Lip Augmentation
Fillers can be used to enhance lips.
The youthful appearance of our skin depends, in part, on a substance known as hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is found in all normal skin, and gives it its volume and fullness. Ageing, various illnesses and sun exposure are some of the factors that weaken the amount and quality of hyaluronic acid in our skin. Until recently, lines and folds in the skin were filled with collagen derived from cows. We now have products, such as Restylane®, which are non-animal-derived hyaluronic acids. These gels are fully biocompatible with the hyaluronic acid in our own skin, resulting in few side-effects and long-lasting effects. Fillers tt can provide excellent results in the treatment of wrinkles, folds, scars, and in augmentation of the lip.
How do fillers work?
Fillers are made of non-animal derived hyaluronic acid gel. This gel is injected into the middle or deep portion of the skin using a fine, sterile needle. It is placed by your dermatologist in a position in the skin determined by factors such as the location and depth of a wrinkle or fold, the type of product used, and the substance’s natural location in the skin. This results in immediate lifting of wrinkles and plumping of the lips.
How long have fillers been used?
Skin Fillers have been used in Europe for over 30 years, and in Canada for over 20 years. Millions of people worldwide have been treated. Genetically, the sugar molecules are almost identical to that found in the human body. Therefore, the skin does not tend to react to this material. In addition, because Skin Fillers are not derived from animals, there is no risk of transmitting animal borne disease and very little risk of allergic reactions.
What kinds of wrinkles can be treated?
Commonly treated sites include the nasolabial folds (from the wing of the nose to the angle of the mouth), the wrinkles around the lips, and cheeks, but other sites can also be treated.
What results can be obtained from lip treatment?
The red border of the lips can be accentuated, and the lips can be given more volume and a ‘pouty’ appearance. Fillers can also be used to restore the youthful appearance of a fuller upper lip, and to fill lines that radiate outward from the lip toward the nose.
What is the treatment like?
The treatment is very easy and quick. Since no pre-test is needed, the treatment can be carried out immediately and takes about 30minutes. The results are immediate.
Is it painful?
This is very individual and depends on how sensitive you are to pain. The injections may be slightly uncomfortable, but the treatment is usually very tolerable. Lip treatment can be more uncomfortable, and so local anesthetic is often used when treating the lip area.
How long does the effect last?
Since fillers are made of a substance very similar to your own skin, the same ongoing process (ageing and normal skin turnover) that changes the structure of your skin will also alter the products. Eventually, the material disappears completely from the body. How long the effect of the treatment lasts varies between individuals. It depends on such factors as the structure of the skin, one’s lifestyle, age, the location treated, as well as the degree of perfection expected by the individual. Most patients choose to have a touch-up treatment done within 4-8 months of the original treatment.
Is it safe?
The hyaluronic acid in fillers is almost identical genetically to that found naturally in the human body. Consequently, the skin does not tend to react to this material and stays calm and healthy. Additionally, since the hyaluronic acid in these products is not derived from animal sources, there is no risk of transmitting diseases from animals and very little risk of eliciting allergic reactions. More than 4,000,000 treatments have been performed world-wide thus far with fillers and only a very small number of adverse events have been reported (approximately 1 in 3000 patients). The most common side effects are mild to moderate swelling, redness, and tenderness at the treatment site. These symptoms are mild and usually subside within a few days without any further problems.
What will my skin look like without a touch-up treatment?
The correction will gradually disappear until your skin looks just as it did before the treatment. Touch-up injections will help you maintain the correction.