What you choose to do with your face and body is up to you and you alone — and that extends to everything from plastic surgery and cosmetic procedures like Botox or filler. One treatment in particular that has been spiking in popularity amid the pandemic, thanks to face masks covering up the area, is lip filler.
In case you are curious, Melissa Doft, MD, a plastic surgeon in New York City, answered every question you need to know before getting lip injections — from what it is, how much it costs, how much it hurts, and any potential risks — below.
"Most doctors in the US use hyaluronic acid dermal fillers to help plump or define the lips," says Dr. Doft. "Hyaluronic acid is a sugar that is able to absorb 1,000 times its weight in water leading to a hydrating and plumping effect."
If the ingredient sounds familiar, it should; it's a naturally occurring molecule in your skin, which also makes it well-tolerable so you don't have to worry about allergic reactions. Hyaluronic acid, in a few different forms, is the standard for lip injections with several brands being FDA-approved, like Restylane Silk and Juvéderm. As far as knowing which brand is right for you, your doctor will use their discretion to choose.
"I favor smaller particle hyaluronic acid fillers, like Juvaderm, Vobella, Restylane Refyne, or Belatero," Dr. Doft says. " The smaller particle size allows me to inject closer to the surface of the lip to create definition." She adds that smaller particles are less likely to create bumps in the patient's lips (more on that later).
Luckily, there's not a whole lot you have to do to prepare for the actual appointment. However, Dr. Doft has one suggestion: "I ask patients to avoid medicines that can increase bruising for one week [before their appointment]." (Think: aspirin, Motrin, Advil, and Ibuprofen.) If you take fish oil supplements or vitamins, consider avoiding those for a week, too, to avoid bruising.
Pain is subjective and usually dependent on your personal tolerance, but most people will say getting lip injections is an uncomfortable process. After all, it is a needle going into your lips. In some cases, most people find the process more painful after the fact during the week-long recovery due to soreness and swelling. With 1 million nerves in your lip, the potential to feel some discomfort is real; however Dr. Doft says she applies a very strong topical numbing cream onto the lips beforehand to reduce the pain.
According to Dr. Doft, the cost depends on the amount of filler injected and, often, who is injecting them. "Doctors will often charge more than nurses or physician assistants, but the type of filler can also affect cost," she says. "Most physicians up charge for only the brand Voluma, which is used for the cheeks and not the lips." The price is also regionally dependent, so in New York lip injections can cost anywhere between $500 to $1,000. Go anywhere else in the country and it'll be about the same price, likely never exceeding $2,000.
Lip fillers can last from six to 12 months. Dr. Doft notes that most of her patients return every six months, but that she tends to inject less volume at the second appointment (and so on) for a more natural appearance.
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