Lip Injection Treatment in Pennsylvania

Lip injections have become one of the most popular types of cosmetic procedures for both younger and older patients. Getting lip fillers can provide a fuller lip shape for some or help patients restore the previous shape of their lips. While the procedure is safe, it’s common for patients to have some questions about the permanence and consequences of lip fillers. Keep reading to learn what you can expect if you choose to have this procedure.

What To Expect When Getting Lip Fillers

Most lip augmentation procedures now use injectable dermal fillers, or solutions that are injected underneath the skin. There are several major types of fillers that doctors use, including hyaluronic acid and collagen. While collagen fillers used to be the most popular option, hyaluronic acid is now the most commonly used dermal filler for lips.

Patients pursue this procedure for a wide variety of personal reasons. Lip fillers can significantly improve the appearance of your lips and provide several corrective advantages. For example, lip fillers can give lips a fuller shape or younger appearance, remove some wrinkles, restore previous lip shape, or make your lips more symmetrical.

Before you go in for the procedure, you’ll have to schedule a consultation with a qualified Northeastern Eye Institute professional. We will review your goals and expectations, answer any questions you have about the process and make sure that you don’t have any health conditions that could make the procedure risky. During this consultation, the doctor will also take facial measurements and photos. This helps us tailor your injections to your unique features and facial shape. During this process, it’s important to describe exactly what you’re hoping to gain from the procedure and how you want your lips to look.

When you arrive on the day of the procedure, your doctor will start by numbing your lips. In most cases, they’ll use a cream that consists of benzocaine, lidocaine, and tetracaine (BLT). In some cases, patients may have an allergy to these medications and the doctor might use a nerve block injection instead. Once you receive the topical anesthetic or injection, it should take about 15 to 30 minutes for your lips to become numb.

Once the anesthetic takes effect, your doctor will begin to inject the solution using a very thin needle. In most cases, the doctor will inject about a milliliter of solution into your lips. The procedure doesn’t hurt, although there may be a slight pinching sensation. During and after the procedure, the doctor will provide ice packs to prevent swelling and bruising.

Once the procedure is complete, the doctor may massage the lips to distribute the solution. They may also monitor you for a short period to see if you display dizziness or any other side effects. In the days after the procedure, your lips may appear swollen and bruised, although this usually disappears within 48 hours to a week. Applying ice packs can help reduce the swelling, and it’s important to avoid puckering your lips, exercising, and applying lipstick or lip balms.

Procedure lip augmentation in professional salon.

Our Lip Injection Doctors

Dr. Joseph N. Giacometti
M.D.

FAQs

Most lip fillers consist of hyaluronic acid, which is a compound that naturally occurs in the skin. Because of this, the fillers will naturally dissolve over a period of 12 to 18 months. If you decide that you want the fillers to dissolve more quickly, some doctors can speed up the natural process with another procedure. In this procedure, the doctor injects hyaluronidase, which can cause the hyaluronic acid to dissolve in as little as three days.

Over the life of your fillers, the hyaluronic acid will dissolve, making it look like your lips are shrinking. Although your lips will be at their fullest soon after the procedure, you don’t have to worry about your lips shrinking overall. They’ll never get smaller than they were before you got lip fillers.

Many people worry that their lips won’t return to normal if they decide to stop getting lip injections. Fortunately, this isn’t the case. After you cease getting lip fillers, your lips will return to their original size and shape. However, they may seem different if you’ve become accustomed to a fuller look.

As we mentioned above, lip fillers slowly dissolve over a period of 12 to 18 months. The rate of dissolution varies on the individual in question and their metabolism. If you want to retain the fuller look that lip injections give you, it’s important to get new fillers approximately once a year or once every year and a half. If your lip fillers dissolve more quickly than normal, it’s possible to have the procedure redone after a period of six months.

In most cases, lip fillers reduce signs of aging, smoothing wrinkles and lifting the lips. If done improperly, however, they can have the opposite effect. This may appear as sagging in the corners of the mouth or skin damage. To avoid these negative outcomes, it’s important to have the procedure done by experienced and trusted medical professionals like those at our facilities.

Lip fillers are usually very safe if administered by a medical professional. The materials used are non-toxic and naturally occurring in the skin. Despite this, there are some problems that can arise if your lip fillers are injected improperly or by an untrained individual.

For example, if fillers are injected into or near an artery, it can cause tissue death. In some cases, the fillers can also bleed into other areas of the face. These conditions can be painful and may cause asymmetries and discoloration. Because off this, it’s vital to get a prior consultation and only work with trusted cosmetic surgeons and dermatologists.

That’s a quick review of some of common questions about lip fillers. If you have any further questions about lip fillers, feel free to contact us so our cosmetic specialists can help you get the information you need. Remember to keep us in mind for all of your eye care needs in the Northeastern Pennsylvania area. We have a fantastic team of doctors and 15 locations in the region. We hope to see you soon.

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