OUR Ultimate Guide To Lip Fillers:
Everything You Need To Know!First published: 02/07/2019, updated 08/09/21
Read Time: 5 mins 26 seconds.
Lip fillers are one of the most popular and sought after aesthetic treatments available, and for a good reason. From tweaking the edges of the mouth to plumping the lips for your perfect pout, lip filler injections can be customisable to create an enhanced, balanced facial profile that reaches your personal aesthetic goals. Dermal fillers in the lips are often used alongside other treatments such as botox injections to reach the patient’s desired look that lip filler alone may not achieve. Discussing your concerns and goals with your medically trained professional ensures you receive the most effective and suitable treatment plan for you.
Dr Matla Aesthetics, we have been offering high quality, affordable lip fillers to patients all across the UK. So we thought it time to put together our ultimate guide to lip fillers. Covering everything through from the benefits they offer, as well as some of our top tips for getting the most out of your look. So, let’s get started with a little bit of the science behind how lip fillers work & everything you need to know before deciding to book a consultation.
What are lip fillers exactly?
Lip fillers are injections that typically consist of hyaluronic acid filler, and they are used to make the lips appear fuller, more symmetrical and enhance the natural shape. Hyaluronic acid is a natural component found in your body that attracts water, allowing the skin to become more hydrated and replaces lost volume.
As we age, our skin sags, and we start to lose some of the natural hyaluronic acid in our bodies. When paired with muscle movements (chewing, smiling, squinting), the skin tissue breaks down, resulting in loss of volume and deep-set lines, which are often most noticeable around the mouth area. Hyaluronic acid fillers boost the skin’s moisture levels, rejuvenating the skin to create a fresh, youthful appearance. Over time, the body will naturally break down the fillers, so it is a great non-permanent option to enhance your lip shape and size.
A few key facts about lip fillers
● We find that lip fillers last anywhere from 6 to 12 months. This can vary slightly depending on a number of factors, but is the norm for most.
● Before the injections, your lips should be numbed by the physician. As such, the actual procedure is painless.
● Lip fillers are not permanent. If you find that you do not like your fillers, you can either wait for the fillers to wear off, or have a dissolvement solution injected into your lips. However, the latter of which isn’t highly recommended.
● After receiving the injections, you will likely experience some form of swelling or mild bruising. We recommend allowing 4 days for your lips to recover back to normal, so it’s best to take it easy in this period.
● You may find that your lips are not 100% smooth after receiving the fillers. This is normal, because parts of your lips will become more highly concentrated with the hyaluronic acid.
What are the benefits of lip fillers?
Here are what we believe to be the 6 biggest benefits of getting lip fillers.
1. Fuller, healthier-looking lips
Though it almost goes without saying, the biggest benefit on offer is the chance to have fuller, healthier-looking lips that you would otherwise never be able to experience.
2. Corrections in imbalances
Well trained physicians can use lip fillers as a way to reduce or correct imbalances in the shape of your lips. This is a common issue and one that makes both men and women very self-conscious.
3. Improvements in self confidence
What does each of these benefits then lead to? That’s right, all-round improvements in your self confidence! Whether you want to correct a natural imbalance or make your lips fuller and sexier, lip fillers are a relatively easy way to give yourself a much-needed boost in body confidence.
4. Non-invasive procedure
Patients love the fact that lo fillers are a non-invasive form of cosmetic surgery. Aside from some injections, there are no other necessary steps to receiving lip fillers.
5. Excellent speed of recovery
Furthermore, the non-invasive nature of lip fillers means that the recovery time needed is very short. After no more than a few days, your lips will feel normal and any minor swelling should have subsided.
6. Non-permanent
Finally, perhaps the most appealing benefit of lip fillers is that they are non-permanent. If you really don’t like them, then you won’t have to fork out thousands of pounds to have them reversed. Instead, you simply wait a few months until they start to wear off.
WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR LIP FILLERS?
The process will begin with your 1 to 1 consultation with your trained physician, where you can discuss your aesthetic goals and concerns, and Dr Malta can advise you on a bespoke treatment plan.
On the days leading up to the injections (and the day of) you should avoid:
- Blood thinners (aspirin, ibuprofen)
- Fish oil
- Alcohol
Once you arrive at the clinic, topical numbing cream will be applied to the areas that will be injected, so once the injections begin, the pain is very minimal with a small prick and some slight pressure; however, some people say they don’t feel a thing! After the treatment, you should expect some bruising and swelling that might last up to a week, so we suggest giving yourself a couple of weeks post-treatment before an event. You might also notice that your lips are not instantly smooth. Hyaluronic acid may be more concentrated in some regions of the lips; however, this will smooth out over time.
AFTERCARE?
After your injections, you can do a few things to get the most out of your treatment.
We suggest:
- Avoiding makeup for the first 12 hours.
- Avoiding strenuous activity for 24 hours, such as the gym and any activities that increase the blood flow to your face.
- Avoid spicy foods for 24 hours.
- Use an ice pack against the lips for 10 minutes every 2 hours to help the swelling.
- Take an antihistamine at night.
- If you notice visible bumps, you can gently massage the area; however, these will settle within a couple of weeks.
- Avoid flying on a plane for at least 2 weeks.
Top tips for getting the most out of your lip fillers
To help you get the most out of your lip fillers, there are a number of things you can do both before and after the treatment. This includes …
Using a GP with a proper medical background
The number one top tip for getting the best lip fillers possible is to use a medically trained physician. They have a thorough knowledge of not only how to inject lips and create a symmetrical appearance, but also how to deal with any unwanted side effects. Though these are rare, it is important you have a medical professional there, such as Dr Matla, who can write prescriptions to counteract any unwanted side effects.
Taking steps to avoid excess swelling
After you’ve had your injections, there are a few key things you can do to prevent unnecessary swelling. This includes not eating any spicy or hot foods for a whole 24 hours after the procedure. You can also place an ice pack on your lips for about ten minutes; you should do this every 2 hours or so. Finally, before you go to bed, swallow one extra-strength allergy pill; this will help to speed up the reduction of swelling.
Leaving suitable time between each treatment
To maintain your new lips, it is recommended that you receive regular injections to keep the levels of hyaluronic acid topped up. Usually, this should be around every 6 months or so. Once again, by working with a trained physician, they can tell you exactly when is the right time, based on how quickly the fillers start to wear off.
Being realistic with the results you expect to see
The problem that many women have with lip fillers is that they expect too much from the results. Yes, lip fillers are a fantastic way to achieve a healthier, fuller look from your lips; but you should only go so far with them. Having too much filler can make your lips appear fake and excessive. Instead, we always recommend trialling lip fillers alongside a range of other minor cosmetic treatments to help improve your overall appearance. This could include:
Some examples of top celebrity lip fillers
Looking for some inspiration? Well, here are our 5 top celebrity lip filler looks:
1. Ariana Grande
2. Megan Fox
3. Kylie Jenner
4. Britney Spears
5. Farrah Abraham
The importance of working with a trained practitioner
When these celebrities received their lip fillers, who do you think they went to? That’s right, it’s more than likely going to be a fully trained medical practitioner, as opposed to someone who only has training in lip fillers. There is a lot of work that goes into creating a symmetrical appearance, especially if you are looking to receive other forms of cosmetic surgery alongside your fillers.
Since lip fillers have become so widely used and easily accessible, the risks can be increased if you don’t research properly. Many people can now train to administer aesthetic injections with no medical background. However, it would be best if you chose a medically trained physician for your treatments to ensure you are in the safest hands in case of any adverse reactions. You can protect your health and safety by choosing a clinic lead by a trained professional such as Dr Malta. He ensures that your practitioner fully understands the anatomy and how to create a balanced, symmetrical appearance whilst managing to keep your lip augmentation looking natural and fitting to your facial structure.
WILL I LOOK LIKE I HAVE A “TROUT POUT”?
A common misconception with lip fillers is that you will instantly look like you have huge lips but the reality of it is that it takes a lot of filler to get to that point. 1ml of the filler used in the lip area is only about ⅕ of a teaspoon! Here at Dr Matla aesthetics, we have been providing bespoke, natural-looking lip fillers for years and your safety and balance of features is essential in our clinic. Building up the amount of filler in the lips over time whilst using the latest techniques ensures that Dr Malta creates your desired plump lips whilst keeping them looking natural and healthy.
AM I SUITABLE FOR LIP FILLERS?
Since the dermal filler used is hyaluronic acid and it is naturally occurring in the body, it is the most commonly used filler as adverse reactions are extremely rare, meaning that many people are suitable for this treatment.
At your 1 to 1 consultation, Dr Matla will consider any medical concerns or allergies to assess whether this treatment is suited to you and your needs. Some people that are not suitable for lip fillers include:
- Pregnant or breast-feeding women
- People who are on certain medications that affect the immune system
- Those who are receiving or have recently completed Roaccutane treatment in the last 18 months
- Those who are suffering from any skin infections near the treatment sites.
- Patients with bleeding issues.
WHAT IF I CHANGE MY MIND?
The great thing about lip filler injections is that they are not permanent, and your body will naturally break them down over time! Hyaluronic acid fillers can be dissolved if required; however, this is not the recommended choice.
HOW MANY TREATMENTS WILL I NEED?
The amount of dermal filler and appointments to reach your desired look will vary but being realistic with your goals and what can be achieved is vital. This is why working with a trained professional is highly recommended, as they can advise you when it is best to stop with the treatments to make sure you’re not overdoing it and maintaining a natural result. The filler will start to wear off after about six months, so a top-up treatment is recommended. However, the time frame between treatments varies slightly from person to person, and your trained physician can advise you further on your individual needs.
With Dr Matla’s wealth of experience and ability to create a unique course of high-quality treatments for each patient, you’re only a consultation away from reaching your personal aesthetic goals.
Call 01916461399 to book your 1 to 1 consultation today!