Lip filler is one of the most popular treatments requested in medical aesthetics, but are these pout plumpers ruining your lips? I often see patients for correction of poorly placed filler and to reverse excessive filler. Not every surgeon is an injector. Not every injector is an artist. Injecting lips is an art form and if you don’t choose the right provider, your lips can end up looking less Angelina and more Donald Duck.
Experience Matters
Don’t let just anyone touch that pout! Many vital arteries are located in and around the lip. In particular, the mucosa (wet part) of the lip is a land mine of vessels and arteries, only an experienced injector will be careful to avoid these hidden vessels.
Some overzealous beginner and novice injectors like to tell patients that they can “pick their lip shape.” Well, that’s a lovely idea, but it’s not always possible. It’s hard to take tiny, almost non-existent lips and create “the Kylie.” Your lip shape is often predetermined by what you inherited. If you want to “change” your shape, be ready to commit to the process of multiple sessions over months.
Beware the “Paris Lip”
I’ve recently seen a trend to inject lips in a vertical fashion with a goal to achieve a more exaggerated “flip”. This trend has been called the “Paris lip” or “tiger striping.” There are a few times this is indicated—specifically when treating upper lip lines—but often times this can result in uneven product placement, risk of blood vessel occlusion and excessive scar tissue formation. Scar tissue formation will forever affect how well filler sits in the lip.
Botched lips? All is not lost.
Lumps and bumps happen for a variety of reasons. First, the product can build up around existing scar tissue (from biting the lip, previous braces, old injected product or trauma) creating large lumps. Second, bumps can occur when injectors are not experienced enough to evenly distribute the product. You’d be surprised how often, when I’m teaching, that I witness uneven amounts of filler being placed in the wrong layer of tissue!
I’ve had the pleasure of “redoing lips” and it’s so satisfying to turn a bad job into a dream come true. Typically, a patient will come to me after having had too much filler injected in the wrong place by the wrong person. In these situations, I usually suggest that we start over! To reverse the damage, hyaluronidase, which is the antidote to many dermal fillers, will be injected and the patient will be asked to wait 2-4 weeks before refilling and reshaping.
Here’s one of my before and after photos to show the art of correctly placed lip filler!
If you’re seeking the perfect pout you must be committed and patient. It may take multiple visits and multiple syringes to achieve your best result. Bottom line: treat your lips well, go to an experienced lip injector and know your limits!
Schedule your complimentary consultation today and get one step closer to your perfect pout!
