There are four major components to the structural makeup of your face. They are skin, fat, muscle and bone, and as you age, they all can be affected by time and gravity.
When these components are affected, it can mean volume loss and the development of visible signs of aging, such as wrinkles, lines and creases.
Dermal fillers, an injectable treatment designed to help smooth lines and replenish lost volume, help to restore a more youthful appearance.
One place that dermal filler injections can help reverse the signs of aging is the lips.
What Are Dermal Fillers?
Dermal filler injections are soft, gel-like substances injected under the skin to give that area a boost. They can be used to treat several concerns, including deep under-eye circles, sunken cheekbones and creases around the nose and mouth (nasolabial folds).
Dermal filler injections can also help smooth out lip lines and increase the volume of your lips.
Dermal fillers are made up of both naturally occurring and synthetic filler material. One of the most common substances found in dermal fillers is the compound known as hyaluronic acid (HA). HA is naturally occurring in the body and plays a vital role in keeping our skin cells volumized and hydrated.
Dermal fillers used for lips can also include collagen, a vital protein to maintaining your skin’s health.
When injected, lip fillers can give your lips a subtle – or not-so-subtle – boost.
Lip injections are increasing in demand as they are significantly less invasive than lip implants and cost less. But are they safe?
Are Lip Injections Safe?
Lip injections/lip fillers are very safe — when administered by the right hands. There are some things you’re going to want to consider when you are thinking about lip injections. We’ve put together a helpful guide to help you decide if they’re right for you.
Materials. When thinking about lip injections, we first want you to consider what product your provider is using. Anything that they use should be FDA-approved and list lip enhancements as one of its indicated uses.
The best and most commonly recommended lip fillers are hyaluronic acid fillers, including Juvederm and Restylane. These fillers produce consistent and predictable results, have a very low risk of side effects and have no downtime after your treatment. Also, if you don’t like your results, hyaluronic acid-based fillers are easy to reverse if needed.
As dermal fillers may be expensive, some individuals have tried to save some money by using lip fillers purchased online or through the black market. While it may be tempting to do, let us caution you now that cheaper isn’t always better. There are plenty of things that you can DIY, but lip fillers should not be one of them.
Using cheaper products may mean injecting yourself with materials that are not FDA-approved and not even safe for your body, including hair gel and caulk used for household repairs.
In recent years, there have been multiple reports in media outlets and medical articles about the dangerous complications of using poor quality or dangerous lip filler injections that can cause an allergic reaction or even disfigurement.
Experience. Does the provider you’re using for your lip injections have the expertise in administering these injectables? We recommend that you seek out board-certified plastic surgeons who are well versed in facial tissues and have experience administering injectables.
Using someone who is less qualified for your injectable filler can put you at risk of having negative results, such as lumps and bumps or uneven distribution of material, meaning your lips could be uneven.
That is honestly the least of your worries if you use someone who is not qualified. Unfortunately, you’re also at risk of your tissues dying and even stroke and blindness that could occur if your fillers are not placed correctly, damaging blood vessels and affecting blood flow.
The FDA has issued an official warning urging consumers to “never buy dermal fillers on the internet. They may be fake, contaminated or harmful.”
Again, while we know it is tempting to have your stylist, dentist or even your best friend’s cousin do your lip injections at the neighborhood Botox party, please save yourself the risk of pain and more costs. Note: Don’t get Botox at these parties, either, OK?
Trust us; you want to use someone who is qualified in administering lip injections. There’s a lot that goes into the process beyond just inserting a needle into your lip.
Dr. Peterson is a dual-board-certified plastic surgeon, and he has the experience you need. As a result, he can be trusted when it comes to administering your lip injections, as well as dermal fillers and endotoxin (Botox, Dysport) injectables.
You can rest assured that you’re in good hands for lip injections and all your aesthetic and plastic surgery needs.
Call us now to schedule an appointment to discuss your options for lip injectables.
