Non-surgical and surgical enhancements to the lips and mouth area are known as lip injections or lip fillers. These treatments inject a substance into the lip area in order to add volume and create the desired shape and volume that the patient is looking for.
Since there isn’t just one type of lip filler, similar to dermal fillers for other areas of your face, you’ll want to research which injection type is best for you and your needs.
As we age, we tend to lose volume in certain parts of our face, including our lips. Lip fillers can restore your lips to their previous shape and volume. Fillers can also correct the shape of your lips, smooth wrinkles around the mouth area, and give you an overall plumper, healthier looking smile.
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Here are the main types of lip enhancement fillers and what to know about each.
Hyaluronic Acid (HA) Lip Fillers
These types of fillers use hyaluronic acid, which is a naturally created substance found in the body that helps retain moisture and stimulate natural collagen growth. HA fillers include Restylane and Juvederm, two of the most popular types of lip fillers. Results from HA fillers are immediate, and they can last up to 12 months before patients would need to go in for maintenance.
Restylane Fillers
Restylane® fillers commonly helps cheek and lip plumping, in addition to reducing lines and wrinkles around the face. It has a firmer gel consistency than other HA fillers, which means it maintains a firmer and more rigid position at the injection site. Restylane Kysse is designed specifically for lip augmentation, and Restylane Silk is designed for those pesy vertical lines around the lips that are sometimes called “smoker’s lines.” As with any fillers you’ll need to wait for swelling and redness to subside to see the actual results. Restylane lasts around 6 to 10 months on average.
Juvederm Fillers
JUVÉDERM® is a popular HA filler that adds volume to the lips, cheeks, and around the mouth. Juvederm is a smooth gel that easily moves around and evenly plumps the lips. Juvederm Ultra XC and Volbella XC specifically treat the area around the lips and mouth. This type of filler tends to last up to 12 months, which is a bit longer than most other HA fillers including Restylane.
[Related: How to Prepare for Lip Fillers]
Collagen Lip Fillers
Another common type of lip filler is the collagen lip filler, although they’ve dipped in popularity in recent years. Collagen was the only filler agent until the HA fillers came along. Collagen provides for a very soft, subtle look in comparison to HA fillers like Restylane & Juvederm. Collagen fillers have a very short time of action, are rapidly dissolved by the body, and last in the range of 3 months.
Collagen adds volume lips, while HA fillers plump the lips and trap water within the lips for a more naturalistic pout.
Fat Transfer Lip Fillers
Fat transfer lip injections use fat cell injections taken from the patient’s buttocks, abdomen, thighs, or any place rich in body fat and then transferred into the lip area. The amount of injection depends on the patient’s desired results and volume needs.
Recovery time for fat transfer lip fillers takes longer, sometimes up to several weeks. Fat transfer fillers give more permanent results than HA or collagen fillers, but since they are less predictable when it comes to results, they’ve been overshadowed in popularity by HA and collagen injections.
Permanent Silicone Lip Implants
Permanent lip fillers are surgical lip enhancements and don’t require any maintenance once they’re inserted. Lip shape implants are inserted via tiny incisions and can be easily removed if there are any issues. These feel less natural than HA or collage lip fillers so they have definitely decreased in popularity.
[Related: Best Facial Treatments for Aging Skin]
Contact Athré Facial Plastics Today!
Athré Facial Plastics is your source for more information on lip fillers or other lip augmentation procedures. Check out our blog for more information on dermal fillers, or contact us today to set up a consultation. We’ll restore your confidence and leave you looking and feeling great!