What should you know before getting lip enhancements?

The global lip augmentation market was worth over £3.4m in 2022, representing the second largest market for non-surgical cosmetic procedures. However, a surprising number of patients remain “in the dark” when it comes to the treatments on offer.

Understanding the different enhancement options

Lips can be enhanced in a variety of ways. By far the most common method is to use one of the range of temporary fillers available. Most of these have a lifespan of around six to twelve months. These fillers work in the same way as the hyaluronic acid used in fillers for facial lines and wrinkles. They are chain-like structures which hold water within their strands, providing a space filler which enhances the shape and volume of the lips.

There are also long lasting surgical options of varying risk. Fat Transfer is a permanent yet repeatable process where your fat is re-injected into your body to provide long lasting volume. Or you could opt for Surgical ‘Implants’, a permanent solution where foreign material is injected or grafted into your body. If you choose a permanent approach it is generally much harder to reverse the outcome if you are unhappy with the result.

Timing considerations

Results are instantaneous and become even more pronounced as swelling subsides. Best results are achieved with a follow up treatment within 2 weeks to fine-tune results for absolute symmetry.

Like our other hyaluronic acid based fillers, these products have an antagonist called hyaluronidase that can reverse their effects should that become necessary. Please keep in mind that reversing these fillers takes time and requires multiple office visits for treatment.

Selecting qualified providers

Results with filler can depend on many factors, but perhaps most important is your provider. If it’s a board-certified dermatologist, plastic surgeon or nurse practitioner with fillers, you’re in good hands, especially if they have a lot of experience with injections. They should have a good understanding of facial anatomy because placing filler in the wrong location can cause some very serious, even permanent, vascular complications (like blushing or maybe lip discoloration) or even permanent damage to the tissues.

Instead of searching for before and after pictures of lip filler near me, search for before and after pictures of lips near me. Instead of reading patient reviews of this practice’s service, read the patient reviews of this practice’s fillers, its technique, and your overall experience with both the treatment itself and follow up care.

Geographic location affects both cost and provider availability.

Managing expectations and planning recovery

It is helpful to have sensible outcome expectations. Lip enhancement involves the augmentation of volume and shape of the lips. Whilst some people may wish to dramatically increase the size of their lips, substantial increase in size can be achieved gradually over several sessions spaced weeks apart. However, such changes are costly and time consuming to achieve. Smaller increases in volume are easily achieved within a single session.

Some points are solid. You will get volume in thin lips but it will not compare to someone who has fuller lips by genetics. There is a golden ratio to the upper to lower lip that is 1:1.6 more or less but aesthetics are subjective so placement is up to you.

Recovery timeline and considerations

After surgery you can expect the face to be swollen for 24-48 hours post-op and then gradually come down over the next week with maybe a little bit of residual unevenness. Bruising occurs in about 30% of patients and last approximately 5-7 days.

After treatment with dermal fillers patients have very little disability. Patients should avoid strenuous activities such as heavy exercise for 24 hours. Additionally, patients should avoid manipulating the treated area such as massaging for 24 hours or until the swelling has resolved. Most medications such as aspirin and other anti-inflammatory agents as well as prescribed blood thinners have been reported to increase bruising in some individuals. If you take any of these medications, please stop them for one week prior to your appointment.

Cost analysis and maintenance planning

Prices vary widely depending on location, provider, and product. Many other fillers that stimulate HA production may be more expensive in initial cost, but have a longer lifespan. The starting price per treatment with Belladerm HA is $500.00 to $1.200.00 per syringe depending on location and provider.

The long-term follow-up or maintenance required for our treatments can cost as much as the initial treatment itself. Patients typically require follow-up treatments for their Juvéderm, Kybérassis, Belotero or Radiesse filler every 6-12 months. The cost of annual maintenance treatments, touch-ups and volume loss treatments for all of these fillers typically ranges from $1,500 to $2,000 per year.

You will find that doing maintenance on your lips is actually easier and requires less product than starting a new treatment from scratch while the product is still in its gel form, dissolving into a watery solution as it is absorbed. Insurance does not pay for “cosmetic” lip enhancement, so patients should be aware of the complete cost of treatment and able to financially handle any post-treatment complications that may rarely occur in the hands of a properly trained practitioner.

A lot of thought and consideration is needed when deciding whether or not to undergo lip enhancement and finding the right surgeon to perform the procedure. There is no more important consideration than deciding what type of lip look you are trying to achieve, and finding a surgeon skilled in the procedure to achieve a natural enhancement – either permanent or temporary.