Few are blessed with naturally voluminous lips, complete with cupid’s bow and pinpoint proportions. But that doesn’t mean you can’t achieve a perky pout. You need only visit Beauty 2.0 Aesthetics in Port Moody, BC, where we regularly perform lip augmentations with injectable fillers. These popular treatments are designed to beautifully balance and perfectly plump lips for a more youthful appearance.
How Does Lip Augmentation Work?
Most lip fillers are made with hyaluronic acid (HA) and, once injected directly into the lips, increase size and volume. HA is beneficial because it not only plumps the lips but also traps water from within to deliver a healthy, natural-looking pout.
To really understand this process, it’s important to first know what HA is. This sugar derivative is produced naturally in the body to hydrate eyes, joints, and skin. The power of this compound is hard to fully grasp; it can bind to and retain water molecules equal to 1,000 times its own weight. With such moisturizing abilities, HA makes for a perfect filler: it is biologically inspired, protects tissues, and gives long-lasting results.
Understanding Hyaluronic Acid
The body synthesizes several grams of HA each day. Vitamin C and iron help break it down and then send it to the liver for excretion. This process, which is constantly on repeat, provides you with fresh and renewed HA levels akin to the body’s production of new bone cells. Both must be regularly swept away to allow stronger, newer cells to emerge.
HA molecules spend no more than a day in the skin. They are then broken down, the formerly long molecular chains disintegrating into smaller pieces that must be removed. This cycle of breaking down and renewing is critical to skin’s health. But with age, HA production gradually declines. The skin grows dry and brittle, and as it loses natural volume, wrinkles and fine lines develop.
HA for the Lips
When used as a lip injectable, HA allows for targeted placement. Unlike fat or collagen injections, which are thicker and less malleable, HA also allows us to control the volume we add, allowing for controlled results that maintain your lips’ natural contours. Injectables that contain this ingredient can also:
- Correct the shape of your lips
- Improve lip texture
- Deliver pillowy or subtle effects, depending on your beauty goals
If you’re unsure of the appearance you want, we can gradually build volume until we achieve the desired results. This involves a series of injections spaced far enough apart that we can see the effects of each. Results last between eight and 12 months as the body slowly metabolizes HA. Maintenance appointments can then help retain your softer and fuller lips.
The Fuller Lip Craze
Before proceeding with augmentation, our staff will look at your face and determine the best way to enhance your lips without going to extremes. The motto that “less is more” aptly applies to this treatment.
We may also try to maintain a ratio so that your lips remain proportionate to the rest of your features. To illustrate, a 2017 study revealed most people prefer a ratio of 1:2 between upper and lower lip sizes. This echos what we already know to be largely true: lips that are big, but not overly so, are generally considered the most attractive.
History of Lip Plumping
The first metal retractable tube for lipstick hit the market in 1915. This product was intended as a convenient way to achieve sexy, colorful lips more easily than previous cosmetics allowed. Then, in the 1920s, flappers began increasing their lip appearance by overfilling with lipstick. This bold and somewhat shocking move eventually gave way to public obsession with lips, when Marilyn Monroe became a 1950s icon – thanks in part to her red lips.
Monroe opened doors for women to not just look attractive, but to embrace their sexuality as well. Lips have long been considered a marker in desirability, meaning they’ve always communicated a sexual cue to potential partners. In a cultural context, full lips send the message you are capable of intercourse (strange as that sounds, it’s actually rooted in scientific studies).
The Science of Larger Lips
Larger lips have been proven to take this one step further and suggest you’re excited about the prospect of intimacy. That you are looking for and ready to have a relationship. While this may not be your intent in seeking lip augmentation, the message on a subconscious level is real: that you are a sexual being and proud of it. This is probably why men consistently rate lips as one of the features they find most attractive.
What to Expect during Treatment
We begin by applying a topical numbing agent to your lips. Lidocaine is popular because it’s non-invasive and works quickly, allowing you to simply relax for 10 minutes or so until you’re numb. We then look closely at your lips to determine the best spots for injections based on your desired results.
Having said that now is a good time to broach the subject of pictures. You’re welcome to bring in a photo of somebody’s lips you admire, but we want you to have realistic expectations. No two lips are the same, so we can’t promise you’ll look exactly like your favorite celebrity. Based on what you specify, however, we can plump your lips in a way that closely mimics the size and shape you’re after.
Symmetry Is Important
To be successful, lip augmentation relies on symmetry. This means getting both sides of each lip to match each other. While maneuvering the injectable needle, we will monitor how much product we deliver. We’ll also continually evaluate your lips for changes in size and shape to ensure consistent results.
After we remove the needle, we may gently and briefly massage your lips. This helps us ensure the injectable is evenly distributed. While the injectables themselves only take about 10 minutes, your session in total may last 30 to 45 minutes. You can drive yourself home, and you don’t need to worry about downtime.
Aftercare Suggestions
Caring for your lips after treatment is pretty simple. We recommend you eat foods that are mess-free and easy to chew to reduce the number of times you need to wipe your mouth. This deters from hitting or rubbing the injection sites. We also recommend that you:
- Avoid kissing or massaging your lips for 24 hours after your appointment
- Wash gently and avoid exfoliating products for 24 hours
- Delay facial massage appointments for at least two weeks
- Skip beverage straws for at least one day (they apply pressure to the lips)
- Opt for water instead of alcohol, just for the first day
The Truth About Lip Fillers
By dispelling myths, we can show you that lip augmentation is a simple and effective treatment that leaves no cause for worry. We’ll start with a big misconception, that fillers permanently stretch soft tissues. Many patients believe that after this happens, they’ll be forced to get repeated treatments to avoid a deflated look.
The truth is that hyaluronic acid adds volume by filling rather than stretching. As a secondary effect, it also restores moisture, therefore increasing the thickness of dermis. When tissues are hydrated, they naturally bulk up in size. This is a positive result, one that helps lips look more supple than before. It’s especially beneficial for patients with lip lines caused by age, smoking, diet, or other factors.
Lip Fillers Are for All Ages
Patients also tend to believe augmentation is only for older people whose tissues have thinned with time. But in reality, any adult who wants fuller lips can benefit from this treatment. The only requisite is that you wish to keep your features in proportion with each other, meaning that you don’t want “over-done” lips that visibly look like they’ve been treated. Natural-looking results are more on-trend.
Patients we don’t recommend this treatment for include women who are pregnant or breastfeeding. It may also be advisable to refrain from treatment if you take blood thinners, suffer from a chronic skin infection, or have inflammation near your lips.
Results Can Look Very Natural
As mentioned earlier, lips that look naturally plump are on-point with current beauty trends. Excessively full or swollen-looking lips are usually the results of poor technique. At our office, we know exactly how much gel to inject, where the best injection points are, and how to achieve your desired results without going overboard.
You should also know that HA is an easily-controlled substance. We can mold and shape it into place after injection. This helps prevent bumps, lumps, and other undesirable effects so you have the smooth and sexy pout you want.
It’s Best To Gradually Increase Your Lip Size
Contrary to the belief that lots of lip filler should be delivered at once, the better option is to gradually ease into plumper lips. This is especially true of people with naturally thin lips who want to increase their volume. Doing so slowly will help you find the size you want – and eliminate any chance of the dreaded duck lips.
It is key to build layers of injectables for the smoothest lips possible. Following this recommendation will help you gradually adjust to your new appearance and ensure the results match your facial shape and contours.
Benefits of Lip Injectables
Near the top of this list is time; you don’t have to wait to see results. Within 24 hours, the fruits of your treatment will become visible. Full effects may take a few days to appear, but ultimately, this therapy works much more quickly than most treatments.
Additionally, hyaluronic acid benefits your skin and its underlying tissues. We devote great time and attention to the skin on our faces, but we rarely focus on lip health. The lips are, however, subject to chapping, dryness, peeling, and flaking. HA helps correct these concerns by restoring moisture below the surface, where true healing occurs.
More Advantages
Fillers also provide longer-lasting results than store-bought products that promise to plump lips but only provide temporary swelling. The effects of fillers are predictable, especially when you start gradually. Many patients are so pleased with their results that they begin thinking of other treatments – such as Botox or microneedling – to further enhance their appearance.
Last but not least, fuller lips can bring attention to your other features. Lips that have thinned with age usually lack balance when compared to the rest of the face. Similarly, naturally thin lips can take away from your eyes, cheeks, and face shape. Adding lip volume is an ideal way to rejuvenate your whole face at any age.
Ready for Plumper Lips?
Plumper lips can be yours in less time than you think. HA injectables improve lip health, texture, and appearance. They are safe for most patients and can be administered during a lunch hour. In short, these treatments can quickly help you look younger and sexier. Call the office of Beauty 2.0 Aesthetics in Port Moody, BC, today to schedule your appointment.
