Everything You Should Know Before Getting Lip Injections

Lip injections are the hottest new cosmetic surgery trend. Ever since Kylie Jenner started to flaunt her new lips, many young women wanted to get lips that look just like hers. 29,797 people got lip augmentation surgery in the year 2017, according to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. This is a 60% increase from the year 2000 when only 18,589 people got the procedure done. It may not be among the top 5 or top 10 most popular surgical procedures, but it is still very popular. In fact, every twenty minutes, somebody gets the procedure done according to CBS News.

Whether you want the Kylie Jenner effect or you want a more subtle effect, it is important for you to stay informed about what to expect from your lip augmentation procedure. You have most likely seen the plastic surgery horror stories from this procedure in the news or plastered on social media. Being informed about this procedure can cause your results to look as great as possible and cause you to avoid getting an infection. Read on to find out what to expect from getting lip augmentation, potential risk factors, and side effects and how to stay safe:

Avoid putting lipstick on immediately after getting lip injections.

After getting lip fillers, you might want to see how your new lips look in your favorite shades of lipstick. You might also want to apply Chapstick or other lip products to your lips since they can feel dry after lip injections. However, do not apply lipstick or any lip products to your lips right away, according to WebMD. This is because your lips might be swollen immediately after the procedure. Therefore it is important not to apply pressure to your lips until the swelling goes down, or about a day after getting lip fillers. In the meantime, you can keep your lips hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids.

Use ice to heal lip swelling.

Lip swelling and bruising is a common side effect after getting lip fillers. You may love your lips’ new shape but you can do without the swelling and discomfort. Fortunately, ice can help to lower the swelling. According to the Dermatology Physicians of Connecticut, you should apply ice to your lips every hour you are awake for ten to twenty-minute intervals. You should apply the ice to your lips for at least two days. Do not apply a lot of pressure to your lips, especially on the day you got your lip fillers. After your lips heal, it should feel natural.

You may experience bleeding from the injection site.

If you notice that your lips are bleeding after getting lip injections, do not be alarmed. It is normal to experience injection site bleeding after getting lip fillers. If you are experiencing bleeding, make sure that you keep the area clean and avoid touching it so that it does not become infected. If you are experiencing more significant bleeding, you should go to the doctor as soon as possible. Taking blood thinners, such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, ginkgo, garlic, cayenne, and St. John Wort, can cause you to bleed more. Therefore, you should avoid taking them two weeks before and after getting lip fillers according to Dermatology Physicians of Connecticut.

You may get a cold sore on your lips.

If you have even gotten cold sores, which is from the Herpes Simplex Virus 1, it could be pretty embarrassing to go outside, let alone discuss it with others. But if you think you might have the virus, it is important to discuss it with your physician. If you do not disclose the fact that you have a history of cold sores, you are more likely to get a cold sore soon after getting lip fillers. This is because needle punctures can trigger cold sores, according to Shilpi Khetarpal, MD. If you get cold sores, your doctor will give you a dose of valacyclovir, better known as Valtrex, right before you get lip fillers to prevent cold sores.

Swelling should not last more than a week.

Although swelling can be uncomfortable, it should only last a week at most before you are ready to show your new, beautiful lips to the world. This is why you should get lip fillers done about two weeks before a special occasion, such as a wedding. Otherwise than applying ice, if you are experiencing lip swelling after lip fillers, you should avoid excessive heat. This includes hot yoga, saunas, or Jacuzzis according to The Spotlyte. If you continue to experience swelling after a week or your swelling gets worse over time, you should go to a doctor to see if you would need antibiotics for the swelling. Worsening or excessive swelling can be a sign of infection.

Few people experience an infection or allergic reaction.

Some people have an allergic reaction after getting lip fillers. That is because some brands of lip fillers, such as Juvederm, could have lidocaine inside of it according to WebMD. This is a drug that some people are allergic to. If you are allergic to lidocaine, tell your doctor before getting lip injections so that they can give you fillers without lidocaine. People who get lip fillers are more susceptible to infection. This is because getting lip punctures can affect your immune system. You are also more likely to get infections following lip fillers if you get cold sores on your lips. If you get an infection from lip fillers, go to your doctor immediately for antibiotics.

It can be dangerous if the doctor performing injected into a blood vessel.

In 2015, the FDA issued a warning about facial filler complications. One of these complications occurs when doctors accidentally inject the needle into a blood vessel. This can be especially dangerous because inserting fillers into blood vessels can block the blood supply to tissues in the body. It can also travel to different parts of the body and result in stroke, vision problems, blindness, and damage and death to the skin. Luckily, people who get lip fillers are less at risk for doctors injecting into a blood vessel than people who get other fillers, such as Botox. Risky areas include between the eyebrow and nose, in and around the nose, on the forehead, and around the eyes.

Your lips should not have lumps or asymmetry afterward.

After getting lip fillers, your lips should feel plumper and more beautiful than ever. Unfortunately, some people experience lumps after getting lip fillers. This is because the doctor inserted the filler unevenly according to Sutton Graham II, MD. People who get lumps on their lips can try to hide their lips or begin to regret getting fillers. The good news is that massaging your lips over time can help the lumps to eventually dissolve. If this does not work, a doctor can use an enzyme called hyaluronidase to remove extra filler material. You should only consider using hyaluronidase if the lumps on your lips stay after a couple of weeks.

You also should not have stiffening or ulceration of the lips.

When you get lip fillers, you are more likely to get canker sores on your lips. Canker sores are ulcers that usually appear on your lips when you are stressed out. Unlike cold sores, canker sores are not contagious, but they can still be uncomfortable. Like cold sores, needle punctures from lip fillers could trigger canker sores. Canker sores could range in size. They are usually minor, but can also be major or even herpetiform in appearance, according to Mayo Clinic. Herpetiform canker sores may look like cold sores in appearance but are not caused by the Herpes Simplex virus. Ulceration of the lips can also occur if a doctor uses a filler that is too thick for your lips, according to Kristine Brecht, MD. Massaging over time can help.

Fillers are usually priced per syringe.

If you want the Kylie Jenner look, you probably would have to shell more money and get multiple lip injections over time to achieve the results. However, if you would like a more subtle look, you’re in luck! Lip injections cost anywhere between $500 to $2,000 based on how much syringes you get, but it usually costs around $600, according to Groupon. And since lip injections are very popular, you can find deals for lip injections for less on websites like Groupon and pulsd. This can add up, especially if you are going to the doctor every six months to get new fillers. However, you do not want to buy the fillers yourself online, since it can be dangerous to administer these chemicals in your lips without a doctor present. Lip plumpers are less than $40 but can lead to swollen, bruised lips.

Lip fillers and other cosmetic procedures are usually not covered by insurance.

If you get lip fillers often, you might want to find ways to save money from the procedure. There are many procedures that can be covered by health insurance, including some forms of plastic surgery. Unfortunately, lip fillers are not covered by health insurance. This is because lip fillers are a form of cosmetic surgery, which is a procedure to make the patient feel better about their appearance. Only reconstructive plastic surgery is covered by health insurance or surgeries that either improve the human body’s function or reconstructs the physical appearance of a person. If you are unable to pay the cost of lip fillers all at once, you can ask your doctor if there are any payment plans available.

You probably should not get lip injections if you smoke cigarettes.

Many people who smoke cigarettes still get lip fillers, such as Juvederm. Although doctors reiterate that smoking is bad for your health, it should not have an effect on the appearance of your fillers. As well, some people who smoke cigarettes get facial fillers to reduce their ”smoker lines” around their lips. But according to a study done by the Journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, smoking can have detrimental effects on people who get lip fillers. In a May 2008 study, all four of the patients who smoked suffered from late infections between two to six months after getting lip fillers.

Only go to a qualified doctor that you trust to get lip injections.

It may seem obvious to only go to a qualified doctor to get lip injections. But there are still many people who choose to go to unlicensed clinics because of the cheaper price tag. Unfortunately, many of the people who go to these clinics quickly find out that they get what they paid for. For example, a 24-year-old woman from England experienced pus oozing out of her lips because she got cheap lip fillers. Also, a 29-year-old woman from England experienced lips that swell so much they touched her nose after she got lip injections from a Botox party.

Ask doctors to see before and after pictures of lip injection clients.

Just because a doctor is qualified to give lip injections, it does not that they have a lot of experience in giving lip injections. If they do not have a lot of years in the field or they do not have many before and after pictures of their work, there is a chance that you could end up with undesirable results. According to a review on Real Self, a patient found out that her doctor was actually photoshopping the results of her clients before and after pictures. She realized this when the doctor posted a photoshopped full face picture of her on the doctor’s professional Instagram page.

Look up your prospective doctor’s qualifications before getting lip injections.

It is important to know your doctor’s qualifications before you schedule a lip injection appointment with them. There are several doctors who are qualified to perform lip injections according to WebMD. The first type of doctor is a certified plastic surgeon. Websites, such as Plastic Surgeon Match from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons show before and after pictures of procedures such as lip augmentation for all of the doctors in their system. The second type is a dermatologist. Since dermatologists specialize in the skin, face, and lips, they have plenty of experience with beauty procedures of this nature. The third type is cosmetic facial surgeons. They specialize in facial procedures, such as lip injections and rhinoplasty and would, therefore, have more experience than regular plastic surgeons.

Only get lip injections if you are 100% sure about the decision.

Some people might get pressure to get lip injections from friends, significant others, or even social media. But if you are not getting lip injections due to your own personal preference, you should think twice before doing it. Since everyone has differently shaped lips, you might get different results from your friends or your favorite influencer on social media. Also, if your partner does not accept you the way you are, you two might not be physically compatible. If your results do not turn out the way that you expected, you would have to live with it for at least six months.

If you have an autoimmune disease, such as lupus, you might not be a good candidate for lip injections.

Some people who have lupus choose to get lip fillers and other dermal fillers. Since people with lupus are especially prone to skin issues, such as wrinkles and scarring, they often get dermal fillers as reconstruction plastic surgery that can be covered by insurance costs. If the person who has lupus is relatively healthy, getting lip fillers should not be a problem. But according to Anna Sylwestrowicz MD, lupus patients could be sensitive to hyaluronic acid, the filler that is used in most fillers. If it is used in low doses, the patient should be fine, but they should not be exposed to high doses of hyaluronic acid.

If you have blood-clotting issues, you probably shouldn’t get lip injections.

Patients with blood clotting issues can experience worse effects if they get lip injections. First of all, they might have to take blood thinners regularly, such as Warfarin and Heparin. If you are taking blood thinners, you should stop two weeks before and after getting lip fillers. This may not be possible if you have a blood clotting disorder. It would also be more dangerous for someone with blood-clotting issues to get a filler that isn’t made of hyaluronic acid. Other fillers such as collagen and fat transfers, can cause blood clotting issues, according to the Aesthetic Surgery Journal. This would be especially dangerous for people who already have blood clotting problems.

If you have uncontrolled diabetes, do not get lip injections.

It can be dangerous for people with diabetes to go through any type of surgical procedures. That is because diabetes affects the immune system and could leave your body more susceptible to infection. Diabetes can also cause poor circulation throughout the body. Therefore, you should only get lip injections if your diabetes is well controlled. This can be done by checking a patient’s hemoglobin A1C levels. When a patient has high blood sugar, it is easier for them to get an infection. Therefore, someone with diabetes has to be extra careful not to get infections by swabbing the potential infection site with antiseptic. They must also take antibiotics if they already have an infection.

The most common filler for lip injections is hyaluronic acid.

When lip injections first became popular, collagen used to be the most popular filler to use for lip fillers. Recently, hyaluronic acid became the most popular filler used in these fillers according to WebMD. This material is found in the top brands of lip fillers, including Juvederm and Restylane. This filler became popular because it can be found naturally in our body. It also lasts longer and is safer than collagen fillers. Some people also use fat injections instead of injecting a filler in their lips. This procedure could take longer because it requires liposuction to remove fat from a part of your body to transfer to your lips.

Lip injections only last six months.

When you first look into lip injections, you might think that the effects last forever. Unfortunately, they only last for about six months to a year according to WebMD. However, the effects are based on the size of your lips, how thick the fillers you got were, and how much fillers you got. For people with fuller lips, the effects of the filler sometimes even last only four to five months. People choose to get more injections over short periods of time for long-lasting results. People also choose to embrace their natural lips or use makeup to create the illusion of fuller lips between lip injection appointments.

Hyaluronic acid has many benefits over collagen and fat injections.

Hyaluronic acid is better than collagen and fat injections because people are unlikely to experience allergic reactions from the material since hyaluronic acid is in our body according to WebMD. However, if the hyaluronic acid fillers have lidocaine in it, people can still develop allergic reactions. The fillers also allow control over lip volume, since it is a gel. It can also be given gradually over time and not all at once. This is best for if someone wants very full lips. There is also less bruising and bumps dissolve easier from hyaluronic acid fillers than other fillers. Although results are not permanent, hyaluronic acid gives longer lasting effects than other fillers.

Most lip injection procedures are very quick.

Many surgical procedures take a long time and have a lengthy recovery time. The good thing about getting lip injections is that you would be in and out of the clinic in no time according to WebMD. First of all, the doctor uses a numbing agent to numb the area where you will get your lip injections. Then, they mark the area that they will inject the filler into. After, the doctor uses very fine needles to inject the filler into your lips. After the procedure is done, the doctor may use ice for swelling. If not, you can apply ice when you get home. After leaving the doctor, it usually only takes between 24 to 48 hours for you to return to normal.

Do not go to the dentist until for two weeks before and after getting lip fillers.

You might want to visit the dentist soon after getting lip fillers. Your new lips would look even better with a perfect smile. Unfortunately, you would have to wait until two weeks after getting lip fillers according to the Dermatology Physicians of Connecticut. This is because getting lip fillers could make your lips more sensitive, which would make a dentist appointment super uncomfortable. It can even affect the appearance of your lips or cause infection. Getting lip fillers can also increase bleeding in or around your mouth. Dental work can also cause or increase bleeding, so lip fillers and dental work make a bad combination. Luckily after a couple of weeks, you can have it all, great lips and a perfect smile.