. The injectable may take a few days to settle, so the final results of the procedure are only visible after about 4 weeks or once the swelling subsides. If the patient wants a more pronounced pout, they can talk to their provider for additional filler injections after a few weeks.
The exact longevity of the fillers varies per patient because of different factors like the type and the number of fillers used, as well as how quickly their body dissolves the hyaluronic acid solution. Most patients require maintenance injections every few months to maintain their fuller, more luscious lips.
b) Lip Dermal Fillers Side Effects
Lip dermal fillers are made of biocompatible and medical-grade materials that are safe for patients and their lips. Since they’re non-surgical, patients have a lower risk of experiencing serious side effects or complications.
Although lip fillers are generally safer than surgical procedures like lip implants, they still have a few common but mild side effects that patients should be aware of including:
- Swelling, slight discoloration, and temporary redness
- Mild bruising and bleeding around the injection site
- Temporary lumps or bumps near the injection site
Most of these symptoms usually go away on their own within the first few days after the treatment, but make sure to call a professional immediately if they persist or worsen.
c) Lip Plumping Dermal Filler Additional Benefits
Lip dermal fillers are typically used for increasing lip volume and improving its shape, but it also offer additional benefits for patients. When injected around the mouth area, lip fillers erase perioral lines and fill deep nasolabial folds. These injectables increase collagen production, the protein needed to keep the skin firm, smooth, and even.
Best Types of Dermal Fillers for Lips at Ethos Spa
There are lots of different filler types that make it confusing for patients to find the best one, but hyaluronic acid fillers are frequently used for non-surgical lip enhancement for several reasons – they’re easy to work with, they’re durable, they hold their shape well, and they’re reversible.
At Ethos Spa, we want our patients to achieve the best lip shape they want using these dermal fillers:
1) Restylane
Restylane is a line of hyaluronic acid dermal fillers that aestheticians use for restoring volume in the cheeks, lips, mouth, and nasolabial folds of patients. Their line includes Restylane Lyft, Restylane Refyne, and many others but Restylane Silk and Restylane Kysse are the best ones to use for the lips and around the mouth.
Restylane Silk and Restylane Kysse are specifically formulated for lip augmentation and wrinkle reduction around the mouth. They have a smooth consistency for precise application and soft, subtle results. These injectable fillers already contain lidocaine, a local anesthetic, to reduce pain and prickling during the procedure.
2) Juvederm
Like Restylane, Juvederm is also another family of hyaluronic acid filler injections made to address the different signs of aging. But the best Juvederm fillers to use for non-surgical lip enhancement are Juvederm Ultra XC and Juvederm Volbella XC.
Both lip fillers enhance lip plumpness and reduce the appearance of fine lips around the mouth. Juvederm Volbella XC can especially improve lip symmetry, resulting in smooth, natural-looking lip augmentation. These Juvederm fillers also contain lidocaine to maximize the patient’s comfort throughout the treatment.
Get a Fuller, More Luscious Pout With Lip Fillers at Ethos Spa
Hyaluronic acid lip fillers are a popular cosmetic treatment for a good reason – they can give patients the lip shape they want without undergoing plastic surgery or inserting lip implants. But like with any other aesthetic treatment, it’s crucial to know everything about lip filler injections first before getting them to ensure that you’re making the best decision for your face and body.
At Ethos Spa, our team of experts in lip filler injections has years of training and experience to help our clients achieve the full, luscious lips they want. We also offer other non-surgical aesthetic treatments to enhance your appearance, including Botox lip flip, PRP hair restoration, non-surgical rhinoplasty, Botox brow lift, and more.
Call us today to know more about this treatment or to book a consultation.
