Lip Fillers

Patients that are trying to gain a pouty look to their lips, or simply want to restore some volume that has been lost due to the aging process, often turn to dermal fillers that are injected into the lips. The most common type of dermal filler is made of hyaluronic acid (HA) which is a substance that naturally occurs in the body. The results form hyaluronic acid being injected into the lips can last anywhere from six to eighteen months. Patients that make the decision to have lip fillers need to consult with a board-certified doctor that is experienced in placing fillers in targeted areas of the lips. Patients of all ages might have some questions about this cosmetic procedure before having the treatment. If you are interested in having lip fillers placed by a cosmetic surgeon, don’t schedule your procedure before you read the rest of this article.

Common Lip Fillers Reasons

In general, the majority of patients that get lip fillers are women that are trying to combat the aging process or they have naturally thin lips that they want to enhance with fillers.

As stated above, there is a loss of volume in the face as a person gets older and this includes a loss of volume in the lips as well. Besides the desire to gain a youthful look to the face thanks to an increase in volume in the lips, many patients are also inspired to get a plump look to the lips after viewing the appearance of celebrities on social media and the red carpet.

Many cosmetic surgeons say the desire to gain lips that might look like they have obviously been injected comes from reality TV stars such as the Kardashians that are known for enhancing their looks through lip fillers, BBL and other cosmetic treatments.

Lip Fillers – How do They Work

As mentioned earlier in this article, the most common type of dermal filler is made of a substance that is naturally found in the human body. This substance is made of hyaluronic acid (HA) and, because it is naturally found in the body of a person, there is no concern about the body rejecting the filler since it is made of a substance that comes from the human body. The results can last for over a year but the length of the results varies per person. The body will eventually absorb the lip filler which means a person will need to have additional treatments in order to maintain their results from the lip fillers.

Lip Fillers – Who can perform the Cosmetic Procedure

Patients need to do some research before they have lip fillers placed in the targeted areas of the lips. Here are some of the items patients will need to research when planning to undergo a lip filler treatment:
Patient need to make sure their cosmetic surgeon of choice is experienced in injecting lip fillers
They should ask to see “before and after” photos of actual patients treated by the doctor they pick to inject the fillers
Patients should make sure the doctor they choose to perform the cosmetic procedure is willing to address and answer any questions or concerns they have about the placement of fillers in the lips

While the placing of lip fillers will not always be performed by a doctor, patients should make sure that the nurse or medical technician at the office of the doctor is experienced and qualified to perform the filler injections. Patients should ask any questions about the qualifications and training of the person performing the treatment and if the doctor will be overseeing the entire medical procedure.

Patients should also make sure the doctor is board-certified and that the procedure is performed in an accredited medical facility and not in an apartment or an office where medical equipment has temporarily been placed to perform the treatment. The environment for lip fillers should be sterile and there should be emergency equipment on-site in case any kind of medical emergency occurs while the patient is being seen by the person performing the injections.

Lip Fillers Risks

Anyone that wants to have lip fillers injected into targeted areas on the lips should be aware they might feel a slight amount of pain during the injections but the pain is short and will not last very long. If a person is afraid of any potential pain during the injections, the doctor can use a local anesthetic to block the nerves as well as numb the lips before injecting the filler.

The risks of any side effects are temporary as the most common side effects are swelling and bruising of the lips. Unlike fillers placed elsewhere in the face, the risks associated with dermal fillers, like bruising and swelling, are small. For example, fillers placed around the eyes have the risk of being injected into a blood vessel which can cause long-term problems for a person.