How Do I Choose the Right Lip Filler? A Guide to Different Types of Lip Fillers

Have you got thin or lengthened lips that you feel are out of proportion with your rest of facial features? Perhaps you, like many others, think that plump and fuller pouts are more attractive and desirable. Alternatively, you may also have wrinkles and laugh lines around your mouth that make you feel even older than your actual age.

Thinning, lengthening, and volume loss whatever the reason the lip augmentation (lip fillers treatment) can be the real savior.

Here is a guide to various types of lip fillers and merely an overview about choosing the right filler for the patients who are considering lip augmentation surgery in Chicago.

What is Lip Augmentation?

Lip injections or lip fillers have grown in popularity in the past 10 years due to the rising demand for fuller pouty lips. Lip augmentation typically involves injecting a dermal filler into the lips as well as around the mouth, which adds volume, shape, and contour to the area thus creating a desirable plump and full pout.

Lip augmentation also helps in smoothing out lines and wrinkles around the mouth and give the patient a more youthful appearance.

What are Lip Fillers?

Lip fillers are dermal injections that add volume to your lips. They consist of synthetic hyaluronic acid (HA) and there are various brands of lip fillers including Restylane, Juvederm, and Perlane.

Lips fillers are usually used to fill, enhance, and sculpt the lips into an ideally perfect shape and look. Also known as lip augmentation, using fillers to produce beautiful and natural-looking fullness to the lips is easy, quick, minimally invasive, and immediately noticeable-but what are the various types of lip fillers and how can you decipher which filler will work most effectively for your lips.

Plumper and sculpted lips can balance out your facial features and also make you look younger, moreover give you a certain sex appeal. If you desire an effective lip augmentation in Chicago, trust our renowned board certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Dhaval Patel, of the CI Plastic Surgery Clinic in Chicago. He uses the approved lip injections to augment your lips.

Guide to Lip Filler Types

If you are thinking about lip injections but don't know which filler is right for you, we have compiled a list of the most common types of lip fillers which help you make an informed decision. Also, you can use them to make your lips look fuller and improve your appearance.

Hyaluronic Acid (HA Fillers)

Hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers contain hyaluronic acid, a substance naturally produced by the body. HA-based fillers can add volume to the lips and improve their shape and texture. Restylane and Juvederm are some of the most popular lip fillers in the market.

Restylane

Restylane is a line of hyaluronic acid fillers that plastic surgeons commonly inject into the cheeks, lips, nasolabial folds, and mouth. This dermal filler smoothes wrinkles and plumps cheeks and lips when injected.

Plastic Surgeons in Chicago, US may use different Restylane products on different areas of the face. This includes Restylane Silk, an FDA-approved filler for lip and mouth wrinkle procedures.

Restylane Silk contains a smoother, smaller gel that gives patients softer, more precise results. This makes fillers ideal for lip renewal and enlargement. The surgeon can inject the silk into the lips with an ultra-fine needle to ensure maximum precision. Additionally, Restylane Silk contains a local anesthetic called lidocaine, which reduces burning sensations and ensures maximum comfort during the procedure.  

Depending on the number of injection sites, the entire procedure can take from 5 to 30 minutes. If you are going to have this type of Restylane lip injection, you can expect swelling or inflammation after the procedure, although this usually resolves within a couple of hours.

It may take several days for patients to see the full results of the procedure, although many patients have seen immediate results after treatment.

Chicago Institute of Plastic Surgery Clinic offers advanced restylane treatment in Chicago.

Juvederm  

This line of hyaluronic acid fillers helps reverse the signs of aging on the face. Many patients note that it is ideal for increasing the volume of the lips. Juvederm is divided into two lip injections.

• Juvederm Ultra XC
• Juvederm Volbella XC

Both fillers help to improve the fullness of the lips, as well as reduce wrinkles around the lips. Specifically, Volbella XC can give fullness to the lips, minimize signs of aging around the mouth, and improve lip symmetry.

The end result is smooth, very natural lips. The actual procedure involves cleaning the injection site and injecting the Ultra or Volbella XC into the area using an ultra-fine needle. For best results, the surgeon sculpts the substance in the appropriate areas and shapes it by hand.    

Both Ultra and Volbella XC contain lidocaine to reduce discomfort during treatment. The surgeon may also use local anesthesia to numb the injection site before surgery. While these injections require minimal recovery time, surgeons still recommend that patients avoid strenuous activity, sun exposure, makeup, and alcohol for at least 24 hours after surgery.

Collagen Lip Fillers

One of the most common types of dermal filler, have become popular in recent years due to the comfort and more natural look provided by HA fillers. However, compared to HA fillers, collagen lasts longer, and the latter options are considered safer than previous versions. Collagen plumps up lips, while HA fillers not only plump up lips, but also keep water inside lips, making lips look fuller and more natural.

Fat Transfer Lip Injections

A fat transfer lip injection can improve the size, fullness, texture, and symmetry of the lips. Cosmetic surgeons start to offer fat grafting procedures by removing fat cells from a patient's buttocks, abdomen, or thighs (all of which are rich in fat).

The fat is then processed and injected into the lip area. Doctors usually inject 2 to 10 cc of fat into the patient's lips and smile line, although you and your surgeon will need to decide how much and where to inject.

The recovery time after fat transfer injections is much slower and can take weeks. At first, you can expect swelling, bruising, stiffness, chapped lips, and an exaggerated look. After all, fat injections will improve the appearance of your lips, making them more attractive in terms of texture and fullness. These results were related to the stimulation of lip growth and the deposition of fat within the lips.

Lip fat injections provide longer lasting results compared to dermal fillers. However, they are not as popular as HA fillers due to their less predictable absorption rate and higher likelihood of lumpiness.     This process may also require up to three treatments to achieve the desired results.

As with any other cosmetic procedure, you should consult with a reputable, board-certified plastic surgeon like Dr. Dhaval before performing any non-surgical lip injections. This will minimize risk and ensure satisfactory long-term results.

Dr. Dhaval also offers lip augmentation with fat transfer. In this variation, liposuction is used to remove fat from a donor site on your body—usually the hips, thighs, abdomen, or thighs—where it undergoes a thorough cleaning process that allows it to be injected into the lips to create fullness.

Fat grafting is more complex and invasive than non-surgical lip augmentation with dermal fillers. During your initial consultation, Dr. Dhaval can provide you with further information about all of your options.

How to Find the Right Lip Filler that Works for Me?

What’s the best lip filler? It really depends on your anatomy, your desires and your goals. The best way to determine which lip filler will give the desired result is a one-to-one consultation with an experienced plastic surgeon. There are several products, including your own fat that can be used to create both subtle and dramatic lip changes.  

Your plastic surgeon will be able to help you choose the most effective surgery for your specific needs. Dr. Dhaval is the most experienced, caring and trustworthy in his field. By taking the time to truly listen to each patient, we can help you find the best lip augmentation option by working directly with you, listening to your wishes, and providing you with honest information about the pros and cons of each lip filler option.

Schedule a consultation or contact us to discuss your options!