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Hot on the heels of a sprinkle of wrinkle relaxing, lip fillers are the second most booked treatment on Glowday. If you're someone who has been thinking about them for a while but haven't yet made the appointment, it's likely because you have some nagging questions running around your head. Let's get those nipped in the (rose)bud...
Book your lip filler appointment on Glowday, right here
Lip fillers - a.k.a. lip augmentation or lip enhancement - are a type of aesthetic treatment whereby filler (most commonly made from hyaluronic acid) is injected into different parts of the lips to volumise them, give them definition, make them symmetrical and change their shape.
During a lip filler treatment, hyaluronic acid-based filler (which has a gel-like consistency) is injected into different points of the lips with either a needle or cannula. Hyaluronic acid is a particularly good filler material because it’s hydrophilic (water-loving) in nature. This means it can attract and hold lots of water which helps to plump out the lips.
Filler can be injected into different parts of the lip area, including directly into the lips themselves, or around the perimeter of the mouth, called the vermillion borders. The former will give a fuller, plumper look, whereas the latter will make the lips look more defined.
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One huge benefit of fillers for lips is that they can plump out small, thin lips which are lacking in volume. As we age, our lips - like the rest of our face - start to lose their youthful plumpness, so lip fillers can help restore lost volume. But, this treatment can also be used to make the lips more even, change their shape and give them definition.
Lip fillers are most often made from hyaluronic acid, a naturally-occurring substance found in the skin that’s low-risk and well-accepted by the body when used as filler. The most common brands of hyaluronic acid lip fillers are Juvéderm Volbella and Restylane Silk.
The great thing about this substance is that if you don’t like the results of the treatment, or if something goes wrong during the lip filler procedure, hyaluronic acid can be dissolved with an enzyme called hyaluronidase. Lip fillers are sometimes made from substances other than hyaluronic acid, but it’s often advised that these aren’t used in the lips.
The treatment is short, usually taking around 15 minutes for the lip filler injections to be administered. If numbing cream is used, this will need to stay on the lips for roughly 20 minutes before the injecting begins to make sure it takes full effect.
As with most treatments where injections are involved, typical side effects of lip fillers include slight swelling, redness, tenderness and bleeding around the points where the needle or cannula was inserted. But, these should only last for a few days.
If you’re prone to cold sores, you may also experience an outbreak after lip fillers. Taking antiviral medication before the treatment can help reduce this likelihood, though.
In rare instances, more serious complications can occur, with lip filler risks including occlusion. This is where filler is accidentally injected into a blood vessel, which can lead to tissue loss. With a medically qualified practitioner, though, risks like these are drastically reduced.
A little bit of ml makes a whole lot of difference, before and after of lip filler from Cheryl Cain
The great thing about a lip filler treatment is that there’s no downtime. Whilst side effects such as redness and swelling might last for a few days, you’ll be able to resume your day as normal after your appointment.
The lip area is quite sensitive so the treatment might be a bit uncomfortable. But, any discomfort experienced should only be minimal. Either a numbing cream or local anaesthetic will likely be applied before the treatment to help reduce pain and lots of fillers contain lidocaine - an anaesthetic that will numb the lips throughout the procedure.
Dermal fillers are a medium-risk treatment that have been FDA-approved for use in the lips. To make sure lip fillers are as safe as possible, it’s essential that they’re only performed by medically qualified practitioners. So, make sure you do your research and choose an aesthetician who has lots of experience and the right qualifications. Checking out their reviews and before and after photos can also be helpful when deciding who to go with.
A week prior to your lip enhancement treatment, avoid taking aspirin, ibuprofen, vitamin E and fish oil supplements as these may increase bleeding and bruising. However, if you are taking any prescribed medicines, including aspirin, do not stop taking them. Instead, chat with your lip injector or GP first.
You should also not consume any alcohol for at least 24 hours before your appointment to avoid increased bruising and swelling.
Your practitioner will give you proper aftercare advice following lip fillers, but here are a few things to be aware of after the treatment.
After lip fillers, alcohol should be avoided for a minimum of 24 hours.
You should also avoid strenuous exercise, heat exposure and touching or massaging the lips (this can interfere with the placement of the filler) for 1-2 days post-lip fillers.
It is important that you keep hydrated by drinking lots of water after the treatment.
If you’re allergic to any of the ingredients in hyaluronic acid lip fillers, you will not be able to go ahead with the treatment. Also, if the skin in the lip area is swollen, damaged, infected or you have active cold sores, lip injections should not be administered.
Lip fillers are also not recommended if you’re pregnant or breastfeeding.
One other factor that puts you out of the running for lip fillers, or any other hyaluronic acid-based fillers is if you have a bee or wasp allergy. This isn't because the fillers themselves will cause you issued, but if they needed to be dissolved, you'd not be able to have the drug that is used - hyaluronidase.
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Lip fillers should only ever be performed by medically qualified practitioners. The treatment requires knowledge of facial anatomy and, if not carried out by a medical professional, the treatment could be dangerous. For a safe procedure without the risk of undesirable results, always book with a qualified practitioner, like the ones that will be listed on Glowday.
Because hyaluronic acid is the main substance found in lip fillers, if you don’t like your lip filler results, they can be dissolved with the enzyme hyaluronidase. After this enzyme has been injected, your lips will regain their former shape.
With hyaluronic acid lip fillers, results will typically last for 6-12 months before they’ll need a top-up. Different people will metabolise filler at different speeds, though, so it can vary from person to person. Longevity can also depend on the brand of lip filler used.
Want to find out more? Check out our lip fillers treatment guide. And have a read through our 10 things to know before having lip fillers here.
Book in for lip fillers in your area now - whether it's lip enlargement, hydration or lip symmetry you want, we have hundreds of qualified, trained and insured aesthetic practitioners to choose from! So if you're tired of googling "lip fillers near me", you'll find the experts who can give you the lips you'll love, reviews and lip filler before and after images - all in one place!
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