Lip injections have become one of the most commonly sought after treatments when it comes to cosmetic injectables. Lip injections are performed by a licensed healthcare provider via a needle and/or a cannula attached to a dermal filler syringe. There are many different kinds of dermal fillers which can be injected into the lips. Most of the patients that come into my clinic seeking lip filler injections know a little bit on the topic due to their own research prior to coming in. However, many still tend to have an abundance of questions on the subject, and so I wanted to share some of the most frequently asked questions when it comes to lip filler injections.
- What are hyaluronic acid lip filler injections?
- HA lip filler products are FDA-approved, pre-filled syringes of hyaluronic acid that can be used to inject into the lips to enhance the shape, as well as add structure and/or volume to the lips. . . . and other areas of the face. We all have our own innate (natural) supply of hyaluronic acid within our bodies. HA is essentially a natural sugar found in our skin and this sugar retains water, while simultaneously adding moisture and hydration (think ‘plump’).
- So, does that mean these fillers can also help with chapped lips?
- Actually, YES!
- I am scared that lip filler injections are going to hurt, how bad is the pain?
- Everyone who purchases lip filler treatment will automatically get a topical numbing cream applied to their lips prior to their treatment. We have a strong topical numbing cream made by a compounding pharmacy. It contains 3 different medications that help to numb the lips prior to lip filler treatment. This is the standard in the Tulsa area no matter where you go to get your lip filler. With that being said, while the topical numbing works great for the outer area of the lips, it can only penetrate so deep, so even with this numbing cream there is typically still a little bit of pain associated with the lip injections themselves. Align Injectable Aesthetics offers a mouth/dental block for a small additional fee. With the mouth block, you will feel zero pain!
- How long do lip filler injections last?
- Depends on the specific filler that is placed in the lips, and it also depends on the specific individual. Juvéderm fillers typically last 10-12 months. Versa lasts up to 9 months. Regular Restylane lasts 6-9 months, and Restylane Kysse lasts up to 12 months. Individuals that use their mouth a lot, smokers, and individuals that have a high metabolism (and/or workout a lot)- -their filler may not last as long.
- I heard there are permanent and semi-permanent lip filler solutions like silicone, why not just do silicone instead of getting injected every year?
- Great question. Well the good thing about the HA fillers Align Injectable Aesthetic uses is that they are all REVERSABLE! Meaning if you don’t like the outcome, we can dissolve it! If you get silicone in your lips and don’t end up liking it, you have to undergo surgery to get it removed. Furthermore, even while there are many good-looking lips post-silicone, in the long-run problems WILL arise. As we age, our lips undergo changes in volume, shape, and length. As our lips go through the natural aging process, that silicone (that was placed in the lips many years earlier in life) does not change with the lips, so when the lips go through their natural shape changes and then there is silicone in the way, this can cause some disfiguration of the lips. Also, once a foreign object (silicone) has been in our bodies for a long period of time, our body eventually tries HARD to get rid of it! This only leads to further disfiguration of the lips.
- How many syringes of filler would I need for my lips?
- On average patients get 1 full syringe during their first appointment. If they want more after that, they can do so after their lips have healed. We have several patients get 1 syringe in their lips and come back a week or two later to get a second syringe. It is also not uncommon for a person to come back a third time for more lip filler. It is all going to depend on the person’s baseline anatomy, and also, the look they are wanting to achieve. If a patient has very thin lips they will be able to get full and large lips (if that is what they want), it will just be a process, but it is definitely possible!
- Are lip fillers dangerous?
- As with everything, there are risks, which is why it is important to choose a provider who has experience and is extensively trained in cosmetic injectables. Your biggest risk with lip fillers is an ‘occlusion’ (filler was injected into a vein/artery). Even the best injectors sometimes run into an occlusion. While it can be scary, it can be fixed immediately—given that you are in the hands of someone who knows how to fix an occlusion! At Align Injectable Aesthetics, if an occlusion happens, we have the materials on site that are needed to fix an occlusion and we do so if it happens! Our Nurse Practitioner (and injector) has extensive training in “Injectable Complications” she knows how to spot complications, knows how to fix complications immediately, and has even done so in real life! We have had people come into Align with an occlusion that they got somewhere else in the Tulsa area, and they were not able to get back in touch with their injector to address their issue, and so they came to us where we fixed it. This is a perfect example of why you should NEVER seek out the “cheapest” lip filler prices. If they are too good to be true, it is probably because they are!
- When will I be able to see results from my lip filler treatment?
- Results are IMMEDIATE!
- How is the healing process? Will I swell/bruise? Do I need to take off of work at all? What are my restrictions after having lip filler treatment?
- While every individual is different, swelling and bruising are quite common. Some people don’t bruise at all while others do significantly, and then there are some patients who get a small bruise or two and that’s it. As soon as your procedure is done, you will either not be swollen or you will be swollen a little bit (each person is DIFFERENT). Following your procedure, you will begin to gradually swell a little more. Peak swelling typically happens 12 hours after your treatment. And usually from there on, the swelling starts to go back down little by little. Again, each individual is very different and while most have their swelling back down in 1-3 days, there are some individuals (typically the ones who bruise easily and had lots of bruising post-treatment) who have slight swelling up to a week and a half, but this is not as common. Whether you take off of work is up to you, however we have had many patients who went back to work right after their injections. You will be given an icepack after your treatment and you can ice your lips on and off for up to 48 hours to decrease swelling and bruising. There are very little after-care restrictions that last only 24 hours, some of these include; not drinking through a straw, no strenuous activity/exercise, avoiding blood thinning medications and alcohol, and no hot tubs/saunas (all for only 24hours).
- I have been to other places in town before for my lip filler treatments and their injector only really knows one way of injecting the lips. I have watched videos on social media of injectors in other states using a lot of different injection techniques to get certain desired results for the lips. Do the injectors at Align know more than one injection technique for the lips?
- Another great question! Our Nurse Practitioner does all of the injections at Align and she has done extensive hands-on training (Lip Masters Training) specifically related to the lips, and YES, she knows many different lip injection techniques. When you discuss with her the look you are wanting to achieve with your lips, she will use the injection techniques that she knows will help you to achieve that look.
If you have been contemplating getting lip filler injections, give us a call and we will set you up a complimentary consultation with our nurse practitioner who does nothing but cosmetic injectable procedures (Botox, Filler, Kybella, etc.) all day, everyday! We have many brands of dermal filler to choose from for the lips such as Juvederm, Restylane, and Revanesse Versa! You can also find a variety of our ‘before & after’ photos on our social media (FB, IG, Twitter) pages! Until next time, stay beautiful! xoxo -Align Injectable Aesthetics
918-407-9058
Tulsa, OK
align918.com
info@align918.com