Lip Filler
What Is It?
Lip filler means using hyaluronic acid filler to adjust the volume, the border and the proportions of the lips. We aren’t trying to make the lips bigger. We build a proportion that suits the lip’s own structure. We look separately at the ratio of the upper to the lower lip, how defined the lip border is, which way the corners of the mouth point and how far the lips project when seen from the side.
Lips lose volume with age, too. The border fades and the corners of the mouth turn down. In a young patient the question is usually about adding volume. Later in life we are trying to restore a border and a support that have been lost. These two don’t count as the same procedure.
How Is It Done?
We start with a lip analysis. We look at the ratio of upper to lower lip, the lip border, the groove between the nose and the lip (the philtrum), how much gum shows when you smile, and your profile. We talk about the look you are hoping for. If the result you want doesn’t suit your anatomy, I tell you so at the start.
First we apply topical anaesthetic cream, and add a regional block if needed. We place the product in different layers depending on the effect we want: at the lip border for definition, in the body of the lip for volume, at the corners for support. We use a fine needle or a cannula. The procedure takes 15-20 minutes on average. At the end we check the symmetry both with your lips at rest and while you smile.
Who Is It For?
We offer it to patients with volume loss, asymmetry, a faded border or downturned mouth corners who want to bring their lip proportions back into order. We set the amount by the proportions of your face. A large lip doesn’t look right on a small face.
We don’t treat while there is an active cold sore on the lip. If you have a history of cold sores, we can plan preventive treatment before the procedure. We also don’t treat during pregnancy or breastfeeding, in bleeding disorders, in uncontrolled autoimmune disease or with a known allergy to the product. If you take blood thinners, bruising is more likely, and we include that in the assessment.
Process & Recovery
Analysis and planning
We look at the lip proportions, the border and the profile. We talk about the look you expect and decide together on the amount we will use. We take photographs for your record.
Treatment day
We leave the topical anaesthetic cream on for 15-20 minutes and add a regional block if needed. We place the product in the layers we planned. The procedure takes 15-20 minutes.
First 48 hours
The lips have one of the richest blood supplies in the body. Swelling is noticeable and bruising is common. On the first day we ask you to use cold compresses, drink plenty of water and stay away from heat and strenuous exercise.
Days 3-7
The swelling goes down quickly and the lips get close to their true volume. What you see on these days is not the final look yet. For the first ten days filler can still change shape, so I ask you not to hold a cigarette in the same spot on your lips and not to press a pen or the arm of your glasses against them.
Week 2 review
The lips can be properly assessed on day fifteen, so that is when we ask you back for a review. We look at the symmetry and the border and plan a small top-up if needed.
Results & Duration
You see the volume straight away. Swelling in the lips is more noticeable than in other areas, though, and the final look becomes clear in about two weeks on average. How long it lasts depends on the product, the amount and your metabolism. The range generally reported is 12-18 months.
The lips are constantly moving when you talk and eat. So filler breaks down faster here than in most areas, and renewal may come up sooner. Some of my patients come back after a month saying it has “melted away”. Most of the time the filler is still there and the eye has simply got used to the new lips. We see this when we compare with the earlier photographs.
What Is Not Promised
Lip filler doesn’t change the basic shape of your lips. We don’t promise you a lip structure that isn’t yours. It doesn’t correct a gummy smile, doesn’t on its own erase the fine lines around the lips, and doesn’t lift sagging around the mouth.
We don’t promise a particular volume, look or duration. More volume than the lip can carry spoils the natural look, so we plan the amount around your facial proportions. If you want fuller lips, we talk about it once the filler has settled into the tissue, about a month later.
Key Benefits
- Natural volume
- Symmetry
- Moisture increase
“For the first three or four days the lips are swollen. You look in the mirror and may panic: “Oh no, they’ve put in far too much.” This is temporary. By day fifteen the lips look the way we expect, and that is the day I ask you back for a review.”
— Dr. Sinan Akyürek
Frequently Asked Questions
Is lip filler painful?
The lips are a sensitive area, so you feel the pressure clearly, but the procedure is short. We apply topical anaesthetic cream beforehand and add a regional block if needed.
How much swelling is there and when does it settle?
Swelling is noticeable in the first 48 hours, and bruising is common. It goes down quickly over 3-7 days, and the final look settles in two weeks.
Will it look natural?
When the amount is set by your facial proportions, it stays natural. What spoils it is putting in more volume than the lip’s own structure can carry.
Will I get “duck lips”?
With planned, measured treatment we don’t expect it. That look usually comes from too much volume or from product placed in the wrong layer.
How long does it last?
The range generally reported is 12-18 months. Because the lips move all the time, most patients need renewal sooner.
Is it reversible?
Yes. Hyaluronic acid fillers can be dissolved with the enzyme hyaluronidase if needed. That is an important safeguard if you are unhappy with a lip result.
What if I get a cold sore?
We don’t treat while a cold sore is active. If you have a history of cold sores, we can plan preventive treatment before the procedure; we ask about this at the consultation.
Who is it not suitable for?
We don’t treat with an active cold sore, during pregnancy or breastfeeding, or with bleeding disorders, uncontrolled autoimmune disease or known allergy to the product.