Lip Filler

Lip fillers are dermal fillers indicated for use in the lips. Most are hyaluronic acid-based (HA) fillers, which attract water from the surrounding tissues to cause a natural plumping effect once injected. HA fillers are also very soft, making them a favorite for the lip area because they feel and look very natural.

Although most of us associate lip fillers with simply increasing the size and volume of the lips, they are also used to:

• Enhance and define the border of the lips
• Provide lift, structure, and support to the lips
• Turn up the corners of the lips to a more youthful positioning
• Create a balance between the upper and lower lip
• Enhance the cupid's bow and overall shape of the lips
• Correct asymmetries in the lip area

During your initial consultation, you and your provider will discuss your aesthetic goals for your lips and map out a plan to achieve this with lip filler. Our providers focus on creating lips that look soft, beautiful, natural, and 100% YOU!

Depending on your lips' original size, shape, and desired aesthetic, we may recommend different fillers to create your ideal lips. Infinite Youth Medical Spa offers a broad range of lip fillers because each has unique properties that may help you achieve your goal.

• Avoid any blood thinning products for one week before your appointment, such as fish oil/omega 3, vitamin E, and NSAIDs (Ibuprofen, Motrin, Advil, Aspirin). Alcohol and smoking can also increase your chance of bruising.
• Arnica Montana (Arnicare) is an herbal product that helps minimize swelling and bruising. It comes in both topical and oral tablet versions. Take the oral tablets at least two days before filler to help minimize bruising.
• Don't schedule your filler within two weeks of a special event. We want to ensure enough time for healing before these events.
• You may come in with makeup but will be removed in injected areas.
• Avoid vaccines or dental appointments two weeks before your filler procedure.
• If you suffer from fever blisters or cold sores, inform your provider, as she can also prescribe a prophylactic antiviral before your lip filler appointment.
• In some cases, your provider may recommend a few units of Botox® or Dysport® in addition to filler to slightly flip your upper lip and expose more surface area, which makes your upper lip look fuller and helps with the filler placement.

• Your provider will review the procedure again at your visit and ask if you have any questions before beginning.
• The procedure usually takes 30 minutes.
• We will use ice to ease any discomfort associated with the injection process during your appointment. All the fillers we use have numbing agents within the product, making the injection process very comfortable. Most patients say the pain is 3/10 on a pain scale.

• You will have swelling, bruising, and tenderness in the lips. The swelling is to be expected and will be at its worst the night of and the morning after your appointment. It will then begin to subside during the first week.
• You can lightly ice the lips for 5 minutes 2-4 times a day for 2-3 days after the filler is placed to help with swelling.
• Try to sleep on your back (not on your face or areas injected) the night of injections. The filler could move or flatten.
• Try to sleep elevated with another pillow under your head for the first few nights to reduce swelling.
• Apply or take arnica until bruising and swelling are gone.
• You may shower and wash your face as usual. Lip color and moisturizers may be worn after injections.
• You will feel the filler for the first week or so; it may even feel hard or lumpy. The filler will soften up, smooth out, and feel like your own tissue again within two weeks.
• Avoid exercising for 24 hours and air travel for 72 hours.
• Avoid dentist appointments and vaccines for two weeks after your filler appointment.
• Avoid making excessive movements with your lips or drinking out of a straw for the first few days after your lip filler.
• Drinking plenty of water and avoiding a high-salt diet will help minimize swelling.
• Use Tylenol (acetaminophen) for any discomfort.

Your lip filler will last about one year, depending on the type of filler used. Most patients will get maintenance treatment once to twice per year once they've reached their desired aesthetic outcome.

• We use hyaluronic acid (HA) filler in the lips, which slowly breaks down over time, so it is not considered a permanent filler.
• An enzyme called hyaluronidase can be used to dissolve/break down HA fillers quickly. We can inject this into treated areas with immediate results. So yes, HA fillers are "reversible."
• We always carry hyaluronidase in the clinic and can dissolve HA fillers if needed.