Lip Injections: 9 Things I Wish I’d Known Before Getting Them
Choosing a type is best left up to the doctor based on your needs, but the smorgasbord is vast. For example, Green says a youthful, pillowy, voluminous look is best achieved with Juvederm, while she uses Restylane for an “I got my lips a little fuller but no one really will know” vibe, thanks to its smaller particles. For older clients, “I always do Volbella, which is good to fill in lines around the face,” she said.
The Insta look doesn’t come cheap.
We’re all inundated with images of women with really, really big lips, but I had no idea the money it takes to actually achieve that look. The single syringeful of Juvederm we used (1 cc) is technically less than a teaspoon of material, but it was distributed in a way that made my results more visible than they were the first time around—but not wildly dramatic.
When I asked Green how much filler the girls I see on social media get, she said, without hesitation, two to three syringes’ worth, if not more. Considering each clocks in at $400 to $1,000, depending on location and practice—well, start saving now.
Filler isn’t forever.
I kind of wish it were, to be honest. It depends on the formula you choose, but according to Green, most last six months to a year. This means that if you love your initial results, take plenty of pics because it does fade. And there’s not really much you can do to prolong the filler, since everybody metabolizes differently.
After-care is minimal.
Postinjection, your life can resume—despite some fear-mongering articles you might find online. According to Green, the only thing you should stay away from is aspirin. You can even toast your new look with a glass or two of wine. “Some people say you shouldn’t drink alcohol before filler because you can bruise, but I haven’t seen a huge difference after,” she said. As for an ice pack, the doctor will put a cold pack on your lips after your filler’s been applied and will encourage you to use more if you’re feeling sore, but there’s no need sit with it for hours on end. The real swelling goes down in a day or two.
Another thing both doctors I saw suggested that makes sense: not drinking from a straw right after your injections, and not sipping hot liquids—you’ll still be numb and might burn your lower lip. Ouch.
Before filler; almost five months after
After-care is minimal.
Postinjection, your life can resume—despite some fear-mongering articles you might find online. According to Green, the only thing you should stay away from is aspirin. You can even toast your new look with a glass or two of wine. “Some people say you shouldn’t drink alcohol before filler because you can bruise, but I haven’t seen a huge difference after,” she said. As for ice, the doctor will put a cold pack on your lips after your filler’s been applied and will encourage you to use more if you’re feeling sore, but there’s no need sit with it for hours on end. The real swelling goes down in a day or two.
