Addressing aesthetic concerns related to the lips can be more straightforward than you might think. The fullness, shape, and symmetry of your lips contribute significantly to your overall facial appearance. If you want to subtly change this shape, lip fillers can offer a targeted solution, providing impactful results that still look natural.
Serving Los Angeles and El Segundo, CA, Beach Cities Vein & Laser Center is dedicated to delivering exceptional patient care with precision and individual focus. In your first consultation, we take the time to understand your particular goals, offering a range of treatment options that are both leading-edge and minimally invasive. With us, you’re in safe and experienced hands when it comes to your aesthetic treatments.
What Are Lip Fillers?
Lip fillers are gel-like substances injected into the lip area to enhance volume, contour, and definition. They are typically composed of hyaluronic acid, a substance that naturally occurs in the body and plays a role in skin hydration. By administering precise amounts of this filler material, we can address specific aesthetic goals, whether it’s adding plumpness, refining shape, or correcting asymmetry.
What Are the Benefits of Lip Fillers?
Volume Enhancement
One of the primary benefits of lip augmentation is the ability to enhance the volume of your lips. This treatment can provide a fuller appearance without being overly dramatic, in line with your natural facial features. It’s an excellent option for those looking to achieve a more youthful, voluminous look in a non-invasive way.
Shape Correction
By using lip fillers, we can correct irregularities in the shape of your lips, creating a more symmetrical and well-defined appearance. Whether it’s minor imbalances or more noticeable asymmetry, a tailored treatment can yield results that are both subtle and significant.
Improved Proportions
Another benefit of lip filler treatment is the improvement of lip-to-face proportions. The treatment can be customized to achieve a balanced look, ensuring that your lips complement the rest of your facial features. This contributes to a harmonious, well-balanced aesthetic.
Cupid’s Bow Definition
For those seeking enhanced definition specifically in the Cupid’s bow area, lip fillers offer a precise solution. The filler material can be administered in a way that emphasizes the natural peaks of the upper lip, creating a more defined and appealing contour.
Reduced Wrinkles
Lip fillers also contribute to smoothing away fine lines and wrinkles around the mouth. This provides a smoother, more youthful appearance, extending the aesthetic benefits beyond just lip enhancement.
What About Side Effects?
Lip fillers are widely well-tolerated and minimally invasive, making them an ideal volume-booster for a wide range of people. However, like any treatment, there are some possible side effects associated with these treatments. These can be loosely categorized into two areas: routine side effects and those more likely to be caused by poor injection techniques.
In the first camp (routine side effects), some patients experience slight discomfort, tenderness, and/or swelling at the injection site. This typically resolves within 2 weeks or less. Outside of some minor bleeding, this is about it in terms of the more common side effects associated with lip fillers, when done correctly.
When not done correctly, lip fillers can cause multiple bumps to form on the lips, causing an uncomfortable sensation and potentially affecting the appearance of the lips. Patients may also experience swelling or bruising, infections (rarely), movement of the filler to other areas, and more significant amounts of pain. Most of these can also affect the symmetry, proportionality, and aesthetic appeal of the lips.
Thankfully, our team of aesthetics experts at Beach Cities Vein & Laser Center of Los Angeles follows the highest standards of care when it comes to lip fillers and all of our other treatments. Our patient-centered approach prioritizes safety, comfort, and effectiveness above all else so you can be confident that your experience will be a smooth one.
Why Choose Lip Fillers?
- Long-Lasting, But Not Permanent: One of the appealing aspects of lip injections is their longevity without permanence. The effects can last for several months, giving you ample time to enjoy the results, yet they are not irreversible if you wish to make adjustments.
- Non-Surgical Improvements: A key advantage of lip filler treatment is that it’s non-surgical, minimizing risks and recovery time. You’ll get noticeable improvements without the need for invasive procedures.
- Quick and Convenient Treatments: Lip filler sessions can often be completed in under an hour, making it easy to fit into your schedule. The treatment usually requires no downtime, allowing you to return to your normal activities shortly after.
- Natural Look, If Desired: With lip fillers, achieving a natural-looking result is entirely possible. We tailor the treatment to your specific goals, whether you’re looking for a small change or a more dramatic enhancement.
What Lip Fillers Do We Offer?
JUVÉDERM®
Among the various types of lip fillers, JUVÉDERM stands out for its smooth consistency and long-lasting results. Made of hyaluronic acid, it offers a versatile approach to lip enhancement, allowing for tailored treatment plans to meet individual needs.
- JUVÉDERM VOLBELLA® XC: Specifically designed for delicate areas like the lips and the lines around them, VOLBELLA XC offers a subtle yet effective approach to lip augmentation.
- JUVÉDERM ULTRA XC: Ideal for those looking to achieve more dramatic volume and plumpness, ULTRA XC serves as a robust option for lip augmentation.
Restylane®
Restylane distinguishes itself among types of lip fillers by offering a range of products specifically designed to work harmoniously with the body’s natural hyaluronic acid. This results in more natural movement and flexibility of the lips, offering a seamless look and feel.
- Restylane Kysse: Designed for both lip volume and texture improvement, Restylane Kysse offers a balanced approach to enhancement.
- Restylane: A versatile option for lip injections, this original product can be used for both moderate and more noticeable volume enhancement.
- Restylane Silk: Created for finer, more detailed work, Restylane Silk is ideal for addressing smaller lines and achieving a smoother texture.
Belotero Balance®
Belotero Balance is unique among types of lip fillers for its ability to integrate seamlessly into the skin, providing extremely natural-looking results. It is particularly effective at smoothing out fine lines without altering the natural contours of your lips, offering a softer, more subtle form of enhancement.
What Is a Typical Lip Filler Treatment Like?
If it’s your first time receiving lip filler treatment, or if it’s been a while, there’s no reason to feel anxious or intimidated by this simple treatment process. At Beach Cities Vein & Laser Center, we want each patient to feel confidently informed about every step of their treatment, and will happily answer any and all questions you have regarding how the treatment works.
While the process may vary slightly depending on the specific lip filler you choose, the general outline is as follows:
First, your provider will meet with you to assess your eligibility for the treatment (including allergies and preexisting health conditions), your expectations, medications you’re taking, and so on. As part of this process, they will evaluate your facial proportions, often taking measurements and/or photographs.
When it’s time for the actual treatment, the provider will numb the treatment area using a local anesthetic to ensure you remain as comfortable as possible for the injection. Depending on the anesthetic used, it will likely take several minutes for the numbing effect to fully take hold.
Then, the needle is inserted into the lips to inject the lip filler. The number and location of injections depends on your unique presentation and desires. Injections can help to enhance and define fine details and/or provide an overall boost in lip volume.
Immediately after the injection, your provider may massage the area to help the filler integrate into the tissue. Ice is commonly applied right after treatment to minimize any initial swelling. After a brief monitoring period of several minutes, watching out for any atypical reactions to the injection, you are then done with the treatment and able to go home.
How to Make Each Treatment Last
Outside of factors unique to your body, such as the speed at which you metabolize the hyaluronic acid used in fillers, there are several practices that can influence how long your results last.
For example, protecting your lips from exposure to the sun as much as possible is vital to extending the results of lip filler treatment. Combining avoidance of direct sun exposure, use of sunscreen, and lip products with SPF will give you the best chance of preserving your results in this regard.
Healthy nutrition and exercise are also vital to preserving your lip filler treatment results. Foods fortified in antioxidants can fight off damage caused by free radicals, an issue that the lips are not immune to. Adequate hydration keeps the skin from drying out as easily, which will prevent degradation of the lip filler. Lip exercises enhance circulation to the area, but it’s important to be gentle in order to avoid damaging the filler.
Finally, carefully following all aftercare guidelines as issued by your treatment provider is always a good idea when looking to maintain your results for as long as possible. This includes returning for maintenance visits as needed.
How Much Do Lip Fillers Cost?
The cost of any given lip filler treatment can vary significantly based on a number of factors, including the type of filler used, the amount of filler used, and any outside fees associated with the overall treatment process (like consultation fees).
To provide a ballpark range, most people can reasonably expect to spend between $500 and $2,000 for a single lip filler treatment. In general, 1-2 treatments a year are enough for most people to maintain the appearance of full, voluminous lips. Follow-up treatments may require less filler for smaller touch-ups or more generous amounts if the results have diminished significantly.
Because lip fillers are an elective cosmetic procedure, insurance carriers will not cover them. However, if this procedure is deemed medically necessary—to help repair the tissue after suffering significant damage, for example—it is possible that a lip filler treatment may be covered. While it’s unlikely that an insurance will cover lip filler treatment, it never hurts to check your policy and confirm, including contacting your provider directly.
Lip Filler FAQs
How Long Do Lip Fillers Last?
The length of time that your lip filler results can last will change depending on the specific product used and individual metabolic factors, but generally, you can expect the results to last between six and 12 months. Regular touch-ups can help maintain the desired appearance over a longer period.
Are Lip Fillers Painful?
Concerns about discomfort are common when considering any cosmetic treatment. Most lip fillers are formulated with anesthetic agents like lidocaine to minimize discomfort during the treatment. While you may experience some mild tenderness or swelling immediately after, the overall process is generally well-tolerated.
Who Is a Good Candidate for Lip Fillers?
A good candidate for lip fillers is generally someone in good health who has realistic expectations about the results. Individuals looking to enhance the volume, shape, or proportion of their lips can benefit from this treatment. However, it’s important to consult with us to discuss your specific concerns and to ensure that lip fillers are the right option for you.
Plump, Kissable Lips With Lip Fillers
If you’re considering lip fillers and are in the Los Angeles and El Segundo, CA, area, we offer a range of options tailored to meet your aesthetic goals at Beach Cities Vein & Laser Center. We are here to discuss your goals in a detailed consultation. To get started, give us a call at (310) 904-6681 or fill out our online form to schedule your appointment.