Lip filler treatment has taken the world by storm, more than it has ever in the past. The so called Russian doll lip has become universally requested across different cultures due to the latest celebrity trend. This trend has had people divided and you either love it or hate it. I must say, residing in a smaller and slightly more conservative town, many of my patients have been fearful about lip fillers as they do not want to look ‘done’. Personally, I am not a fan of following trends and prefer to inject lip filler in order to correct treatable points or flaws and to deliver a more natural result.

 

There is a common misperception that lip filler is purely injected to create plump, voluptuous lips but there is so much more that a lip filler can do for you.

 

When I consult a patient, I take the time to find out exactly what it is that person would like to achieve.

1. With each treatment there is an expectation to look a certain way. For some this might be a dramatic statement and for others a subtle natural enhancement is all it takes.
2. Another motivating factor to get this treatment is to feel a certain way. It could be to fix a simple flaw like a gummy smile and feel more confident. On theo ther hand some would like to have their lips filled to feel more attractive and sexy.
3. Lastly, there is always a social expectation and this is how others will perceive you after your treatment. Some patients want to make a statement and fitting in with the latest fashion is important. They want people to know that they have had filler injected. This we typically see in the younger patients. Others don’t even want their husbands to know and will plan their appointment for a time that their husband is away on business or a leisure trip.

 

 

Next, we need to understand what can be achieved by injecting lip filler and creating volume is but one aspect. Below are some other treatable points.

1. Proportion of the lip to the other facial features sich as the nose, chin and eyes and the propoetion of the upper lip to lower lip are things to consider before your lips are injected. This will also look very different for various ethnicities.
2. The way the lip projects away from the face is an important consideration. For this we look at your side profile and assess the top and bottom lip position relative to the chin and nose. This is often something you might not even be aware of.
3. With age, we lose definition of the lip and that youthful border of the pink lip gets lost resulting in a lip that just blends into the surrounding skin. This is something that can easily be corrected with a filler treatment.
4. Certain asymmetries can also be corrected with use of filler. This can be quite complex as asymmetries are affected by many factors(teeth, muscle, bone, habits etc.)
5. Details and angles can also be created with planned, precise injection. This is often performed to enhance the cupids bow or lower lip angles.
6. Lip filler injections can also be used to treat down turned mouth corners and bar code lines above the lip.

 

Once I have an understanding of what my patient would like to achieve and what we are trying to correct I can plan the treatment.

 

We use various injection techniques and products in order to achieve the result we want. Certain products are better suited to projecting and creating details and others are better at softly plumping the lip. Some results are easier achieved with use of a needle than with a cannula and vice versa.

 

From what has been mentioned above, you can tell filling lips is so much more than just trying to force as much volume as possible into a small area of the face.

 

With lip treatment comes the risk of bruising and swelling. When possible, I like to see my patients before injection day in order to plan for the treatment. Medication suck as anti-inflammatories and omegas need to be stopped a week before to reduce the risk of swelling and bruising.

 

If this is a treatment that you have considered but have been afraid of an unnatural result or fearful of the pain or possible complications, come have a chat with us and we will take you through the process, step by step.

 

– Dr Nadine Stewart