When it comes to lip filler, how long should you wait before scheduling your next appointment?
Lip Filler: We all love it. 😍 And for good reason: A pop of HA filler in the lips is the cherry on top of an already-gorgeous face. The goal with lip filler is to augment your lips so that they enhance your entire complexion and blend well with your other features. So, how often should you get your lips filled to achieve the perfect pout?
Well, there is definitely a methodology to creating the ultimate luscious lips. I call it: The Lip Build. This method is customizable to every client and ensures that your lips are filled with just the right amount of HA year-round.
What’s The Lip Build?
During The Lip Build process, we’ll use hyaluronic acid (HA) filler, no more than 1-2 syringe(s) at a time, max, to shape and add volume to your lips. At the onset of a Lip Build, if you’ve had previous lip filler, the best action plan is to do a Lip Rehab, where we dissolve all of the old filler with hyaluronidase and then begin a Lip Build to achieve the perfect pair of lips for you.
Once we’ve dissolved (if necessary), we’ll begin with 1-2 syringe(s) MAX to start your Lip Build. After this initial treatment, we’ll assess the results and either do another round of building, where we add more filler where it’s needed, or, if we’re happy with the results, we’ll schedule your next lip appointment in 9-12 months to assess what your lips need at that time.
Ideally, after perfecting your Lip Build, you’ll come in for a maintenance appointment once a year. Since we’ve finished the initial building process, we can maintain the look or slightly alter it with annual treatments. However, I often see my clients 2-4 times a year for neurotoxin treatment, so that’s also an excellent opportunity for me to check in on the lips!
Lip Filler Is All About Balance
There’s a perfect balance that we as injectors are always trying to achieve when filling lips: We want to create an increase in volume, but not so much that it overpowers the rest of your face. That’s why the Lip Build process is my obsession: it ensures that you’ll achieve a natural-looking, gradually more voluminous result over a period of time.
While HA filler has been studied and proven to be extremely safe, nodules and granulomas (small painless bumps that may usually be treated with antibiotics) can still occur. Sometimes, these can even occur months or years after you’ve been injected. If you’re continually loading your lips with syringe after syringe of filler from a myriad of different injectors and not following a specific treatment plan, you may be more at risk for the formation of nodules and granulomas. You also likely won’t have a record of what type or how much filler has been injected into your lips.
That’s why dissolving old filler is typically the best bet if you’ve had your lips filled repeatedly but still aren’t seeing the results you want. Starting from scratch means that we’ll be in control of exactly how much filler we place in your lips and how frequently we treat you. Keeping a detailed record and continually assessing results is SO essential when performing the perfect Lip Build.
Every Lip Filler Patient Is Different
When it comes to lips in general, everyone is different. Depending on your desired outcome, you may need a longer or shorter Lip Build process, you may need to dissolve and start all over, or we may just need to tweak a few things here and there. No matter the situation, with consistency and patience, you can have lips you love.
The most important thing is remaining consistent with your injector and trusting the process. I much prefer to start with a bit of filler and build up to a fuller look than to automatically pump your lips full of tons of product. When we’re slow and steady, we achieve the best results and the lips that dreams are made of. 💋
Do you have more questions about lip filler or my Lip Build process? Visit us online at CULT Aesthetics 💉or on Instagram @cultclinics. Book a consultation with us HERE, or call CULT Aesthetics office in Uptown, Dallas, TX at 469-720-1086 or Atlanta, Georgia at 678-812-2212.
Resources
Czumbel, László Márk, et al. “Hyaluronic Acid Is an Effective Dermal Filler for Lip Augmentation: A Meta-Analysis.” Frontiers in Surgery, Frontiers Media S.A., 6 Aug. 2021, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8377277/.
Luthra, Amit. “Shaping Lips with Fillers.” Journal of Cutaneous and Aesthetic Surgery, Medknow Publications & Media Pvt Ltd, 2015, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4645142/.
Trinh, Lily Nguyen, et al. “Delayed Granulomas as a Complication Secondary to Lip Augmentation with Dermal Fillers: A Systematic Review.” The Surgery Journal, Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., 3 Mar. 2022, https://www.thieme-connect.de/products/ejournals/html/10.1055/s-0042-1743524.
Werschler, W Philip, et al. “Development and Validation of a Photographic Scale for Assessment of Lip Fullness.” Aesthetic Surgery Journal, Oxford University Press, Mar. 2015, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4615891/.
