There’s no doubt that the thicker, fuller lip look is in right now. Lip injections are one of the most popular non-surgical beauty treatments on the market.
Whether you want a noticeable, celebrity look or just to slightly enhance your natural features, injectable lip fillers have become a favored and easy way to get the pouty lips you desire.
Read on for a look at why lip injections have become so popular, the different types of products available, and what you can expect from a lip enhancement procedure.
Lip fillers are a gel that is injected under the skin into your upper or lower lips. There are several different types currently on the market. All offer the ability to plump and shape your lips and help erase fine lines around your mouth.
They do this by physically filling out the area they are injected into, stimulating collagen production, and holding onto water within the lip.
They can make your lips look fuller and smoother. Nowadays, fillers are the most commonly used method of lip augmentation because it’s effective, requires little downtime, and offers fast results.
Lip fillers are used by both men and women of all ages. Some choose to treat only their upper lip, only the lower lip, or both. Some people choose a more pronounced “notice me” look while others choose a more natural look.
One of the benefits of choosing lip injections is that the procedure can be customized for the look you want to achieve.
Some of the reasons that people might choose to have a lip enhancement include:
Lip injections don’t usually cause pain, but to make it even easier some providers use a numbing gel or use products that have a small amount of anesthetic mixed in. Bruising and swelling are usually minimal and go away in a few days.
You can get your lips filled on your lunch break, that’s how easy they are to access. Because of their popularity, many doctors and nurses are adding injectable fillers to their service offerings.
Lip injections are a great way to try out lip enhancing without the commitment. If you aren’t satisfied, the results wear off in a few months. If you used a hyaluronic acid filler, then there is a reversal agent called hyaluronidase which is an enzyme that can break down the filler.
Plastic surgery often requires several weeks before the bruising and swelling goes down and you can return to your normal activities. Lip injections require far less time and have fewer restrictions.
There are several types of products on the market that can be used for lip injection. They vary only slightly in how they work and how long they last.
These are by far the most popular lip fillers on the market. Hyaluronic acid injections are sold under the brand names Juvederm, Perlane, Restylane, and a few others. Hyaluronic acid is a natural substance found in your body in your connective tissues, joints, and skin.
Sold under the brand name Radiesse, this filler has a long safety record of use in the dental and reconstructive surgery markets. No animal products are used in making it and it’s said to produce a very natural-looking result.
Sold as Aquamid, this is a semi-permanent filler that takes a little longer (about a month) to see the full results. Collagen eventually surrounds the injected gel and becomes quite stable over time.
PMMA or Bellefill is another semi-permanent filler sometimes used in place of hyaluronic acid therapies. While it gives a longer-lasting fill, it does require a very skilled provider, possibly more than one injection sitting, and up to three months to see the full effect.
On the day of the procedure, you’ll visit the provider’s office. You and the provider can discuss the look you want to achieve. You can bring pictures of famous people that have a similar look to use as an example. Your provider will assess your lips and your facial structure. They may also take pictures of your lips to help illustrate the results that you can expect.
Depending on the type of filler that you use, your provider might perform a skin test to check for allergies before your first procedure. If your skin reacts, they can consider an alternative type of lip filler.
Then your provider will inject your chosen filler.
Some people have mentioned that this feels cool, others mention a mild stinging sensation when the filler first goes into your lips.
The lip augmentation procedure takes about 15 to 30 minutes to complete.
Your injection provider may instruct you not to purse your lips for a day or two. You’ll also want to avoid smoking, drinking alcohol, high temperature, or flying (the air pressure changes can make swelling worse) for a few days.
There are many reasons that you might choose to have lip enhancement. Lip fillers are a quick and easy way to get the full, soft look that you want. They have been around for many years and a generally considered safe and effective.
There are several different lip filler options that you can choose from and they all have their pros and cons. The most important factor is choosing a knowledgeable provider who listens to you and explains the results that you can reasonably achieve.
If you do, you can expect to be out and enjoying your new, enhanced lip look in very little time.