Lip Fillers - Overview
This is a very popular procedure these days. There seem to be two distinct groups of women (and occasionally men) that desire this procedure: women in their early 20’s, who have been heavily influenced by what they see on social media. And women in their 50’s and 60’s who have noticed that their lips are thinning as they age (not their imagination, it is happening!)
There are a few fillers that Dr. Berman believe are better suited for use in the lips, over the plethora of fillers that are now on the market.
Dr. Berman personally prefer Volbella and occasionally, Juvaderm Ultra (not Ultra Plus). Dr. Berman prefer these because they are softer and you want a soft filler in your lips.
Generally speaking, the softer fillers last a shorter period of time, compared to the more cohesive fillers, such as Voluma, which are firmer.
Volbella, will last about one year and Voluma, which is better suited for deeper injection than the lip area (such as the nasolabial folds or over the cheek bones) will last about 2 years.
Juvaderm Ultra is somewhat firmer than Volbella and gives a somewhat elevated ridge at the top edge of the lip, which Dr. Berman personally do not like but Dr. Berman have noticed that some women in their 20s prefer (no doubt due to social media).
Dr. Berman is wary of using fat in the lips because it can be tougher to make sure it is perfectly smooth and it cannot be dissolved like the fillers above.
It can be a bit uncomfortable during the injection. I think it is totally unnecessary to use nerve blocks. I have my patients apply an ice pack for about 30 seconds beforehand and with good injection technique are all that is required.
I have done a large number of lip fillers with no complaints of significant discomfort. In addition, the fillers already have lidocaine mixed in with them. There can be bruising, and although this is not common, it can happen.
There can be swelling. Everyone will have a little bit of swelling and I always tell my patients to give it 10-14 days to completely settle in place, before considering any changes or adjustments. I have had a very small number of patients, who have had a lot of swelling in the lips after the injection.
It was not clear why. It was not an allergic reaction. It settled down but took a few weeks to do so. This has only happened about 2 times in the very large number of patients, I have injected with fillers.
Do not overdo it. I strive for a natural look. It is much better to undercorrect than to overcorrect. It is always better to put some in now and then in a few weeks (or months) later, to add more.
If you have extremely thin lips, you can only add a small amount at a time, to stretch the red part of the lip, so that you can add more at a later date. If you try to add too much at once, it just looks like you got punched in the lips, not an attractive look!
I don’t think you need to do anything. You certainly can go exercise or eat anything you want. If you have nothing else to do, then you could ice it for a few minutes to minimize any swelling. Definitely avoid taking aspirin or any blood thinners for a week before.
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