Lip Filler and Your Smile: What You Should Know

Unless you were one of the few born with full, luscious lips, chances are good that they could be plumper. Even if you had full lips in your youth, your lips may have thinned over the years. Lip filler can give you the volume you want, but what should you know about this procedure?

What Is Lip Filler?

Lip filler is precisely what it sounds like – a filler material that is used to make your lips fuller and firmer. It is injected into the lips and provides additional volume, whether you have had thin lips since birth or your lips are thinning due to the aging process. Unlike Botox, which creates the illusion of fullness by relaxing muscles in your lips, lip filler creates actual volume and plumps up your lips.

You’ll find many different brands of lip filler on the market today. However, most of them use hyaluronic acid (HA) as their base ingredient. It’s a naturally occurring substance produced by the human body, similar to collagen. Over time, HA production slows and the amount in your body decreases, leading to a loss of overall volume. This can be seen in under-eye hollows, gaunt cheeks, and thinning lips.

What Happens in a Lip Filler Procedure?

Before anything else, you will need to have a consultation with your surgeon. They will discuss your goals, examine your face, and make suggestions about procedures. They will also help you understand what you can realistically expect from lip filler products, and determine if a different procedure would be better suited – a lip lift, for instance, or even a lip flip in some cases.

Once you have decided on the process, the procedure itself is simple and straightforward. It will usually require 15 to 20 minutes in the office, and is an outpatient procedure. That means you can go back to your regular routine right away with no downtime.

Your doctor will probably provide a topical anesthetic to numb your lips. Next, they will inject lip filler material into the areas discussed during your consultation. In most cases, your doctor will massage the injection site to help ensure that the filler is evenly distributed and there are no lumps. The entire process is very fast and involves minimal discomfort. Most patients will see an increase in lip volume immediately, although it will take some time to see the full results.

How Long Does Lip Filler Last?

Lip filler is a temporary solution to thinning lips. The body naturally breaks down hyaluronic acid over time. Most patients will need to repeat the process every six to 12 months.

Lip filler is a simple, expedient way to achieve the full, youthful lips that you want. Whether your lips are thinning from age or you just want to look and feel your best, this could be the right option for you.