Mistakes and misconceptions of lip fillers
What are lip fillers?
Lip augmentation is a cosmetic procedure that aims to give you fuller and plumper lips using fillers such as hyaluronic acid, fat and implants. Back in a day, for lip augmentation was used liquid silicone, later collagen and in a beginning even paraffin. Today, the most commonly used are hyaluronic acid lip fillers, but collagen fillers are still available as an alternative.
Disclaimer: Do not get lip dermal fillers if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, if you are allergic to any ingredients, or suffer from neurological disorders.
Are lip fillers painful?
All the hyaluronic acid products come mixed with lidocaine (a numbing medication), but a doctor can numb the area around your lips just like a dentist would, or you can opt for topical anaesthetic (numbing cream). You will certainly fill something because the injection is beneath the skin and therefore beneath the layer of numbness, but it’s not worse than getting a vaccination. Holding ice to the lips before injections also help to numb the area. Numbing cream can sometimes cause your lips to naturally swell, which means it’s a lot harder to gauge the true effect of the lip filler when it’s being done. If you can bear the pain, try avoiding numbing cream, but it’s going to be painful, especially on the Cupid’s bow.
How much does it cost to get lip injections?
Depending on where you’re getting lip injections, amount of injections and doctor, lip injections can cost anywhere from 300€ to 1500€.
Types of lip injections
Each filler is defined by its ability to augment volume, add lift, or change the shape of the lip.
Restylane
Restylane gives plumper lips. It has a great ability to give definition and lift to the lips, and it maintains its shape. It lasts six to nine months. But, they cannot be used by those under the age of 21.
Juvederm Ultra XC
Juvederm Ultra XC has a higher concentration of hyaluronic acid. It’s giving a softer, plumper lip with a more horizontal spread than lift, but more volume. It lasts for about 6 months.
Juvederm Volbella
Juvederm Volbella gives a soft, subtle, plump lip with a long-lasting effect. It can last for up to a year.
My Esthetic Expert recommendations
Lip augmentation – preparation for a treatment
One week prior to treatment you should avoid medications such as aspirin and ibuprofen, fish oil, multivitamins, garlic, ginseng and Vitamin E. Each of these vitamins, medications or ingredients will thin your blood and can cause bruising after treatment.
Two days prior to treatment you should avoid anti-ageing products, waxing, bleaching, tweezing or using hair removal cream on the area to be treated. You can start taking Arnica tablets (it’s not required, but it will help with bruising). Do not drink alcoholic beverages 24 hours prior to treatment. On a day of a treatment arrive with a clean face, without any makeup on.
Choose the right aesthetic clinic for lip correction treatment
When it comes to lip fillers, there are a few things that can go wrong. It is very important that someone who performs a treatment is medically qualified and is received adequate training because it decreases the chances of getting side effects and serious complications. Don’t go for the cheapest option right away. Do your research before deciding if that clinic and that doctor are right for you.
Top lip filler mistakes and misconceptions
Lip massage will break the lip filler
True. Massage can encourage the filler to be broken up by the body more quickly. But in practice, this still takes a long time to improve the outcome (remove any lumps and bumps). If you feel one bump, you can massage it with a finger and a thumb, it will break down the bump after a while.
Lip filler lasts a few days
Well, fillers can last up to 12 months. Here is the comparison of the most popular types of fillers that we had already mentioned:
| Restylane | 6-9 months |
| Juvederm Ultra XC | About 6 months |
| Juvederm Volbella XC | 9-12 months |
| Collagen | 3 months |
Size and shape of the lips – think ahead
Ideally, the top lip should be 70% of the size of the bottom lip. The Vermilion Dollars Lips is a classification system that was created to help patients to find their ideal lip shape and size. There are six basic lip styles: the Classic, Rubina, Cupid, Pearlique, Hollywood and Angelic. Lips can be divided into 6 areas, and by looking at your natural lips you can decide which area(s) you would like to address.
Choice of filler types
We already explained different types of lip injections, but the question is which is best for you.
Juvederm Volbella is best for softening and smoothing lip lines. It has the smooth gel consistency that gives you natural-looking lips. This is great filler if you want to add more structure and definition to your lips. So, if you want natural-looking, long-lasting and defined lips, go with Volbella lip fillers.
Juvederm Ultraplus XC is best for an increasing volume of the lips (plumping) and enhancing the horizontal spread of the lip. This is a soft lip filler that can also be used to shape and enhance the lip line. With this filler, you can achieve more prominent and luscious lips.
Restylane is best for lifting lips and enhancing shape by providing subtle lip volume. This is the best filler for you if you desire sharper definition along the borders of lips. It has a high viscosity, or thickness, which helps to maintain shape. Lips have a very natural look with structure and volume.
Know the benefits as well as risks
The benefits of lip injections using hyaluronic acid fillers are:
- You can control lip volume and size.
- The injections can be given gradually during different appointments.
- If you have any lumps and bumps, you can dissolve them easily by massaging that area.
- There’s less bruising and swelling compared to other dermal fillers such as collagen.
- The results are long-lasting (to 12 months).
- There’s less chance to get an allergic reaction because hyaluronic acid lip fillers are made from substances similar to those found in the body. But, some fillers have lidocaine (local anaesthesia) so you should tell your doctor if you’re allergic before treatment.
The side effects and risks of using hyaluronic acid fillers
Side effects should last only a couple of days and they may include:
- Bleeding from injection sites
- Swelling and bruising
- Redness
- Reactivation of fever blisters (herpes simplex)
- Lumps in the lips
More serious side effects and risks:
- Severe swelling or bruising lasting one week to 10 days that can develop in hematoma
- Asymmetrical lips
- Infection
- Allergic reaction
- The vascular occlusion-tissue loss that can result from the accidental injection of filler into an artery. It has to be treated immediately.
- Blindness- very rare complication. It occurs when the filler is injected incorrectly and blocks one of the blood vessels that supply the central retinal artery.
Lip augmentation costs
The price depends on which product and the quantity you choose.
Lips injection costs: from 199 EUR
How to know if your lip fillers have gone wrong
Bruising is one of the most common complications with lip fillers. Some degree of bruising is always expected but several factors can increase the chance of severe bruising. These factors include improper patient selection, incorrect technique or using the wrong kind of needle. In rare cases, a hematoma may develop and it may become infected.
Lumps can always occur and usually, they go away with massaging that area. More rarely, lumps may develop through a hypersensitivity or allergic reaction. If the lumps still persist after a firm massage, then the filler needs to be dissolved using a dissolving agent called hyaline.
More serious and very are complications are vascular occlusion and blindness
Activities you should avoid after lip augmentation
Avoid exercise for 24 to 48 hours after the procedure. Elevated blood pressure and heart rate may make the swelling and bruising worse. It’s fine to go on a light activity like walking.
Avoid going to saunas, steam rooms and heated exercises for 48 hours after treatment.
Lip fillers treatment aftercare
- Apply an ice pack of ice cube covered in cloth (so it doesn’t stick to the lip). It will reduce swelling, itching, bruising and pain.
- You can take Arnica for bruising if your doctor approves.
- Drink plenty of water, it will help your body to heal.
- Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables that are filled with water to help you stay hydrated and try avoiding foods with sodium, which may worsen swelling.
- Ask your doctor which painkillers to take. You can’t take blood-thinning medications like ibuprofen.
- Avoid makeup on your lips for 24 hours after getting lip fillers.
