Lip Injections: Getting the Perfect Pillowy Lips

The pursuit of the perfect pillowy pout (say that five times fast!) has become a popular trend in recent years. You know the look we are talking about: fuller and more even lips with just the right amount of volume. Whether it’s lip fillers, lip augmentation, or even fat grafting, it seems as though everyone is turning to various lip enhancement procedures these days to achieve this naturally plump look. With lip fillers being the most common treatment for plumping things up and perhaps something you are interested in learning more about, think of this as a try-before-you-buy guide to lip fillers: what types of injections are best for achieving the look you want, a breakdown of the procedure, various benefits of lip fillers, and what you can expect after your first procedure.

How To Get The Perfect, Pillowy Pout You’ve Always Wanted With Lip Fillers

Soft. Plump. Youthful. The look of pillowy lips can easily be achieved with the help of lip fillers—a relatively quick and easy treatment that requires almost no downtime. That means you can go about your day with an enhanced look in no time. Speaking of time: you’ll get even more of it back in your day! This procedure allows you to spend less time creating the effect of fuller lips with products like lip liner, lip gloss, highlighter, or contour kits. Another benefit? Lip fillers can help make signs of aging less noticeable. As we age, the edges of our lips tend to look less defined with the natural reduction of collagen in the skin, so wrinkles become more prominent. With specifically targeted lip injections, those fillers can restore a more youthful look and fill in noticeable wrinkles.

What Exactly Are Pillowy Lips?

Well, it’s simple! The typical plump lip look gives the appearance of fuller top and bottom lips. When we’re younger, lips can look naturally fuller because our bodies are producing more of a substance called hyaluronic acid. Not only does hyaluronic acid attract moisture and volume to the lips, but it also stimulates the lips’ ability to produce more collagen. What does that mean? Fuller lips! Most lip augmentation involves injecting more hyaluronic acid into the lips to achieve that same look.

What Type of Injection is Best for Puffy Lips?

The question is: how do you decide which lip injection is right for you? While it is always best to consult your specialist, here are a few of the most popular injections.

1. Juvéderm®: This is one of the more popular hyaluronic acid dermal filler options with five different long-lasting, non-surgical fillers within the Juvéderm® family, and they all work to add volume and smooth the appearance of wrinkles in the area in which their injected. Depending on the appearance you are going for and what you are hoping to treat, you and your specialist can work together to choose the best Juvéderm® option for you. Juvéderm® Ultra XC is an injectable gel used in the lips and perioral area (the area immediately around your mouth) to plump up those lips. Juvéderm® VOLBELLA® XC is also an injectable gel used in the lips and perioral area and is also used to treat hollow under-eyes.
2. Volbella: Volbella is a Juvederm dermal filler designed to plump and augment the lips, and smooth lines and wrinkles around the mouth that are commonly caused by sun damage, lifestyle factors, and aging.
3. Restylane®: Similar to Juvéderm®, Restylane® is another line of hyaluronic acid injectable gels that work to plump up the lips and smooth out lines and wrinkles. This is also a long-lasting, non-surgical filler that is formulated to act like your body’s own naturally occurring hyaluronic acid to help restore the skin’s youthfulness.
4. Croma: Another excellent option for enhancing the lips is Croma, a hyaluronic acid lip filler designed to gently correct wrinkles, restore volume loss, improve the tone and elasticity of the skin, hydrate, and of course, plump up the lips for an overall natural look.

The common denominator in these lip fillers is hyaluronic acid, and another major benefit to using this substance aside from increasing the volume of the lips is that it is not permanent, unlike lip augmentation and fat grafting. If you decide the look of fillers isn’t for you after the procedure, the hyaluronic acid in the lips can be dissolved with an enzyme called hyaluronidase. The process of dissolving takes just 1-4 injections and up to 10 minutes.

Lip Injection Procedure

Unlike a surgical procedure, getting lip fillers is relatively simple and pain-free. Step one is to map the face or lips. The specialist will evaluate your appearance and skin tone and suggest the right amount of fillers to inject based on the look you are hoping to achieve. Step two is cleansing and prepping the area. Antibacterial agents will be used to sanitize the lips in preparation for the injections and a numbing ointment will be applied to make the procedure more comfortable. Then? It’s go time! Injections only take a few seconds and, with the numbing cream, it’s a relatively painless process. After the procedure, you may notice a bit of swelling and bruising, but that should clear itself up in 1-2 days. Voila! A plumper pout you can enjoy for anywhere between 4-12 months depending on your metabolism.

Understanding the Benefits of Lip Injections

While everyone has their own reasons for seeking out lip fillers to get that pillowy look, the benefits are the same–and there are many!

1. Volume and structure: We all know lip fillers add more volume to the top and bottom lip, but as we age the structure of our lips decreases due to a lack of hyaluronic acid being produced. Overall, fillers provide a bit more structure to the lips to combat the aging process.
2. Improve overall shape: The desired shape and fullness are up to you! When you work with a specialist you can decide how full you want your lips to appear and where the best areas for the injections will be based on the look you’re aiming for.
3. Soften lines and wrinkles: Aging really does a number on our lips and signs of aging show up over time. Lip fillers, well, fill in those lines and wrinkles to create overall softness.
4. Long-lasting results: Unlike other procedures, lip fillers last for quite a while before needing to be touched up. You can expect to keep that fullness for anywhere between 4-12 months.
5. Minimal risk of allergies: Since hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance in the body, there is a very low risk of an allergic reaction during or after the procedure. However, it is always important to consult your specialist about any possible allergies you may have.
6. Minimal downtime: When you walk out of the office, you are free to resume your normal activities, however, you can expect light swelling and bruising for 1-2 days after the procedure.

Are you ready to get started? Dr. Buddiga and his highly-skilled team are ready to help! Dr. Buddiga’s Skin Aesthetics Med Spa offers non-invasive injectables Botox, Juvéderm®, and other dermal fillers to provide high-quality results in no time. Be sure to schedule your consultation today to discuss your options and benefit from a plan that’s customized to your unique needs.