Cosmetic dentistry, such as veneers or teeth whitening, can help you achieve a brighter smile. But what about your lips?
Cosmetic dentists commonly use lip fillers to help boost lips just that extra bit. They can help improve the overall lip contour volume and fill in the vertical lines around your smile.
Here’s what you can expect from having lip fillers and why you should have them done at your dentist’s office.
What Are Lip Fillers?
Lip fillers are a type of dermal filler used to increase the volume of your lips. Most lip fillers contain synthetic hyaluronic acid (HA), a naturally occurring substance in your body.
With age, your body loses collagen, which can cause thinner lips. Lip fillers are a non-surgical, minimally invasive cosmetic method that uses injections to get smoother, plumper lips.
They are not a permanent solution but can add shape, volume, and structure to your lips, with the added benefit of filling in the smoker’s lines (vertical lines around the mouth).
Lip Filler Procedure
Before your lip filler procedure, your dentist will most likely discuss the following with you:
- Your overall health
- If you have any allergies
- The shape of your face
- Your expectations from the procedure
There are different types of lip fillers. A commonly used and safe brand name for hyaluronic acid is Juvéderm. It’s a solution made of hyaluronic acid and water that creates a gel-like material when mixed.
Juvéderm solution also contains lidocaine to help prevent discomfort from the injections, and a topical numbing cream provides added comfort.
During the procedure, Juvéderm solution is injected with a fine needle into your lips. Areas can include the edges of your lips, the curve in the center, and the corners of your mouth.
Following injection, the solution fills in the gaps in your lips and around the corners of your mouth. The procedure usually takes less than 1 hour.
After Your Lip Filler Procedure
You can expect some swelling after. For this, ice can be given to minimize swelling and bruising.
However, it can take up to one week for swelling to go down. You may also notice small red spots where the needles were injected.
Other possible side effects that usually last less than a week include:
- Redness
- Swelling
- Tenderness
- Firmness
- Lumps
- Skin discolour
Your lips may feel different because of the filler, and it may take some time to get used to them. Once there’s reduced swelling and your lips have healed, they should feel more natural.
Your dentist may provide after-care instructions before you leave:
- Continue to use an ice pack to reduce inflammation, pain, and swelling.
- Avoid lipstick or any lip product for at least 24 hours after the procedure.
- Avoid touching or putting pressure on the lips, such as kissing or drinking from a straw.
- Be gentle when brushing your teeth.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Avoid exercise for at least 24 hours after the procedure.
How Long Do Lip Fillers Last?
Lip fillers can last up to a year, but you may need further injections if you wish to maintain lip volume. However, everyone is different, and certain factors can affect how long lip fillers last:
- Your age
- Your metabolism —how fast your body breaks down calories into energy.
Benefits of Hyaluronic Acid Lip Fillers
Even though lip filler procedures are non-surgical, they are regarded as treatments. This is why it’s important to find a qualified and experienced professional to carry out this procedure to avoid any risks.
Here are some benefits of lip fillers:
- Non-invasive procedure
- Offers a more natural look because you can control the amount of solution injected
- Treatment can be spread out to achieve desired results
- Not permanent
- Can restore previous lip size
- Can correct the shape of your lips to make them look more symmetrical
- They can smooth out wrinkles on the side of your mouth
- Boost confidence and enhance your smile
Find Out If Lip Fillers Are Right for You
Lip fillers offer an effective way to give lips better definition and volume. If you are concerned about the size of your lips or want to add volume, lip fillers may be the right solution.
Book an appointment with the qualified dentists at Maplebrook Dental to learn more about lip fillers and if you’re a candidate.
