A Complete Guide To Lip Fillers: Things Should Know Before Getting Them

Lip fillers are one of the hottest beauty trends in the market right now–offering a quick and effective way to achieve plumper, more defined lips. Whether you’re looking to enhance your lip shape, boost volume, or smooth out fine lines, this minimally invasive, non-surgical treatment is the perfect solution for a naturally fuller look. 

If you are also thinking of getting lip fillers, read this article. Here we’ll cover how the procedure works, recovery, benefits, risks, and many more things that you should know before booking your appointment.

What Are Lip Fillers?

In simple words, Lip fillers are injectable substances used to add volume and structure to the lips. The most common fillers are made from hyaluronic acid (HA)—a naturally occurring substance in your body that keeps your skin hydrated and plump. As we age, HA levels drop, which ultimately leads to volume loss. Lip fillers help to replenish that lost moisture, giving your lips a youthful and refreshed appearance.

Popular HA-based brands like Juvederm, Restylane, and Teosyal are specifically designed to give natural-looking results, ensuring your lips remain beautifully enhanced yet balanced.

How Do Lip Fillers Work?

Lip fillers work by strategically injecting the synthetic HA-based filler into targeted areas of the lips. This process can plump up the overall lip volume, accentuate the Cupid’s bow, or define the vermillion border (the outline of your lips) for a more sculpted look. One of the great things about HA fillers is that they attract and retain moisture, keeping your lips hydrated and voluminous.

The treatment is completely customisable—you can opt for a soft, natural enhancement or go for a more dramatic effect, depending on your aesthetic goals.

What Can Lip Fillers Improve?

Many people think that lip fillers are just about adding volume to the lips, but they offer much more than that, which includes: 

• Restore Volume Loss: Enhance naturally thin lips or restore volume that you lost due to age.
• Enhance Lip Definition: Create a more defined shape, especially around the Cupid’s bow and lip borders.
• Improve Asymmetry: Correct uneven lips for a more balanced appearance.
• Remove Vertical Lip Lines: Smooth out fine lines around the mouth, commonly known as smoker’s lines.

What Can You Expect During Lip Filler Procedure?

Lip filler treatments are quick and relatively painless. The overall procedure usually takes around between 20 to 30 minutes, from start to finish. 

Here’s what the process generally looks like:

Step 1: Consultation

Before the treatment, you’ll meet with your practitioner (online or offline) in order to discuss your goals and the look you want to achieve.

Step 2: Cleansing

Before beginning the procedure, your practitioner will clean your lip area thoroughly. It will help in reducing the risks of infection and making the treatment secure and successful.

Step 3: Numbing

After the cleansing, a numbing cream will be applied on your lips so that you experience least discomfort during the treatment. Many practitioners also use the fillers that contain lidocaine (a local anesthetic) to make the injections even more comfortable.

Step 4: Marking The Specific Areas

Your practitioner may also mark specific points on your lips for filler injection, so that the symmetry and the desired aesthetic outcome based on your consultation is achieved.

Step 5: Injecting The Fillers

With the help of a fine needle, the fillers will be injected in the marked areas. This slow, gradual approach helps achieving a natural and balanced result. Your practitioner may also gently massage your lips so that filler gets distributed evenly and you get your desired look. 

Post Treatment

You’ll notice immediate results after the treatment, but it can take a few days for any swelling to subside and the final look to settle in.

Typically, lip fillers last between 6 to 12 months. But, it also depends on the factors like the type of filler used, your metabolism, and how well you care for your lips after the procedure. Regular touch-ups can help you maintain the look you love.

Is There Any Downtime?

One of the biggest perks of lip fillers is that it has minimal downtime. However, you may experience some swelling, redness, or minor bruising, but these side effects usually diminish within a few days. Most people are able to get back to their normal activities within 24 to 48 hours.

Are There Any Risks of Getting Lip Fillers?

When performed by a qualified and experienced practitioner, lip fillers are considered safe. However, as with any cosmetic procedure, there are potential side effects that may occur, for instance, temporary swelling, bruising, and tenderness.

If lip fillers are not injected properly, some rare complications can also occur, which includes: Infection, your lips may be of different sizes, and vascular compromise (which occurs when the filler is injected into or around an artery). Hence, in order to avoid such serious consequences, always choose a highly professional and reputable practitioner.

Who Should Avoid Getting Lip Fillers?

You should avoid getting the lip fillers if you are:

• Below 18: According to the FDA, you have to be more than 21 years old in order to get lip fillers. Hence, it is advised for you to wait till you become an adult and then make a decision whether you want lip fillers or not.

• Pregnant or Breastfeeding Women: Again, FDA doesn’t recommend getting lip fillers for pregnant and breastfeeding women because there are no studies confirming the safety of this treatment in such conditions. 

• Infected: Overall, you should be in good health when getting lip fillers. Especially, you should not be suffering from any kind of infections like cold sores. 

• Taking Certain Medication: If you are taking any medications, then it is advised to talk to your doctor first before deciding to get lip fillers. Also, if you are allergic to the ingredients used in lip fillers, talk about that to your healthcare professional too.

How to Prepare For Your Lip Filler Appointment?

There are key things that you need to look out for in the days prior to your procedure.

For instance, you should avoid taking blood thinning medications like Motrin, aspirin, Aleve and ibuprofen. Also restrict alcohol and supplements like Ginkgo bilobe, vitamin E, Omega 3, ginger, garlic, primrose oil. 

Besides that, make sure to follow any other instructions provided by your practitioner or health care professional.

How Much Do Lip Fillers Cost?

The cost of lip fillers varies depending on location, the practitioner’s expertise, and how much filler is needed. However, in general, the cost of lip fillers lies between £150 – £350 or more per session. 

(at Pretty & Perfect Edinburgh it cost £160* for every 1ml of premium Dermal Filler)
*(as per December 2024)

Final Verdict

So, that was all you needed to know about lip fillers.

They offer a minimally invasive way to enhance your lips and get fuller, smoother, and more defined lips with immediate results. 

With the right practitioner, proper aftercare, and a clear vision of your aesthetic goals, you can achieve lips that beautifully complement your natural features.