Lip injections are safer and more natural looking than ever before. It’s easier and more affordable than ever to enhance the beauty of your lips, reduce the appearance of wrinkles and laugh lines, and give your face a more youthful and vibrant look with lip fillers. If you’re considering lip injections, here’s what you should know before you go.
How Should I Prepare for the Appointment?
Choose a medspa provider with the experience and reputation that makes you feel comfortable. Before you begin, talk to your practitioner about the results you want—and bring pictures, if possible! Your provider will help guide you towards the products and procedures that will best accomplish your goals. They may recommend injections around your mouth as well as directly into your lips to smooth and reduce the appearance of smile lines and restore a more youthful appearance. Then, your provider will explain each procedure and discuss each step of the process with you before beginning treatment.
To help reduce bruising and inflammation, don’t take painkillers (except acetaminophen, i.e., Tylenol), fish oil, or vitamin E for 10 days prior to your procedure. These all thin your blood, which can make it more prone to bruising. Also, don’t exercise or do anything else that would increase the blood flow to your face on the day of the procedure (like getting a massage or facial). If you are prone to cold sores, take precautionary medication beginning two days before the procedure, since injections can trigger an outbreak.
What Should I Expect During and After the Injection?
The injection procedure usually takes about 15 to 20 minutes total, and the numbing effects will start to wear off after about 15 minutes. Your provider will massage your lips a little and then apply ice. That’s it! Afterward, you can go back to your regular activities, although some visible bruising is normal after a lip injection. If it is painful or makes you feel uncomfortable, you can treat it with topical applications of ice and/or take over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen. All-natural Arnica ointments can also help reduce inflammation. Bruising should fade naturally within a week of the injection, along with any initial swelling caused by the procedure. Avoid massaging the lips until the swelling dissipates.
You should avoid strenuous exercise, saunas, and other activities that could cause dehydration for 1–2 weeks following your injection, and make sure you drink enough water to stay well hydrated. If possible, avoid air travel for a few days because it tends to cause dehydration and can cause issues with swelling due to the changes in air pressure. Also, avoid extreme temperatures (like using a sauna or going skiing).
How Long Do Results Last?
One of the most common, natural-looking temporary fillers is hyaluronic acid (HA) (found in Restylane). These injections gently and subtly smooth out lines and improve volume. The effects usually last about four to six months before gradually dissipating. If you are unhappy with the results, however, it’s easy and fast to “undo” a procedure using HA by injecting an enzyme called hyaluronidase. This enzyme dissolves the filler in five minutes and essentially erases your procedure. Other injectables, like Juvederm, can more dramatically enhance lip volume and smooth out vertical wrinkles. Talk with your provider about the effects you’re hoping to achieve in order to determine which products are right for you.
If you’re getting ready for a wedding, graduation, or other special event, it’s best to begin working with a skilled treatment provider well in advance of the big day. Your provider will work with you to develop a plan that may include multiple injections along with other treatments and skincare recommendations. The medspa professionals at Urban Effects will develop a plan that helps you look and feel your best for your big day and beyond. We are proud to offer complete skin care and medspa services to all our Des Moines area clients, including injectables, laser skin rejuvenation, skincare services, and more. Contact us today to schedule an appointment for a VISIA® complexion analysis consultation or to learn more about any of our specialized services.
