17 Things You Should Know Before Getting Lip Injections

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Because lip liner only goes so far.

Thinking about getting a fuller set of lips than the ones your momma gave you?

Here are some insider tips on what you should know before getting lip fillers:

1. Like an artist with paint, every injector has a favorite formula they like to use. About Face injectors believe that (at the moment) the easiest and most natural temporary filler is hyaluronic acid (HA) such as Restylane.

2. Worst (unlikely) case scenario: you hate your lips? No problem — you can completely erase HA fillers if you’re unhappy with how your lips turn out for whatever reason. Because HA is not permanent, an erasing-enzyme called hyaluronidase can be injected and it will dissolve the filler in five minutes if you’re unhappy with the initial results.

3. It can cost anywhere from $650 to $2,000 to get your lips done, depending on the injector and region you live in. Either way, it is an investment.

4. HA fillers last about four to six months. But if your body is on the thinner side, you’ll metabolize the formula faster and the injections won’t last as long.

5. You will see the results immediately. Your lips will be a little swollen at first, but you’ll see the effects of the fillers pretty quickly. Give your lips at least 24 hours (and up to 2-weeks) to settle, and the swelling to calm. Then you’ll be seeing your filled-out lips as they will be for the next few months.

6. If done correctly, lips with injections don’t feel any different than real lips. (Not even when you’re kissing!)

7. At the beginning of the procedure, it feels like a pinch and then it stings as the filler is being injected. Afterwards, if needed — the injector will massage your lips a little, perhaps ice them for 10 minutes, and then let you go about your day.

 

8. You can choose to have your lips numbed beforehand with a topical anesthetic.

9. There’s practically zero downtime, but swelling and bruising is always a possibility. The procedure takes about 15 to 20 minutes total, and the numbing will start to wear off after about 15 minutes. You can go about your daily life afterward but shouldn’t make any big plans (like a wedding or an important event) for at least three days in case you bruise or swell.

10. You shouldn’t exercise the day of the procedure. You especially should avoid activities that increase blood flow to your face, like getting a massage or a facial.

11. You don’t have to go all out. You can choose which areas of your lips you’d like the focus to be. Whether you want to do both lips, just the bottom lip, or the middle of the top lip, you can plump wherever you and your injector decide will best complement the rest of your facial features.

12. To get your lips injected, you should only see a professional. To avoid a botched job, you’ll want to go to an expert who is highly experienced in this specific procedure.

13. Ten days prior to your procedure, avoid painkillers (except Tylenol), fish oil, and Vitamin E, which tend to thin the blood. (Thinner blood will make the area more prone to bruising and bleeding.)

14. Some slight bruising and bleeding at the site of injection is normal and expected. The bruises should fade after five to seven days. (Lipstick works wonders for camouflaging any bruises.)

15. Don’t expect to get Angelina Jolie’s lips. You can bring in inspiration photos, but ultimately, you and your injector should decide what look is best for your face. You should also expect to increase the size gradually over time, not all at once, for the most natural results.

16. Anyone who has a history of cold sores should take prevention medication two days before the procedure. (Injections could trigger a cold sore.)

17. If you eventually decide to stop getting injections, your lips will return to their original state. Contrary to what you might think, your lips will not turn into saggy, wrinkly skin bags. However, the HA that was injected into your lips has been proven to jump-start collagen production at the site of the injection, so your lips could naturally remain a bit larger, thanks to the previous injections.