The lips and eyes are arguably the most beautiful regions of the face. Enhancing these areas requires experience and expertise to achieve optimum results.

Lip Injections San Diego can help soften lines around the mouth by making the lips fuller, which tightens the skin. They can also correct asymmetry or add definition to the lips.

Filler Collections

Lip fillers aren’t one-size-fits-all. Your dermatologist will help you decide what’s best for your aesthetic goals, whether that’s a little plumper fullness or reshaping your lips to a more natural shape. We use hyaluronic acid-based fillers, like Juvederm and Restylane, to achieve a wide range of looks. Our experienced care team is trained to create a look that’s totally unique to you, whether you want to look Instagram-influencer-ready or keep it lowkey and subtle.

The most important thing to remember is that you will likely experience some swelling after your treatment, and this is completely normal. We’ll provide you with tips to minimize discomfort, and we recommend avoiding painkillers that thin your blood (such as aspirin or ibuprofen) and taking hot showers or saunas the day of your appointment, as these can exacerbate swelling.

It’s also a good idea to avoid eating foods high in sodium, which can cause your lips to swell up and dilute the HA filler. You’ll also want to avoid kissing or putting pressure on your lips for up to 48 hours, as this can increase swelling and disperse the filler.

The lip is a highly vascularized area with a complex pattern of vessels and collaterals. The topography and distribution of these structures is highly variable, making the area more prone to complications during injections. The underlying connective tissue is also more sensitive to the effects of dermal fillers than the outermost skin layer.

Your dermatologist will choose a product that’s right for your specific needs and goals, based on the unique physiology of the region and its vasculature. Restylane is a great choice for soft, natural fullness and for smoothing vertical lines around the mouth, while Juvederm XC and Volbella are excellent options for filling in nasolabial folds or adding volume to the cheeks or jawline.

We also use the RHA Collection of resilient hyaluronic acid fillers, which offer impressive longevity. These products can last up to 15 months, which is longer than many other fillers on the market today. The RHA collections include RHA2, RHA3, and RHA4, which are formulated to work well in different parts of the face, so you can find a formula that’s ideal for your needs.

Natural-Looking Injections

Injectors who use a natural-looking approach to lip injections can create results that appear subtle, balanced, and harmonious with your face. They have a keen understanding of facial anatomy and detailed morphology to deliver precise enhancements that align perfectly with your vision.

One of the most common ways that lip fillers can look overdone is when a practitioner uses a cookie-cutter approach to each patient. It’s important to find an injector who has a good artistic eye. Word of mouth can help, but it’s also wise to ask for before and after photos so that you can see the practitioner’s work. Then, you can compare the images to a few pictures of a naturally shaped face to get an idea of what a beautiful result should look like.

A skilled injector will take the time to assess your lips for volume required and underlying asymmetry before proceeding with treatment. They will clean the area with antiseptic to prevent infection before numbing the lips with a topical anesthetic. Once the lips are numb, ice is applied to help minimize swelling and discomfort.

Unlike Botox, dermal fillers do not paralyze muscles; they simply fill out skin depressions to reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles. They use hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring substance found in the body that is responsible for moisture retention. The hyaluronic acid in dermal fillers hydrates the lips, making them look soft and youthful.

Dermal fillers are often used in conjunction with a variety of other cosmetic treatments to achieve the best possible results. They can be used in the corners of the lips to elongate the shape, and to correct the philtral tubercle that makes it harder for the top lip to “flip” upward as it naturally does. They can also be injected under the eyes to smooth out fine lines and wrinkles.

The most experienced practitioners combine the various techniques discussed above to deliver optimal results. They have a mastery of the latest technologies and trends in the industry, so they can provide you with the best of both worlds – natural-looking results that beautify your lips while also addressing fine lines and wrinkles.

Lines and Wrinkles

When choosing a doctor for lip injections, it’s important to do your homework. Rather than relying on celebrity endorsements and advertisements, look for doctors who specialize in facial fillers and dermal filler treatments. They should also be board-certified or a member of their medical association. In addition, ask to see before-and-after photos of their work.

Hyaluronic acid fillers like Juvederm and Restylane can be used for both lip augmentation and reducing fine lines that develop around the mouth, also known as vertical lip lines. These lines are caused by contraction of the orbicularis oris muscle and can be corrected with anti-wrinkle injections before dermal fillers are added.

Reputable injectors know how to create a natural-looking lip shape, and they’ll work with you to determine the right amount of product you need. They can also tell if the skin is going to expand enough to accommodate additional filler, which is an important skill that comes from experience.

A reputable injector will also take the time to properly prepare your lips before the procedure, which includes numbing them and applying a cold compress or lip balm. They may even use a nerve block to fully numb the area before injecting.

In addition to avoiding a “done” look, proper preparation and care will help minimize side effects like bruising and lumps. Bruising is common in any injection treatment and is the result of small blood vessels being damaged during the procedure. To reduce the risk of bruising, it’s recommended that patients avoid consuming aspirin, ibuprofen, and other medications that can increase the likelihood of bleeding or clotting.

Lumps can be a sign of over-injection or of the wrong type of filler being used, and are usually treated with a dissolving enzyme such as hyaluronidase. They can also be caused by lip sagging or over-inflating from repeated injections, which is why it’s important to follow up with your doctor as soon as you notice the bumps, if they occur.

Lips are sensitive, and the injection process can feel like a sharp pinch. However, there are options that contain lidocaine, a common local anesthetic, to make the treatment more comfortable.

Safety

Lip injections are among the least invasive of all filler treatments, but they do come with some risks. As such, it’s important to follow your doctor’s post-treatment advice to prevent complications like bruising and lumps.

It’s also crucial to understand the limits of what lip injections can achieve. A new practitioner may get excited about enhancing the lips with dermal fillers, but you’ll want to be careful that you don’t overdo it, leading to an unnatural look that requires retreatment.

A good rule of thumb is to use no more than HA filler in your top and bottom lip combined. This will give your mouth a natural balance and not make it look overdone or disproportionate to the rest of your face. During your consultation, discuss the desired outcome and set realistic goals. A good injector will help you achieve these goals without risking the integrity of your facial structure or creating an undesirable result.

One way to reduce the chances of bruising after lip injections is to avoid touching or kissing your newly swollen lips. Not only will this cause discomfort, but it can disperse the filler, which could lead to unnatural results. Similarly, it’s best not to drink from a straw or smoke right after treatment, as these activities can force your lips into a shape that won’t go back to normal once the swelling subsides.

Another way to prevent bruising after lip injections is to start with a thinner product than you wish to begin with. Thicker products have a tendency to form lumps due to the extra pressure that is applied to the lips. As you gain experience, you’ll be able to determine which product is the best fit for your skin.

Lastly, you should always avoid injecting into the middle of your lips. This area tends to have more blood vessels and is more prone to vascular compression, which can lead to unwanted results. A reputable practitioner will assess the cupids bow in your lips and make sure that they’re not over-injected. They will then reassess the area after 15 days to see how it’s healing and if more volume is needed.