How confident were you the last time you puckered up or applied your favorite lipstick? If the answer is that you were less confident than usual, then you should know that there is a cosmetic solution to your self-confidence woes. At Southeast Regional Med Spa in Columbus, GA, we know one of the best options to pump up your pout is a lip filler, a unique type of dermal filler that is designed to be used on the lips to restore volume and augment the shape or fullness of the lips.
How Long Do Lip Fillers Last?
One of the most common questions people have about a filler treatment for the list is how long they can reasonably expect the results of the filler to last. In general, a filler for the lips should last between 3 and 12 months, depending on how much filler is used, how well you respond to the filler formula, your age, and other factors that are unique to you. In this way, fillers for the lips are a little less predictable than dermal fillers used on other areas of the face, which have a more reliable time estimate.
Which Filler Lasts the Longest?
One of the biggest factors that determine how long a filler will last is the exact formula of the filler brand you are using. Broadly speaking, there are three common brands that are used to restore or enhance the shape of the lips – Juvederm, Restylane, and Radiesse. Juvederm and Restylane fillers are estimated to last for about six to nine months in the lips, while Radiesse fillers may last up to 12 months in the lips.
Juvederm and Restylane both use a hyaluronic acid formula, which is part of the reason why they produce the most natural-looking results. Because hyaluronic acid is natural found in the body, it restores volume subtly and allows for more natural movement of the lips, which is why these fillers are great options for first-time users. Radiesse, on the other hand, uses synthetic calcium that has a slightly stiffer texture, but that is better for restoring significant volume loss.
Why Do Lip Fillers Break Down More Quickly Than Other Fillers?
Dermal fillers on the face can last for one or two years at a time, but that longevity significantly decreases when some of those same filler formulas are injected into the lips. Why? Part of the reason has to do with the fact that the lips are a highly mobile area of the face, meaning the soft tissues of the mouth move more frequently than broader areas of the face, like the cheeks, which causes fillers to break down faster.
Can You Help Your Results Last Longer?
With a faster breakdown of your result being inevitable, many patients are interested in methods they can use to prolong their results between top-up appointments, which are scheduled once every six to nine months, depending on the filler being used and how long your results are lasting. Some methods you can use to help your results last longer include:
Protect Your Skin
The number one enemy of plump, youthful, and voluminous skin is harmful UV rays, which cause premature aging that results in skin thinning and dryness – and that includes the skin of your lips. In fact, the skin of your lips is much more sensitive than the skin on other areas of your face, which means you need to be vigilant to protect yourself.
When you are using a filler on your lips, your top priority should be protecting your lips from UV rays, as the filler formula is more likely to breakdown when exposed to sunlight for prolonged periods of time. Whether it’s sticking to the shade or slicking your lips with an SPF lip product, it’s important to protect your skin to prolong your results.
Limit Your Stress
It might not seem like it, but your everyday stress has a big impact on your body and your health, and can even determine how quickly your body breaks down the foreign ingredients of your dermal filler. Stress hormones have a tendency to break down filler formulas when stress is high and regular, so one important thing you can do to maintain your results is to try to limit your stress. Self-care techniques, deep breathing techniques, and other stress maintenance exercises can help your results last longer.
Factor Your Workout
Exercise is good for your health overall and wonderful stress relief – but when it comes to fillers, too much of a good thing can be a detriment. Your body’s natural metabolic rate plays an important role in how long your filler lasts, so when your metabolism pumps up due to too much exercise, it’s possible that your filler will start to break down more quickly.
Of course, this doesn’t mean you should halt your Zumba or Soul Cycling classes; it does mean, however, that if you live a very active lifestyle, you should expect that you will need filler treatments a bit more frequently than other people.
Balance Your Diet
Eating a healthy diet is another important factor to consider. While junk food may be yummy and a couple of cheat days never hurt anyone, you should know that the inflammation and water retention caused by high sodium intake and high-oil and high-sugar foods may cause your filler product to break down more quickly. Eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and water will help you be healthier and may prolong the results of this treatment.
Should You Consider Trying a Different Filler?
When it comes to dermal fillers, not every filler is one size fits all – in fact, some people find that certain filler formulas, even ones that share common ingredients, work better. So for fillers for the lips, it may be wise to shop around for the filler that best meets your needs. It might be a good idea to consider a different dermal filler if you aren’t getting the results you want or your results aren’t lasting for as long as you anticipate.
What Can a Filler Do for Your Lip Appearance?
A filler treatment for the lips can do a lot for your overall appearance. For example, plump lips are a sign of youth and good health, look better with certain lip cosmetics, and are even considered more attractive to your partner. But what specific aspects of your lip appearance can a filler help with?
For one thing, restoring volume loss that occurs as a natural result of the aging process or correct age-related concerns, such as lipstick lines. Fillers can also be used to augment or contour the lips into specific desired shapes or fullness. During your consultation, we will go over all the benefits of filler treatments for the lips.
What Causes Lipstick Lines?
Lipstick lines is the term used to describe the vertical lines on the lips, usually near the middle of the lips. We call them lipstick lines because lip cosmetics tend to settle into these creases, which makes our lips look dryer and thinner than they actually are. Lipstick lines are generally caused by a loss of collagen in the lips associated with the natural aging process.
Should You Consider Treating Smile Lines?
Just like lipstick lines, collagen also decreases in the skin surrounding the lips, as well. It’s actually very common to use dermal fillers to treat smile lines and marionette lines around the mouth – and in fact, many people use the same dermal filler on these lines as they do on the lips. If you want to use your filler treatment to also smooth away fine lines and wrinkles around the mouth, please let us know during your consultation appointment.
What Are Common Filler Styles?
There are several common ways to use fillers to augment the shape of the lips. These common styles sometimes go by different names – like Hollywood or Rubina – depending on where you go, but regardless of what you call it, these styles are common to most aestheticians and med spas. The most common styles include:
Upper Enhancement
Some people prefer to only enhance the upper lip, either to create more fullness in the lip or to make the Cupid’s bow more exaggerated. Upper lip enhancement is a good choice if you have a naturally thin top lip or if you want to fix a gummy smile.
Bottom Enhancement
Other people like to only enhance the bottom lip, which creates a greater “pouting” effect by adding volume to the bottom lip. Adding additional fullness to the bottom lip may be a good choice if you want a moderate volume enhancement or if you want to balance your top and bottom lips.
Middle Enhancement
Some people prefer to only enhance the middle portion of the lips, on the top or the bottom, or both. Rather than fully expressing the shape of the lips, enhancing only the middle portion of the lips creates more fullness and enhances your pout.
Full Enhancement
Full enhancement of the lips refers to the full expression of both the upper and bottom lips, which means filler is being used on every lip zone to increase lip volume and augment the shape of the lips. Full enhancement might be a good option if you have a specific aesthetic goal that requires more filler to achieve.
Which Filler Style Is Right for You?
Finding the right filler style for you will depend on what your aesthetic goals are. The primary goal of a filler for the lips is to enhance volume and shape naturally, so we generally recommend that filler treatments take a subtle approach to produce the best results. If you aren’t sure which filler style is best for your enhancement, we will help you figure it out during your consultation appointment.
Are You a Good Candidate?
Any adult who is interested in enhancing or augmenting the shape of their lips is likely a good candidate for this treatment. Ideal candidates are those who do not have current skin condition flare-ups, such as cold sores or fever blisters, as well as those who are not currently pregnant or breastfeeding.
Plush Your Pout With a Lip Filler
You deserve to feel confident about every aspect of your appearance – perhaps especially how confident you are about your lips and your smile. If you feel like the best way to plush up your pout is with a lip filler contact Southeast Regional Med Spa in Columbus, GA to schedule your initial appointment today and get proper advised on how long do lip fillers last based on your assessment.
