Lip fillers have become popular thanks to celebrities who encourage more people to get their lips touched up. Even though lip fillers are temporary, they must be maintained frequently to make them more effective. This article explains how often lip fillers need to be topped up.
The shape and size of your lips can significantly impact your overall appearance. Lip fillers can restore lip volume hydration and enhance facial symmetry by improving the shape of the lips. Cosmetic products are popular due to their convenience; they are minimally invasive and have few side effects when done properly. Furthermore, the fillers can be reversed through a painless injection if a patient is dissatisfied with the outcome. Although lip fillers may have minimal side effects, they subside within no time. However, the fillers are temporary; they last from 3 months to 5 years, depending on the type of filler used, the area injected, and the amount of filler used. Other factors like the patient’s metabolism, age, and lifestyle behavior impact the longevity of the fillers. Hence, the patient may need regular touch-ups to maintain the effects of the fillers.
What Are Lip Fillers?
Lip fillers are cosmetic injections that enhance lip plumpness, volume, and shape. The injections are minimally invasive, and the procedure takes a few minutes. The dermal products mask undesired lip features like smoker lines and wrinkles on the lips, enhancing lip hydration and improving lip symmetry.
What Are the Common Filler Substances Used?
Hyaluronic acid is commonly used in filler injections. It is an organic substance found in body tissues; it draws water to the lips, increasing lip volume. It also enhances skin hydration by working with sebum, leading to skin rejuvenation.
Other fillers include; Calcium hydroxylapatite, PMMA, and PLLA. PMMA enhances collagen synthesis, relieving static wrinkles and improving skin firmness. Poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) is used to smooth the fine lines and wrinkles on the face; PLLA also improves collagen synthesis.
How Long Do Lip Fillers Last?
Lip fillers can last up to 2 years. However, several factors determine its longevity; these include the amount of filler substance injected, the quality of the filler substance, and the injection technique. If the injection is carried out inaccurately, the filler substance may dissolve prematurely and cause duck lips, altering the lip symmetry.
How Often Should Lip Fillers Be Topped Up?
Lip fillers should be topped up every 4-6 months. Top-up ensures that the filler is maintained for a longer-lasting look. However, not all fillers are the same; a filler type determines the intervals of touch-ups. For example, hyaluronic acid enhances collagen production; thus, a patient would require lesser touch-ups.
The amount of filler substance injected determines how often the filler should be touched up. Before the procedure, the cosmetic doctor examines the shape of the lip and the consequent facial symmetry. It is important to clarify your needs to the aesthetic practitioner before the procedure. Excessive amounts of filler substances injected into the skin may alter the shape and volume of the lips, reducing their aesthetic appeal and possibly causing redness and inflammation.
Higher-quality lip fillers would require lesser touch-ups compared to low-quality filler substances. Collagen can also be used as a filler substance, although it may cause temporary side effects like inflammation, allergies, and pain.
The texture of the lips may also determine how often the fillers need to be topped up. Rough lips may require more injections to improve the texture and alleviate wrinkles. Therefore, the fillers would require frequent maintenance to ensure they remain effective.
Benefits of Lip Fillers
Grippaudo et al. (2020) stated that lip fillers enhance lip plumpness, enhancing aesthetic appeal. Cymrot& Natalia (2022) claimed that lip fillers reduce smoker lines and remove static wrinkles from the skin, while Droubi& Mohamad (2022) argued that lip fillers restore previous lip volume. As we age, the lips volume naturally decreases due to the loss of collagen and elastin. Hence, fillers find significance in counteracting the aging signs.
Possible Side Effects of Lip Fillers
Trinh et al. (2022) stated that lip fillers might cause inflammation, tenderness, and pain. They may also cause bruises, itching, and rashes. However, these side effects subside within a week, making the procedure relatively safe for many clients.
Are All Patients Eligible for Undergoing Lip Filler Procedures?
Although most customers can safely undergo lip filler injections, some need to avoid the procedure due to pre-existing health conditions that may interfere with the outcome. For example, people with rheumatoid arthritis should avoid dermal fillers; the procedure may cause pain and inflammation in the muscles and the skin. Also, patients with bleeding disorders, collagen allergies, active infections, or diabetes should avoid the procedure.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lip Fillers
Are Lip Fillers Reversible?
Lip filler injections can be reversed if the customer is unhappy with the outcome. For example, hyaluronidase enzyme is injected into the skin to dissolve hyaluronic acid.
How Should You Take Care of Your Lips After Lip Filler Injections?
- Do not massage the injection site.
- Avoid direct sun exposure for about 72 hours to reduce possible inflammation, skin dehydration, redness, and pain.
- Avoid alcohol or smoking; these activities dehydrate the lips and worsen the pain.
- Do not use an ice pack covered in a thick cloth to reduce inflammation and tenderness on the injection site; the practice may cause infections on the injected site.
- Apply aloe vera or arnica creams to the injection site to reduce pain and inflammation.
- After the treatment, do not fly immediately. Wait at least a week before flying since the air pressure in the plane can worsen the tenderness and inflammation.
- Avoid blood thinning medications since they may interfere with blood clotting after the procedure.
- Consume hydrating fruits and minimize sodium consumption which may enhance inflammation.
Are Natural Lip Fillers Available?
Products containing natural ingredients like cinnamon and peppermint enhance lip plumpness. They temporarily increase blood circulation to the lips, increasing their volume and hydration. Sugar lip scrubs also work similarly, although these home remedies produce minimal results.
Should You Kiss After a Lip Filler Procedure?
Kissing should not be done immediately; the lips take about 48 hours to recover from the injections completely. Lip fillers frequently cause side effects like pain, tenderness, and inflammation, but these effects usually go away after a few days. Therefore, it is crucial to refrain from sexual or personal activities right after the treatment because they hurt and are uncomfortable.
How Much Do Lip Filler Injections Cost?
Lip filler injections cost between $700 and $1000. However, the cosmetic doctor’s location and the number of injections needed for a procedure influence the cost of the injection. Injections carried out in suburban areas are more economical than those carried out in high-end areas.
Do Lip Fillers Cause Duck Lips?
Injecting too much filler may interfere with the inner layers of the skin, making the lips much plumper and shapeless. Furthermore, unqualified cosmetic doctors could only inform the patient of the harmful effects of too much filler. When injecting the filler into the lips, they might inject an excess amount leading to disproportionate lips.
Duck lips can also result from swelling and inflammation, although they disappear over time. If the swelling persists, you must consult your doctor to reverse the procedure.
The Bottom Line
Lip fillers have fundamentally altered the way that people look. The injectable chemicals make lips appear fuller, symmetrical, and hydrated. They also shape the lips and moisturize them. Lip fillers are temporary; they need to be touched up every 4-6 months to maintain their effectiveness.
After the procedure, avoid lifestyle behaviors that cause dryness and blood thinning or apply pressure to the lips. Staying hydrated enhances the healing process. A lip filler injection costs between $700 and $1,000, depending on the filler used and where you perform the procedure.
References
Cymrot, N. (2022). Lip filler with hyaluronic acid-Lip up technique.
Droubi, M., Yasser, A. L., Mouhamad, M., & Al-Nerabieah, Z. Evaluation of using hyaluronic acid for lip enhancement on vertical tooth exposure in smiling.
Grippaudo, F. R., Fino, P., Gomes, V. V., &Grippaudo, C. (2020). Actinomyces Infection after Permanent Fillers Lip Augmentation: Diagnosis and Treatment. The Open Dentistry Journal, 14(1).
Trinh, L. N., McGuigan, K. C., & Gupta, A. (2022). Delayed Granulomas as a Complication Secondary to Lip Augmentation with Dermal Fillers: A Systematic Review. The Surgery Journal, 8(01), e69-e79.
In today's world, people's eating and exercise patterns have changed, and it is often lifestyle that is the cause of many diet-related illnesses. I believe that each of us is unique – what works for one does not help another. What is more, it can even be harmful. I am interested in food psychology, which studies a person's relationship with their body and food, explains our choices and desires for specific products, the difficulty of maintaining optimal body weight, as well as the influence of various internal and external factors on appetite. I'm also an avid vintage car collector, and currently, I'm working on my 1993 W124 Mercedes. You may have stumbled upon articles I have been featured in, for example, in Cosmopolitan, Elle, Grazia, Women's Health, The Guardian, and others.
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