Fillers - Giving You Lip
In the fullness of time your lips will lose fullness, and all that a full lip implies (ripeness, sensuality, youth) gives way to a thin, pursed line and its less appealing suggestions of sourness, disapproval and suppressed anger. I’ve heard many patients say they don’t mind aging, what they mind is being left wearing an expression they don’t feel or wish to convey.
Dermal fillers are the easy solution for restoring natural volume for the lips, but many shy away from fillers for fear they will look like they stumbled lip first into a bee hive. It can be done without being overdone. This article will discuss the different techniques and fillers used in adding lip volume so you can discuss with your practitioner the approach and look you would prefer.
Fillers for Lips
For a more natural and subtle look, many doctors choose Captique. This hyaluronic acid based filler is Inamed’s (the makers of collagen-based fillers) response to the incredibly popular Restylane, the original hyaluronic acid filler. Captique is more viscous than Restylane, and many find it to be a tactile improvement over Restylane, which can feel firm under the skin.
If it’s ‘subtlety be hanged’, request Restylane. It attracts and holds water in the area and gives that bee-stung look.
Filling Techniques
There are several different injection techniques, some doctors go through the border of the lip, and originate all injections from there. It sounds painful, but that’s nothing compared to how it actually feels (for more about the pain you’re in for, click here). Others prefer to inject directly into the flesh of the lip. There’s no right way - both techniques, in the right hands, will give a nice look. The former technique, probably because the filler is injected deeper, may give a more a subtle effect.
Lips have a ‘vermillion border’. From how I’ve heard it described, this border outlines the lips and is a channel which the filler travels down and expands. The end result is a more defined edge. This can help keep lipstick from bleeding and make smoker’s lines less obvious where they join the lip, but it will not diminish smoker’s lines beyond the lip border. Filling the vermillion border, like using a liner slightly outside the lip border, will make the lips look bigger.
To Summarize
If you want the uberpout – go for it. Use Restylane, get the vermillion border done, the body of the lip done, and enjoy your fabulous, plus-sized lips.
If you’re concerned about the look being too obvious, using Captique and requesting that only the flesh of the lip be augmented (ie. forgoing the vermillion border) would probably be the safest approach. You could also see if your practice offers smaller size syringes (e.g. .7cc instead of 1cc), and start with the smallest size available. Keep in mind, though, that the potential downside to subtlety is walking away disappointed that you don’t notice much of a difference.
