Ooh La La Lips
Pucker up for secrets to a perfect pout just in time for those Valentine’s Day kisses:
If you have ever dreamt about having full voluptuous lips but feared you’d wind up looking like a duck, now is the time you may want to reconsider doing something about it. As technology, training and injection techniques improve there are now options available that deliver a smooth, natural look and feel.
If you are thinking about augmenting your lips, here are ten tips you should consider before undergoing treatment.
- Lip injection with dermal fillers is an art. Each injector will have a different approach when it comes to their injection style or technique. The best advice is to ask around and find an injector that specializes in natural appearing results. Also, a referral from someone that has had it done and that was pleased with the outcome is another great way to find an injector.
- There are lots of different options when it comes to dermal filler choices and injectors each have their own personal favorites. The fillers with the highest safety profile are hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers such as Juvederm, Restylane & Volbella. A nice feature of HA fillers are that they are completely reversible. So, if for some reason you don’t love your results, your injector can inject an enzyme to dissolve the filler.
- Different fillers have different durations of efficacy. Most HA fillers last between 5-7 months but the newest filler Volbella has been shown to have the longest duration with the manufacturer claiming clinical results of up to 12 months.
- It is a relatively quick and painless procedure. A combination of topical numbing creams, ice and the fact that most HA fillers are manufactured with lidocaine in the syringe all help to minimize discomfort.
- Although results are seen immediately, you can expect some swelling and there is always a potential for bruising so timing your lip injections around social engagements is important. It is typically recommended to book your treatment at least 2-3 weeks prior to an important event. At two weeks most swelling and bruising should be completely resolved and it is at this two week mark that you can determine your exact results. Patients are always asked to wait at least two weeks after treatment before they receive any touch ups or tweaks.
- If done correctly, results should be appear and feel completely natural. No duck or trout looks should be acceptable.
- You should refrain from exercising or raising your core body temperature on the day of injection. Also avoid anything that increases blood flow to your face such as getting a massage or a facial right after the procedure.
- Anyone that has a history of cold sores around the mouth should take an anti-viral medication as a preventive measure starting a few days prior to the procedure. Without this precaution, injections could trigger a cold sore.
- To minimize the risk of bruising patients should avoid all blood thinners such as aspirin, ibuprofen, fish oil, vitamin E, turmeric, or any foods high in Omega vitamins for 5-7 days prior to treatment. Oral Arnica Montana can be started 3 days before injection and be continued until all bruising and swelling is resolved.
- Patients need to wait a minimum of 2 weeks post filler injection to receive any laser or other treatments around the area that was injected so timing of adjunct treatments is important.
If you are looking for ways to improve your lips that doesn’t involve injections or any downtime here are some other treatment options to consider. These options can also be used in conjunction with injections to enhance overall results:
Perk Lips: Perk is a new hybrid treatment by the manufacturer of HydraFacial. It is the first in office service that includes a custom take home product.
Perk Lip treatment lightly plumps and locks in moisture to reveal a perfect pout. Lips are smoothed and plumped using key ingredients including Peony Extract, Aloe Leaf Extract, & Peppermint Oil.
Clients take home the Lip Revitalizing Serum and the Hydrating Lip Balm SPF30 for added shine and long-lasting protection.
ThermiSmooth Lip Treatment: This is a non-invasive treatment that uses gentle heating along with temperature controlled radiofrequency energy to tighten skin & smooth lines. A series of 4-6 treatments spaced every 2-4 weeks is necessary for optimal results. This is a pain-free procedure with virtually no down time.
SkinMedica TNS Lip Renewal & Plump System: Restores lip volume and fullness in minutes while offering long-term anti-aging benefits. It is a simple 2-step topical treatment that combines a lip renewal serum containing human derived growth factors (TNS) along with a lip plumper to deliver a powerful one-two punch of volume.