Fill Me in on Lip Fillers: What Do I Need to Know?

Full lips are considered a sign of youth and health. It’s no wonder many have chosen to undergo lip augmentation procedures, such as lip fillers. While celebrity endorsements and marketing have made lip fillers more popular, it is crucial to know what you are about to get into before doing anything. Here is what you need to know about lip fillers:

What Is Lip Augmentation?

Lip augmentation is a type of cosmetic procedure that can increase the fullness of your lips. It uses injectable fillers, such as hyaluronic acid, fats, or implants.

Because lips become thinner over time, plump lips are considered a sign of youth. Lip augmentation can restore lips that were once fuller. Additionally, this procedure can also be used to enhance lips that were always thin, or to correct asymmetry/ lopsided smile.

Types of Lip Fillers

Currently the preferred method of lip augmentation is to use an injectable lip filler. Here are some of the different types of lip fillers:

• Hyaluronic Acid 

The most common fillers these days are products that include substances that are similar to hyaluronic acid. These are sometimes called hyaluronic acid fillers.

A natural substance present in the human body, you can find hyaluronic acid in the highest concentrations in fluids in the eyes and joints. It is used to enhance the shape, structure, and volume of your lips. Its effects usually last around 3-6 months, after which you’ll need more injections to maintain the fullness of your lips.

• Collagen

Collagen is one of the main building blocks of your bones, ligaments, muscles, skin, and tendons. While It used to be a common lip filler, but it’s been ousted by newer options that are safer and have longer-lasting effects such as HA’s. Made from bovine hides, collagen lip fillers can cause allergic reactions, requiring patients to undergo an allergy test before every procedure.

• Fat Injections and Implants

Through liposuction or excision, the patient’s fat is harvested from certain places on their body. Then, they either inject or surgically place it into the lips. Additionally, these surgical applications would usually require general anesthesia and present serious side effects, making them less desirable.

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Lip Filler Procedure

Here is what you can expect before and after you get lip fillers:

• Before

Arrange an appointment with a trusted medical practitioner with a good track record of performing lip augmentation procedures. You can ask them questions regarding the procedure and see if their facility is the right one for you. Do your due diligence. Conduct a background check or read other patients’ reviews before reaching out.

• During

Injectable lip augmentation techniques have little to no downtime.

Your medical practitioner will apply a topical or local numbing agent to your lips to ease any discomfort. Sometimes, they give nerve block injections before the procedure to numb the area completely.

• After

You may experience some swelling in your lip area after the treatment. You might also notice some small red spots where injections were made.

Bruising may appear around the lips and can last about a week. Your lips may also feel different due to the fillers. Ice may be offered to you to ease discomfort and control swelling, but be careful not to place any pressure on the injected area.

Temporary Side Effects and Risks of Lip Filler Procedure

Although these are temporary and should only last a few days, take note of the following side effects of hyaluronic acid fillers that might occur:

• bleeding from the treated area
• bruising and swelling
• reactivation of cold sores or fever blisters of the lips or area around it
• redness and tenderness at the treated area

More Serious Risks / side effects that could occur.:

• allergic reaction causing itching, redness, and swelling around the lips
• infection
• irregularities and lumps in the lips
• lip asymmetry
• scarring, stiffening, or ulceration of the lip
• severe prolonged bruising and swelling that lasts one week to 10 days

Trust your little voice, should you have ANY concerns after your injections treatment, call your practitioner immediately so that they can do a proper assessment as well set your mind at ease. Even more important is do your research and ask many questions prior to injections.

Aftercare for Lip Filler Procedure

Here are some tips on how to care for your lips post-treatment:

• With a light touch, apply ice to your lips with an ice pack or cover an ice cube with a cloth to prevent it from sticking to your lip. Doing so helps to ease bruising, itching, and swelling.
• Wait for 24 hours before applying any makeup on your lips.
• Stay away from saunas and steam rooms, and do not join heated exercise classes for 48 hours after treatment. Exposure to high heat can make swelling more noticeable.
• Skip on strenuous activities for 24 to 48 hours because elevated heart rate and blood pressure can worsen bruising or swelling. However, performing light exercises such as walks is acceptable.
• You may get lip fillers for a specific event. Schedule accordingly and see that you have plenty of time to allow your lips to recover.

What You Need to Avoid

To speed up recovery time and prevent complications, the following are best avoided after getting lip fillers:

• Alcohol – Avoid alcohol for at least 24 hours BEFORE & after the treatment because it acts as a blood thinner. Additionally, it can cause inflammation, worsen swelling, and increase the chance of bruising.
  Arnica pills, taken the day before and for 2-3 days after can also help reduce bruising,
• Flying – Wait for at least a week after the procedure before flying. Bruising and swelling can worsen because of the air pressure inside a plane.
• Smoking – There are many disadvantages to smoking, and one of them is an increased risk of infection. Do not smoke immediately after the treatment and keep your distance from other smokers.
• Vaccinations – Medical Data has shown there is an added risk for those being injected with fillers AFTER having had a vaccination. While these side effects (localized swelling) can be resolved with antihistamines and steroids, it is important to know that your Injector has “side-effect protocols” in place for any adverse event.
  ** At Clarity Medspa, Covid Vaccines will not change how they practice as they have always been prescreening for vaccinations (flu, travel), well before the pandemic of 2020.
• As a side note “there are other risks related to facial fillers that need to be carefully explained and considered – specifically vascular occlusions.”

Lip augmentation can be a life-changing decision and when done with an experienced medical professional is safe.  Knowing what to expect will better prepare you for the procedure, give you an excellent idea of aftercare, and allow you to deal with any complications that may ensue.

Do your research and find a reliable clinic that can perform the injection procedure safely. For excellent dermal filler services, turn to Clarity Medspa & Laser for safe and beautiful lip filler services in Toronto. Call (416) 960-2222 or [email protected] to schedule a consultation.