Lip filler is one of the most popular and requested cosmetic treatments by patients. The treatment consists of injecting a product of natural or synthetic origin into the lips to increase their volume and improve their shape.
The wide variety of dermal filler options allow estheticians to customize treatment based on patient requests, whether it’s to refine lip contour, balance lip asymmetry or proportion, restore volume, or add hydration to smooth out fine cracks.
However, as with any medical procedure, there are some risks and potential side effects associated with lip filler, such as swelling, redness, bruising, infection, and allergic reactions.
As we will see in the article, it is important to choose a qualified and trusted professional to perform the procedure and to follow the post-operative instructions to minimize the risks and maximize the desired results.
What is lip filler?
A filler is a type of injectable substance used in aesthetic medicine to fill wrinkles and skin folds, plump the lips or restore the volume of the cheeks, temples, chin and other parts of the face.
Fillers are usually composed of hyaluronic acid, collagen, polydioxanone, calcium hydroxyapatite or other substances that are safe for cosmetic use. All or part of these substances are gradually absorbed by the body over time.
Hyaluronic acid fillers are usually used for lip injections because they are temporary, reversible and rely on the fact that hyaluronic acid is already found throughout the body.
Also, hyaluronic acid once injected works immediately to attract water and this adds volume to the region.
The reasons for doing these types of fillers are different. Two of the most important are lip contouring or volume augmentation.
The specialist injects at the edge of the lip, between the red lip and the surrounding skin. In the case of lip augmentation, the specialist injects the entire volume into the red of the lips.
The choice of treatment method for lip injections depends on the patient’s wishes and the results. Often, both methods can be combined with each other to achieve the individually desired result.
Where can the lip filler be injected?
The filler can be done in the upper lip, lower lip, both or in the corners of the mouth. It depends entirely on the individual case whether and to what extent the doctor will inject both lips.
In general, one rule concerning the proportion of the lips should be taken into account. According to a study carried out by the University of California, there are clear signs to define beautiful lips.
Meanwhile, the lower lip should be about twice as large as the upper lip. Then, these “ideal lips” should occupy at least 10% of the area of the lower third of the face.
Mathematical calculations aside, the doctor should orientate the shape of the lips and the volume distribution to the face as well as follow the individual wishes.
If, for example, you want to give greater definition to the Cupid’s bow, the acid is injected on the edge of the lips, while if the desired effect is to give volume, the filler is carried out through micro-injections in several parts.
When is lip filler considered?
Too tight lips are the most common reason for lip correction. In addition to the increase in volume, however, the correction of crooked or asymmetrical lips as well as a clearer contour at the edge of the lips may also be desired.
In fact, the aging of the contour of the mouth is a complex process, which involves a depletion of the adipose and connective tissue of the upper lip, a deformation of the bone skeleton of the mouth and a modification of the dentition.
A thinning of the red lip and an erasure of the lip edge leads, especially in smokers, to the appearance of what is called a “barcode” (small vertical lines around the lips).
Hyaluronic acid in particular helps eliminate these wrinkles and moisturize the surrounding skin.
The different types of lip fillers
Absorbable fillers
Resorbable fillers are slowly metabolized by the body until they disappear and are usually well tolerated by the body.
Their duration can vary from 3 to 10 months and depends on the person’s lifestyle. Those who are very stressed or smoke or do not follow a correct diet are likely to see the results of the filler fade in a short time compared to those who have a more regular life.
This type of filler is mainly used to fill the wrinkles around the mouth, the famous barcode and give a younger look.
These fillers are often made with different ingredients. An example are the so-called “biocompatible fillers”, i.e. made from natural substances that integrate easily with the body’s tissues without causing adverse reactions.
Others are: hyaluronic acid, which as we have said, is a substance naturally present in the human body or bovine or autologous collagen, agarose gel or L-polylactic acid.
Semi-permanent fillers
By definition, these lip fillers are non-absorbable and remain in the body forever. For this reason we tend to use them less, even if they offer the advantage of being long-lasting and correcting very deep depressions.
The greatest risk is that the product may leave the injection site and migrate to other locations until it compresses the nerve endings.
The most commonly used permanent fillers are polyacrylimide gel and prosthetic/injectable silicone.
Lip filler: how the treatment works
When a doctor performs the lip augmentation procedure, they carefully consider not only the volume, but also the definition and shape of the lips. So he looks at the existing proportions and also takes into consideration the natural proportions based on origins and skin color.
As already mentioned, it is possible to use permanent or rapidly reabsorbing products such as hyaluronic acid or collagen, even if purified collagen, in injectable form, requires preventive tests to rule out any allergy to the product. This is why it is used less and less. Once the product has been chosen, the injection is carried out in the superficial dermis by means of a simple puncture with a syringe and a very thin needle and gradually the wrinkle is “filled” or the lip thickened. .
Lip injections are usually performed with a mild local anesthetic, most hyaluronic acid preparations already contain lidocaine, which numbs the lips after the first injection. Lip correction is therefore almost painless.
After a phase of swelling or redness, which lasts twenty-four hours, the result appears and, if necessary, the swelling can be relieved by cooling the area.
The duration of the result varies from case to case and can be maintained from a few months to a year. Once the effect has worn off, further injections can be given.
Lip filler before and after: results and benefits
The mechanism of action of lip fillers is very simple. In practice, they are able to increase volume and smooth out small wrinkles thanks to their filling action. In fact, remember that the term filler, in English means filler.
The doctor then chooses quantities and locations based on the type of blemish, with the aim of restoring tone and volume to the emptied parts. In the end, the result ensures attractive and seductive lips.
Lip fillers are indicated and requested for various reasons ranging from congenital blemishes, to age-related problems or even, to injuries and accidents that have compromised the person’s aesthetics.
In particular, fillers are used for:
- Increase the volume of the lips, paying attention to an aesthetically balanced relationship between the upper and lower lip.
- Modify the cupid’s bow which is flat. Cupid’s bow is the arched border line of the upper lip and is also known as Cupid’s or lip heart.
- Lift the corners of the mouth that have sunken with age, to offer the face a new light and vitality.
- Restore a clear lip contour as the well-defined shape enhances the appearance.
- Remove fine lines around the mouth (barcode), so that the face looks younger and fresher.
- Correct the connective tissue between the nose and upper lip.
- Reduce the asymmetry between the right and left sides of the lips.
What are the benefits?
The main benefits deriving from the use of lip fillers are, first of all, the immediate effectiveness and non-invasiveness.
To these are added other advantages such as, for example, the guarantee that if done by expert hands, it is possible to obtain natural results by working on self-esteem.
Thanks to fillers, moreover, several problems can be corrected at the same time, from wrinkles and lack of volume to a dull smile. The reduced treatment times and the speed with which you recover at the end of the procedure are undoubtedly also a huge advantage.
Last but not least, the lip filler is reversible. If a resorbable substance is used, within a few months, it is possible to go back to how it was before or even change the site of the injection for different results.
Costs and prices of the lip filler
The cost of fillers, as well as that of most aesthetic medicine treatments, is quite high. The price varies according to…
