What happens during the treatment?
To prepare for the treatment, we will discuss with you the effect you are looking for, and any concerns you have. We will ascertain the product and the amount needed to achieve the best results for you, for example whether you are looking to increase the volume of your lips or 'de-age' your mouth by restoring a firm lip line.
If the chosen lip filler does not already contain an anaesthetic, one will be administered to you using a tiny injection or by applying numbing cream. Once your lip area is numb, the doctor will then insert the product along the vermilion border of the lip line to smooth out the fine lines around the mouth.
If you are looking for volume enhancement, then the filler will be gently injected into the body of the lip. If the outer corners of the mouth are depressed (turned down), then a small amount of dermal filler will be injected into the oral commissures (corners of the mouth) to gently raise the contours and provide a 'de-ageing' lift to the mouth.
Lip augmentation can be carried out in two steps: pouting and contouring. To create a more pronounced mouth and fuller lips, the dermal filler is injected into the inside of the upper and/or lower lip and along the lip line. The lines that go up towards the nose (philtrum ridges) can be defined by injecting the gel into them. To achieve the optimal result, a combination of these steps is often used.
What happens after my lip treatment?
After injection, your lips may become a little swollen. This means that the appearance of your lips directly after the treatment may not be the final result. There is a chance that your lips will feel tender but not painful and anti-inflammatory medication such as Ibuprofen can effectively reduce any swelling more quickly. The swelling typically resolves within a few days.
At the conclusion of the treatment, we will give you full after-care instructions, to make sure that you know how to look after the area when you get home.
How long do the effects last?
The result of your lip enhancement treatment usually lasts between 6 and 12 months. The effect gradually reduces as the product is broken down naturally by the body, so we advise you to have touch-up and follow-up treatments to help maintain the desired effect. The rate that the filler breaks down depends on various factors, including skin type, your metabolic rate affecting bio-degradation, the techniques or products used and the areas treated.
Will it look obvious I've had my lips enhanced?
The key trend at the moment is for naturally plump and luscious but understated lips, rather than the artificial ‘duck-shaped' look. The more obvious type of lip augmentation has been replaced by a desire for overall facial balance and reinforcement of existing features: no woman wants to look weird or unnatural because of their lip-enhancement treatment.
We aim for a careful balance with your existing facial features, to make sure your lip enhancement is in keeping with the youthful, rejuvenated appearance you are looking for. Just one treatment gives instant and long-lasting results, meaning you may not need to return for a top-up for anything between 6 and 12 months.
A few years ago, women wanting to enhance their lip shape and volume were put off by the high-profile case of a celebrity who suffered a severe reaction to a surgical treatment, which left her lips very swollen and distended. The treatment responsible for that was a liquid silicone filler, which is not the same as the hyaluronic acid-based dermal filler that we use. There is no risk of this type of disfigurement occurring as a result of our hyaluronic acid dermal filler treatment.
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