How Does Lip Augmentation Work?

The popularity of patients who are opting to add volume to their lips with temporary fillers has continued to grow of the past few years.

While lip injections are not permanent, they are considered a medical procedure and can come with risks and side effects. It is important to be educated and do your research before moving forward with the procedure.

Most practitioners opt to use a filler with a collagen or hyaluronic acid (HA) base. The product is injected into the lip, to enhance the lip’s size, volume and overall appearance. The collagen filler works by simply plumping the lip while the hyaluronic acid filler works by trapping water in lips to give them a plump and natural appearance.

There are various types of fillers available on the market. Some of the most popular fillers are listed below:

  • Belotero Balance
  • Elevess
  • HylaForm
  • Juvederm (Ultra, Ultra Plus, Volbella XC)
  • Prevelle Silk
  • Restylane, Restylane-L, Restylane Silk

Amount of Filler Required

A big misconception with lip augmentation is patients think they can achieve their desired look right away. While the treatment plan will vary for each patient based on their natural lips and desired results, it may require multiple treatments. In order to achieve beautiful and natural looking results, it is important to work in stages as trying to achieve dramatic results in a single visit can have a very bad outcome.

Discomfort

The pain associated with the procedure can vary for each patient. Most providers use a topical or local numbing agent to ensure that any pain is minimal.

Cost for Fillers

Fillers are typically priced based on the number of syringes used. The cost is dependent on how much material is required for the procedure. Most people do not require more than a syringe or two. The costs can range from $500 to $2,000 on average.

Results

The results can vary based on which product is used and how old the patient is. In most cases, the results last for a few months up to a year before follow-up treatments are required.

When the injections are done properly, the lip fillers should feel very natural.

Immediately following the procedure, the lips are slightly swollen from the injections. Patients are encouraged to ice their lips in order to minimize bruising and reduce the pain. The final results should be visible about 24 hours after the procedure.

While it is uncommon and depends on the product used, there is a chance of a negative reaction. Most practitioners now use hyaluronic acid based fillers as they tend to last longer than most of the collagen filler products.

While about 1-3% of patients experience an allergic reaction with collagen fillers, allergic reactions are extremely rare with the hyaluronic acid fillers.

Removal

One advantage of hyaluronic acid fillers compared to the collagen fillers is that they can be easily removed. In the event you are unhappy with the results, the changes can be quickly reversed.

Finding a Doctor

It is important to do your research to find a provider who is properly trained, qualified and has experience with fillers. Many providers provide potential patients with a summary of testimonials which may even be available on their website. It may also be helpful to ask for a recommendation from someone who has previously had lip augmentation work completed. While price is an important factor, there are many variables which should be considered and cheapest does not always mean best.

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