Have your lips gotten smaller and thinner as you age? Do you want to get fuller lips or get rid of the wrinkles around the side of your mouth? A wide variety of remedies exist, including lip fillers.

Lip fillers are a type of dermal filler that involves injecting synthetic hyaluronic acid (HA) into a patient's lips to increase their volume. If you want to change or correct the shape and size of your lips, here are 5 important things you need to know beforehand.

1. What Happens Before a Lip Filler Procedure?

Your medical provider will need to evaluate your general health before administering lip fillers. You will need to disclose the following:

• Any pre-existing medical conditions
• Allergies
• Any medication you're currently on; prescription or over-the-counter drugs 
• Vitamins and supplements

Certain drugs may counteract with lip fillers, which is why the disclosure is important. Your practitioner has to ascertain that you are in good health, both physically and mentally, to clear you for the procedure.

2. How Long Does a Lip Filler Procedure Take?

The lip filler procedure takes between 30 minutes to 2 hours, depending on your desired outcome. Your lips will be numbed before the injection to minimize pain. The numbing cream may take about 15-30 minutes to take effect before the procedure can begin.

3. What's the Recovery Time?

After a lip filler injection, you may experience swelling which subsides within a day or two and in some cases, up to a week. Other side effects you may experience after your lip filler procedure include:

• Increased sensitivity around the lips
• Mild bruising

You will be monitored for about 15 minutes post-op for signs of dizziness or bleeding, after which you may be discharged. Complete recovery should be expected in about two weeks after the procedure, with results lasting 9-12 months.

4. When Should You Follow Up With Your Healthcare Provider?

A mandatory follow-up appointment is scheduled for two weeks after your lip filler procedure to monitor your lips and discuss the final results.

While lip filler procedures are generally safe when performed by a licensed cosmetic professional, in some cases patients may experience serious side effects such as: 

• Bleeding in the injection sites
• Lip discoloration
• Bacterial infection
• Cold sores

If you notice any of these signs after your procedure, consult your doctor immediately.

5. Finding the Right Healthcare Provider

Always make sure to get your lip fillers from a qualified and experienced professional. They will discuss your needs and expectations for the procedure beforehand and help determine if you're a good candidate for lip filler to help you make an informed decision.

Enhance Your Smile with Pure Skin Lip Fillers

At Pure Skin, we offer a wide range of dermal filler services. Our trained team will walk you through every option to help you decide on the right one for you. Reward yourself with a new and improved smile with our lip filler treatment. Contact us today to book an appointment.