What Are Lip Injections/Fillers?
Your lips are a sensual region of your face. Centrally located, they provide structure to your face and demonstrates your beauty to the outside world. As you age, the lips tend to lose their plumpness and luster by losing volume or “thinning out.” Thinning of the lips can be caused by multiple factors, such as, aging, cumulative sun exposure or smoking. And, oftentimes, the top lip will thin more noticeably than the bottom lip. This is where lip injections play a big part.
If you’ve always had thinner lips or if they’ve deflated over time, lip fillers can be an excellent treatment for you. Cosmetic fillers are naturally-derived or synthetic material that is directly injected into the lips. Their purpose is to augment both their shape and size. The most common type of fillers used for the perioral (mouth) region are hyaluronic acid-based fillers, such as Juvederm Ultra Plus or Restylane, both of which are preferred lip filler brands in our office.
What to expect when you get lip fillers?
At the Cosmetic Plastic Surgery Institute, first, we anesthetize (numb) the area by using either topical anesthesia or a regional block using lidocaine. Then several injections of the lip filler are performed in the desired area, generally along the vermillion (red part of the lips) and vermillion border of the lips. Typical patient preference is to fill the upper lip slightly more than the bottom. The numbing effect of the anesthesia may make eating and drinking difficult for up to two hours after the procedure. And you may experience swelling for the first day or two. If you have a special event to attend, it is recommended to get lip fillers done at least two days beforehand so that any swelling has time to dissipate and show the true beauty of your lips.
How Long Do Lip Fillers Last?
Each brand of cosmetic fillers has its own duration. The preferred lip filler used in our office is Juvederm Ultra Plus which lasts approximately six to nine months. Ask your physician which brand of lip filler they use, and how long you can expect the results to last.
How to Avoid the Dreaded “Duck Lips”
An experienced, skilled practitioner can selectively plump the lips so they will look naturally full and not overdone. The key to avoiding the over-filled “duck lips” look is to find an experienced cosmetic surgeon with positive reviews. If you’re unsure about your practitioner, always ask to view before/after photographs of their patients.
For more information and to determine if you are a good candidate for this affordable lip injection procedure, please schedule a free consultation with Dr. Mowlavi, Orange County’s premier cosmetic surgeon.