Beauty trends come and go, but one trend that has been prominent for years now is fuller lips. Fuller lips can give the illusion of youthfulness to the face, and they can help with symmetry. They can also give you that extra boost of confidence in terms of your smile. The problem is that not everyone is born with naturally full lips, and as you age, your lips become thinner and even less full. This is exactly why injectable fillers for lip enhancement have become such a widely used treatment option.
If you’re considering injectable fillers for lip enhancement but want to be sure it’s right for you, this guide on what it is, how it’s done and the results it can achieve will prove essential.
What are Injectable Lip Fillers?
When it comes to dermal fillers, lip fillers are often the most popular in terms of injectables. The filler is meant to add volume and fullness to the lip and can be used on the top, bottom or both. The ingredient used in lip fillers is synthetic hyaluronic acid. This is something that is naturally found in the body, it’s just a synthetic version of it. From there, there are different brands of lip fillers, which do the same thing.
The filler itself is injected under the skin, and this is what provides that sense of fullness and volume, yet it still looks natural. It’s very common that the filler also contains collagen, another naturally occurring substance in the body which helps give the skin fullness and plumpness.
Why Get Lip Fillers?
So, what’s the purpose of lip fillers? Because they are adding volume, they can make the lips appear larger and fuller. It may help to restore lip size to what it once was or provide fullness that never existed. It can also help with symmetry on the face if either the bottom or lower lip is noticeably thinner than the other.
Lip fillers are also a fabulous way to address the signs of aging. If you have lines and wrinkles on the lips and around the lips, plumping them up will help to smooth out those lines. It instantly makes the lips appear younger and healthier. Smokers, in particular, are prone to lines around the lips, which can have an aging effect.
How Fast Do the Results Occur?
Any time you have a cosmetic treatment done, the big question is, how soon will the results appear? Immediately following the procedure your lips will likely be swollen and there can be sensitivity and bruising. However, all of these will subside within a couple of days to a week. After the swelling goes down, then you will get a true sense of the results.
You can help speed up the healing process by using an ice pack for 10 minutes at a time during the first 24-48 hours after the injection. You should also avoid touching your lips, stay hydrated and drink water, and be gentle when brushing your teeth. After the swelling and bruising have disappeared, you no longer have to be careful.
The results from lip fillers aren’t permanent but do tend to last 12-18 months. You can then return for another injection and go with the same amount of filler, less, or more.
How Much Filler Should You Get?
Another big question is regarding how much filler you should get. Lip fillers allow for control in terms of how full you want to go, i.e., the more you inject, the more fullness you can expect. Generally speaking, it is recommended that people start slow, with just a small amount of filler. You can then make adjustments moving forward. This also gives you a chance to get used to the results and it won’t be quite as shocking.
It’s a good idea to flip through pictures online and in magazines to get a sense of what your perfect lips would look like. You can then show them to the professional doing the treatment so that they get an idea of your expectations.
Remember that not every lip size is going to work for all face shapes and dimensions. This is why it’s good to ask the professional injecting the filler for their input. Just because your favorite celebrity can rock a big, full lip line, doesn’t mean it’s necessarily the right size for everyone else.
So, if you’re after fuller, plumper more youthful-looking lips, lip injections could be the perfect choice for you. Just be realistic with your expectations and what would be best for your face shape. You can always make adjustments to the size and fullness at your next injection.
