Aesthetic Medicine
Lip Fillers
Lips are the most personalized area for treatment. Everyone has different ideas of how they would want their lips to look. Everyone’s lips have different inherent shapes, and treatment to this area is to enhance someone’s natural shape. Each set of lips has different areas to address. Some people need or prefer to have just some support to the outline by filling the vermillion border around the lip. This subtle change can make a wonderful difference to the overall lip appearance. Different ages often present different aesthetic desires and needs. Dr. Strell will take time to listen to your concerns and help arrive at a result that most suits YOU.
FAQS
How much filler will I need?
This is a very personal question. This will depend on many factors such as on your age and size and shape of your lip.
People that have very thin lips will usually start with one syringe of Volbella. It is a soft product and is excellent for a small augmentation and gives a natural enhancement. This will usually allow for some definition of the lip border and some small increase in lip volume.
This product is also excellent to maintain an already full lip and help prevent the lips from becoming “Ducky” or overdone. This also allows for a more gradual treatment result.
For people looking for the fuller lip a syringe of Juvederm Ultra is usually used and rarely a second syringe is needed at a single treatment session.
How long will the treatment last?
That will depend on several factors. The first and most important factor will be if this is a first-time treatment. This treatment may last only a couple of months initially as the filler breaks down more quickly given the high mechanical use of the lips. A few treatments over time may be needed before the product last around 6-9 months.
What happens right after the injection?
After the injection it is quite important to apply ice to reduce potential swelling. It is important to know and expect that there may be a 2–5-day period of swelling that can vary depending on the treatment and product used.
What do I do before and after treatments?
Before treatment, eliminating alcohol for 3-5 days will help minimize bruising as will stopping any Advil or other NSAIDs. If you are on a blood thinner for medical purposes this will be discussed with Dr. Strell and if necessary, your prescribing physician. It can also be helpful to take Arnica orally for 3-5 days prior to treatment to help minimize any potential bruising as well. After treatment it is helpful to apply ice for that day and evening and often sporadically over the next day or two.
What happens if my lips look too big the next morning?
This is not a usual occurrence and will settle down over the next couple of days. Using ice is important to help reduce any swelling. When the initial swelling subsides, your lips will not be any bigger than they were in the office at the time of treatment.