Lip augmentation. You’ve definitely seen it (ahem, Kylie Jenner), and maybe you’ve even thought about doing it. Lip fillers can be a great way to boost confidence and have the lips you’ve always dreamed of. I recently got mine done for the first time, and I would like to share my experience with you.

First, let’s dive into what lip fillers are:

What are lip fillers made out of?

Modern lip fillers are mostly made from hyaluronic acid, which is naturally found in the body. The most common fillers used are called Restylane or Juvederm.

 

Pros:

Dream Lips 

The biggest pro of getting lip augmentation? Fuller lips of course! Some of us are just born with thinner lips or perhaps you’re starting to see some signs of aging. Or you might even have uneven lips. Whatever the issue may be, lip fillers can help give you the look you always wanted.

Very little downtime

Unlike other cosmetic procedures, lip augmentation only takes about 60 minutes. Downtime can vary anywhere between 3 days to a whole week. Within this downtime, your lips will be swollen and/or bruised. Mine took almost a week for the bruising to go away completely, and only 2 days for the swelling to go down. But it all depends on how you take care of them after the procedure and the skills of the professional who applied the injections.

Does it hurt?

Most people will say the procedure is “pretty bearable”, and “it hurts only a little bit”, while others will say it’s not the worst pain you will ever feel. Patients usually are given a numbing agent beforehand which reduces the stinging sensation of the needle puncture.

In my experience, even with a numbing agent, I still felt considerable pain. I believe the reason you are more sensitive to pain in this area is that there are so many nerves in there. For me, it was painful but it may not be for you. That’s why it’s so important to do your homework and chose a professional who has a lot of experience and good references. The skill of the professional will make a ton of difference in your overall experience.

Cons:

They’re not cheap!

Depending on where you live and which doctor you go to, lip fillers can cost you anywhere from $500 to upwards of $1,000. In other words: Start saving your benjamins now!

They’re temporary

You can view this as a good or bad thing, but lip fillers only last an average of 6 months (depending on your level of physical activity). If you take spinning classes more than a few times a week, they might only last for 3 months or so. On the other hand, if you are not very active, they might last up to 12 months.  That means if you don’t like the outcome, it will only last for a short while. Otherwise, it means you’ll be shelling out cash 1-4 times a year to maintain those plump lips.

Risks:

Lip augmentation is a low-risk procedure, but that doesn’t mean it’s without its concerns. While the most common side effects are bruising and swelling, it is possible, but rare, for fillers to cause lip deformation, cold sores, infection, tissue damage or blood clots. If you have any concerns about getting lip augmentation, please talk to your doctor first.

Dos and Don’ts:

Do ice your lips after treatment and keep them moist (they do tend to get drier after the procedure). Also, sleep at a slight elevation to avoid swelling.

Plastic surgeons say a big don’t is drinking alcohol or taking ibuprofen several days before your treatment. This is because both alcohol and ibuprofen thin your blood, which will make your bruising worse. Another don’t is exercising right after treatment, and don’t massage your lips. Your lips might feel a little itchy after treatment, but touching them can cause your new lips to get funky.

Where to go to get it done?

If you’re set on getting your lips done, I would definitely recommend getting them at a doctor’s office. You can get them done in other places of course such as Med Spas, but I would be very careful with those. Do your research always.  In some states, (like California) the people injecting your lips are mandated by law to be supervised by doctors, but in other states, there isn’t such law. Also, doctors are not required to be physically present to approve procedures.

Plastic surgeons are the ones who receive training on how to do them, but some dermatologists are also qualified to perform them. I got mine done in a Med Spa but I wish I had done more homework beforehand. They might be slightly cheaper in Med Spas but you don’t get a follow-up afterward to make sure everything is ok. They don’t really care if you return there or not. They’re all about volume. Next time, I’m definitely going to the doctor’s office instead.

The final result:

I’m happy with the overall results. My lips are definitely fuller than before, which gave me newfound confidence. I was told it takes 10 days for the whole thing to settle. It’s been almost a month now since I got mine done, so I don’t think they’ll get any fuller than they are right now, but I will let you know if that changes. They look natural (which is what I wanted) but maybe I’ll decide to get a little more in the future. Stay tuned for updates!

I got a full syringe on mine and anything less than that would be almost worthless to me since they wouldn’t make much of a difference. If you really want to go full-on Kylie Jenner, depending on how thin your lips are, you might need 2-3 syringes. But I would recommend you start slow and do one session at a time, so the change is not that drastic and you have time to adjust and get used to your new lips.   

 

Tip: Communication with your professional is very important — as with any relationship. Do bring a picture with you and show them what you want to achieve and what your final goal is. As they say  “a picture is worth a thousand words”!

 

XoXo