7 Important Tips to Follow to Ensure Your Lip Fillers Look Fabulous
Lip fillers (or lip injections) are a great way to enhance the natural look of your lips, adding both volume as well as shape.
But the correct pre and after care routine can make a huge difference in ensuring you’re completely happy with your new lips.
Having picked the brains of some leading plastic surgeons and dermatologists, we’ve highlighted 7 important tips to follow, that will help you achieve the best results from your lip fillers.
1) Make sure your lips are treated by the right people
The first – and arguably most important – tip is to ensure that your lip fillers are done by a board-certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon, someone who is highly experienced in lip injections.
Lip injections can typically range from $550 to $2,000 per session, and you may be tempted to cut costs by using someone who doesn’t specialize in this procedure.
Don’t 😐.
The risk of something going wrong greatly increases with this approach.
So do a little research on Google, as well as asking around and getting referrals from people you know who have had the treatment.
Read up on the doctor / dermatologist you’re considering using, and look out for online reviews as well as “before-and-after” photos to give you complete peace of mind.
2) Clearly communicate what you’re wanting to achieve
When it comes to lip fillers, there are various products and brands on the market (Juvéderm, Juvéderm Volbella, Restylane Silk etc.) and what you end up using will depend on the results or “look” you’re aiming for.
eg: If you’re wanting to add more volume and fullness to your lips, Juvéderm or Volbella would typically be used, whereas Restylane is great for reshaping and redefining the border of lips.
So when consulting with your doctor or dermatologist, be very clear on the results you’re wanting to achieve, as they will then be able to advise on the right product (and amount of product) to use.
3) Ensure your lips are well hydrated and healthy leading up to the procedure
Ensure your lips are in tip top condition leading up to your appointment, as this can help reduce any swelling or bruising that may occur after your lip injections.
Make sure they are healthy and well hydrated (look at using specialised lip cosmetics), drink plenty of water, and make sure any cold sores are treated and under control, as the fillers may sometimes cause a flare-up.
4) Eat the right foods
Be sure to avoid any foods that can “thin out” your blood a week or so prior to your appointment, as this can cause excessive bruising and bleeding immediately after your injections.
This includes very salty foods, fish oil, or foods with high levels of Vitamin E (pumpkin, spinach, sunflower seeds etc.).
Besides the foods above, you’ll also want to avoid drinking alcohol, as well as taking aspirin or ibuprofen, as these can also thin out your blood.
5) Give exercise a miss immediately after getting your lip fillers
Try and avoid any strenuous exercise or physical activity for the first 24 hours or so after your lip fillers.
This is because an elevated heart rate (and resulting rise in body temperature) increases the blood flow to your lips, which may lead to an increase in swelling or bruising.
6) Let your lips “rest” for that first 24 hours
During the first 24 hours after your lip fillers, try and avoid anything where you need to purse your lips.
This would include drinking from a straw, blowing over hot food, kissing, whistling etc.
As your lips will be feeling quite tender during this time, the temptation will be to want to touch and massage them.
Again though, it’s best to avoid that for at least the first 24 hours.
7) Use specialized lip liner and lip products
Try and avoid using lip cosmetics immediately after your injections (24-48 hours).
If you are wanting to use something, it's best to make use of specialised lip filler aftercare cosmetics, as this can aid the recovery process, as well as helping to minimize the appearance of any swelling or bruising.