Lip filler injections can be great or gruesome

Lips that look done usually don’t look very good.  Over-plumped, distorted lips were somewhat popular several years ago but now most consumers seeking lip enhancement want a more natural look.  Here in NYC, my patients don’t want to be stared at just because their filler treatment went overboard.

This is where Restylane Silk comes in.   It was FDA-approved for lip plumping and to soften the wrinkles that form around the lips. It’s different from regular Restylane because it’s softer, which is perfect for the lips.

Like many of the popular wrinkle fillers it’s made from hyaluronic acid which is safe because it’s a substance that is naturally in the body.  Restylane Silk will last for about 9 months and it is reversible with an enzyme injection.

How to avoid fake-looking lips

I made the video above to convey the 3 most important ways to avoid the overdone lip look.  It’s crucial that you and your injector are on the same page when it comes to aesthetics.  You have to tell them what you like and what you don’t like.

In general, you want to:

1. Avoid too much filler and use legitimate fillers (not industrial caulking!)

2. Respect the shape of the lips and don’t try to completely change their shape

3. Keep it subtle and make small changes at a time and pick a provider that is experienced and well-trained

The mini-lip fill

The modern lip enhancement is a subtle, beautiful thing.  A mini lip fill uses just enough filler so the lips look plump but they still look like your lips and they definitely don’t turn heads in a bad way.

The best fillers for lips are Juvederm, Belotero, Prevelle Silk, and now Restylane Silk. Each of these fillers is reversible, meaning you can take them away with a simple injection (hyaluronidase) whenever you like.

How the lip filler treatment works

When I perform lip filler on my patients, I recommend a local anesthetic to help numb the area.  The lips are extremely sensitive.  I place very thin layers of the filler (a soft gel) under the mucous membrane of the lips.  Occasionally I will outline the edges of the lips and fill the philtrum to enhance the cupid’s bow, that curve at the middle of the upper lip.

The treatment takes about 10 minutes.  While bruising is uncommon, it can occur and it may last for a few days.  Some swelling is also normal for the first week after the treatment, but this is usually not very noticeable.

Before and After lip enhancement with filler injection