Google searches for natural lip fillers are up by 250% which shows that while demand for a plumper pout remains, the overdone, artificial aesthetic is being laid to rest.
“Lip fillers are wrongly associated with an overfilled look but when performed by a skilled practitioner they will not be overly noticeable, just beautifully balanced,” Dr Dianni Dai, GMC-registered Doctor at Élan Laser Clinics. “Not only do we consider how the lips look but we look at how the lip filler will enhance and balance the whole face and place it strategically – working with the natural contours of your lip. It isn’t always just about volume, it can delicately enhance the cupid’s bow or be added to create symmetry.”
If you’re considering having the procedure done (your beauty, your rules), remember it’s about quality not quantity and to avoid any over-filling or unshapely disasters it’s important to check your practitioner’s credentials in case they need to deal with any contraindications. Also make sure you arm yourself with all the information you need to walk into the consultation room confident you’re going to leave with lips you love. Not sure where to start? We asked the cosmetic doctors who deal with lip fillers on the daily to answer our most pressing pout-based questions.
1. Can lip fillers look natural?
According to Dr Esho, known as the lip doctor, there’s a very specific ratio to ask for that provides the most natural looking lips. “The perfect lip will have a 1:1 ratio between the outer corners of the top and bottom lip. The middle of the lip and the outer corner should be 2:1,” he advises. This will ensure the balance is asymmetric and is the most flattering shape for your face.
2. Which lip filler is best?
We tend to group all fillers together, and never really focus on the different materials commonly used in injectable treatments. The truth is, there are many types of filler and you’ll get a different effect depending on which one you choose.
“It’s important that the material used has the same consistency as the lip’s natural mucosa – otherwise, it won’t look natural whenever the patient moves their lip in animation,” says Dr Esho.”I use the Juvederm Vycross range, which is longer-lasting, smoother to inject, biodegradable, and reversible, but I’ve also been impressed with the Teoxane RHA range.”
“I use MaiLi by Sinclair Pharma – they have a specific product called MaiLi Define which is very, very natural and integrates into your lip tissue beautifully,” says Dr Ahmed El Muntasar, GP and award-winning aesthetician.
3. Where should lip fillers be injected?
Injectable lip augmentation is a fine art – it’s not a matter of poking around the outlines. According to Dr. Esho, your doctor should focus on specific parts of the lips to ensure a natural looking result.
“Each person is individual so your practitioner should bespoke your lip filler to your needs,” says Dr Dianni. “In some cases it could be used to balance upper and lower lip ratios, create border definition or it could even be a good top-up to a previous treatment.”
4. Is there a right amount of lip filler?
It’s all too easy to be trigger happy with injectables and many practitioners use far too much filler. According to Dr Esho, while it depends on the size of the natural lip, there’s never any need to go over 1ml in a single treatment and Dr Dianni says in some cases, 0.5ml is enough. “Patients who are having a first treatment may request half a ml of lip filler which is a tiny amount but could help those who want to start small and build up.”
5. Does having lip filler hurt?
While some people might feel discomfort as the filler is injected it doesn’t usually cause pain severe enough to stop the treatment say the pros.
6. How long does lip filler last?
This actually depends on your age and of course, the amount of lip filler but the experts say you should expect lip fillers to last between six and twelve months before you need a top up.
7. What is the downtime after lip fillers?
One of the appeals of lip fillers is that there isn’t much downtime post-treatment, especially if you’re going for a natural look where just a tiny amount of filler is required. “Usually the morning after is the worst for lip swelling but that should reduce after 2-3 days and any swelling will be gone completely in a fortnight,” continues Dr Dianni.
8. Is there anyone who should avoid lip fillers?
Some medical conditions such as blood clotting disorders and active infections like cold sores will rule you out from having lip filler injections.
9. How do I know if I’ve had lip migration?
Lip migration simply means that the filler has moved outside the lip area that was treated although this is more common in the cheek or tear trough area and new fillers have been developed to prevent this. You’ll know if it’s happened to you (or someone else) as it could present as a puffy upper lip or a lack of a defined border between the lip edge and above or below the lip border.
10. What questions should you ask your aesthetician?
According to Dr Dianni the first question you should be asking is what results to expect realistically from the treatment. “Many people come in for lip filler expecting huge lips from the first amount but asking your aesthetician for realistic results will help you visualise the outcome. You also want to make sure you understand the proper aftercare and what to do in the rare case you have a slight reaction.”
11. Is there an alternative to lip fillers?
While you won’t be able to balance the lip ratio as easily, there are other treatments you can us for the lips to improve their shape and texture. “There are some new lasers that resurface the lips to make them bigger and we can also use skinboosters for the lips now as when you hydrate the lips, they will become more plump,” says Dr Ahmed.
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