Are you ready for it? By Laura Jane Brougher, RN, Aesthetic Nurse Injector Owner at Gig Harbor Aesthetics
Thinking about getting your lips injected? Here are some things you should know. I have been injecting for 19 years, and I LOVE to enhance a lip or restore shape in an aging face. There are many reasons to want to get your lips injected: restoring lost volume, enhancing the curves of the lips, or plumping out wrinkles and collapsed areas due to lost collagen from aging and sun damage.
First and foremost, it needs to be said that if you are going to a skilled and talented injector, you should never look “overdone” or even “done.” This is probably the number one thing that patients will say to me, that they want to stay “natural” or are afraid of “looking like a duck.”
I can assure you that if you are buying one syringe of lip filler, you will not look overdone. In any case, if the injector is excellent, they would never use more than one in the lips anyway (this is my professional opinion). When getting your lips injected, you have to understand that we have to respect the natural anatomy that is unique to you. If you have thin lips, it may take multiple sessions to build them up to your desired shape.
During your consultation, discuss with your injector your desired goals. Unless you have a medical need, stay off all NSAIDS such as ibuprofen, Motrin and aspirin for two weeks prior to your appointment. If possible, come to your appointment with no makeup. You can expect to be numbed for this procedure. The procedure itself takes about 20 to 30 minutes depending on if we are restoring shape and plumping out wrinkles, or just a simple enhancement. The price of getting your lips done varies from injector and zip code, but you can usually expect to pay $700 to $1,200 for this procedure.
After the procedure, your numbing will take about one to two hours to wear off. Do not work out for 24 hours afterward, though walking is okay. Avoid getting your lips sunburned! (Avoid everything from getting sunburned!) Do not use lip plumper lip glosses for 14 days while your lips completely heal. You can expect swelling for at least two days; DON’T PANIC. Swelling is to be expected and will calm down. You can also expect your lips to be tender for a week or two. You may have bruising, and you will have tiny red injection point marks on your lips for a few days. Always plan for at least two weeks before any special event or photos.
A rare complication, called a vascular occlusion, can occur when injecting the lips. A vascular occlusion is when filler gets in a blood vessel and occludes blood flow. Although it is very rare, this is a real risk and requires immediate attention. However, your injector should always have some Hylenex on hand to help reverse this complication. Hylenex is an enzyme that dissolves hyaluronic acid fillers. If you have had your lips done and you aren’t happy with the results, you can have the filler dissolved—as long as it is a hyaluronic acid filler.
Whether you are wanting some lip plumping to enhance your lips or to replace lost volume and wrinkle reduction, it is a procedure that is fairly simple. Additionally, if you do your homework finding a great injector, you will love your results!
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