Lip fillers are a common cosmetic procedure that can greatly enhance your general appearance. As a type of dermal filler, they produce lasting but temporary effects. If you’ve ever considered undergoing lip injections, you probably have numerous questions concerning their mechanism, benefits, and longevity. Read on to discover the answers to these questions.
What Are Lip Fillers and What Do They Do?
The term “lip filler” refers to an injection of synthetic hyaluronic acid (HA). It falls under the classification of dermal fillers, which are temporary treatments for common facial cosmetic concerns, specifically wrinkles. A trained medical provider injects the filler just under the skin of the lips. Once injected, the HA adds volume to the soft tissue, helping to smooth out lines and perk up any sagging skin.
What Are the Benefits of Lip Fillers?
Over time, the body naturally loses collagen, a protein found in connective tissue that provides strength and elasticity, most visibly to the skin. As collagen depletes, your skin becomes looser, less firm, and less voluminous. Concerning the lips, the primary consequences of collagen depletion are thinning and loss of shape. Thus, the primary advantage of lip fillers is a temporary reversal of these effects. After undergoing a round of injections, you may notice your lips return to their original size or close to it.
Fillers can also correct misshapen lips. Asymmetry is another common consequence of collagen loss, but it’s also naturally occurring. In either case, your medical provider can strategically inject fillers around your lips to even out the shape, providing a more balanced appearance.
Lip fillers can enhance the area surrounding the lips as well. Wrinkles that develop at the corners of the lips tend to smooth out because of the added volume that fillers add to the soft tissue, giving you a more youthful appearance in general. An additional advantage is enhanced confidence and an improved self-image.
Lip filler injections are a quick, easily coordinated procedure. Because they’re minimally invasive, you can likely receive both your medical consultation and your injections on the same day. The injections themselves usually take no more than 30 minutes. Recovery time is likewise minimal. In contrast, alternative lip augmentation procedures, such as lip lifts and lip implants, may take up to an hour to perform, and recovery may take days to weeks.
Not only that, but lip fillers are reversible. If you’re not satisfied with the outcome of the procedure, your provider can inject hyaluronidase, an enzyme that dissolves the filler and reverses its effect.
How Long Do Lip Fillers Last?
Lip fillers last anywhere from six to 18 months. The specific longevity of your lip fillers may vary depending on numerous factors. The amount of filler that your doctor uses, for example, can greatly influence the life span of your results, as larger volumes of HA are likely to yield longer time frames.
Other factors relate to your biochemistry and lifestyle. Younger, more active patients tend to experience shorter-lasting results, as their bodies are likely to metabolize the filler more quickly. Older and more sedentary patients usually see longer-lasting results.
What To Expect Before, During, and After Your Lip Filler Procedure
It’s normal to feel some anxiety concerning any type of medical procedure. Knowing what to expect can help to calm your concerns.
Before Your Procedure
Before you undergo your lip filler procedure, your health care provider will perform an assessment on you. The purpose of the assessment is multifaceted. Your provider will seek to understand your motivations and expectations about the results of your procedure. In some cases, they may wish to confirm that your decision isn’t informed by body dysmorphia, a mental health condition related to finding and scrutinizing flaws in your own appearance.
The assessment aims to gather baselines concerning your health and facial structure. In addition to taking your medical history — recording any allergies, preexisting conditions, and comorbidities — your doctor may measure your face to determine the optimal amount of filler to use to achieve your desired outcome.
During Your Procedure
On the day of your procedure, try to arrive approximately half an hour before your scheduled appointment, which allows the staff to undertake essential preparations, such as photographing your face, cleaning the operative areas, and applying topical anesthetic or a nerve block. After 15 to 30 seconds, the anesthetic or nerve block should take effect, rendering the area painless during the procedure.
At that point, your provider uses a fine needle to deposit the filler into the appropriate areas of your lips. Thanks to the anesthetic, as well as the shallow depth of the injections, you won’t feel any pain, but you may experience mild discomfort or pinching. Some providers apply a cold pack to the operative area during the procedure to minimize postoperative swelling. Toward the end, they may also massage the area to ensure proper absorption of the filler.
After Your Procedure
Immediately following the procedure, your provider may ask you to remain under observation for 15 minutes. During this time, they will monitor you for any side effects from the injections, particularly bleeding, dizziness, or nausea. When your monitoring period is complete, your provider will arrange a follow-up visit approximately two weeks from the date of your procedure.
For the first 24 to 48 hours after your procedure, you can expect sensitivity, swelling, and bruising in the operative area. In some cases, this may continue for up to a week. There are numerous measures you can take to facilitate healing, such as:
- Applying ice to the area.
- Avoiding cosmetic products on the lips, including lip balm and lipstick.
- Avoiding exercise for at least 24 hours after your procedure.
- Abstaining from contact or puckering of the lips.
- Staying well hydrated.
By the time of your follow-up appointment, you should have noticed a visible improvement in the condition of your lips. During your visit, your provider may photograph your lips again to provide comparative images. Otherwise, they will monitor your condition to ensure you’re progressing appropriately.
At the Northeastern Eye Institute, we understand the importance of cosmetic care for a person’s physical appearance and self-image. That’s why our services extend beyond just vision care. Get in touch with us today to discover the lip filler services we offer in Northeastern PA. You can use the contact form on our home page to submit your inquiries or schedule an appointment, or you can call us directly at 570-342-3145. We look forward to helping you get the treatment you want and deserve.