Trusted providers will always inform patients that the effects of lip fillers are not permanent and will gradually wear off over a period of four to six months. It is important to be prepared to commit to touch-up treatments in order to maintain the desired results, ensuring that the lips maintain a consistent and even volume with the right amounts of filler administered each time. Since lip fillers are created using natural enzymes, the body processes them over time, making them effective yet temporary. The rate at which the treatment is processed depends on an individual's metabolism.
The experts at Body+Beauty Lab can provide an estimate of how long the results will last during the initial treatment. When the filler dissolves, patients will notice that their lips return to their original appearance. As we age, we naturally lose collagen and fat, leading to thinness and sagging of the face, including the lips. Lip fillers work by replacing lost collagen and fat.
On average, fillers are supposed to last six to nine months, but due to the lips being more mobile on a daily basis, they may last a little less. When they do, hyaluronic acid (HA), the main ingredient in most lip fillers used for its ability to absorb and retain moisture, breaks down naturally. If you are left with loose lips as a result of regular overinflation, the only remedy is lip reduction surgery, that is, trimming excess skin, which can leave significant scars. After the procedure is finished, your healthcare provider may gently massage your lips to absorb the filler.
Even with its growing presence on Instagram influencer feeds, there are still many myths surrounding lip fillers. If you want to increase the size of your lips, it is important to consult a healthcare provider who specializes in lip fillers to discuss your options. Schedule a follow-up appointment with your healthcare provider two weeks after the lip filling procedure. During the months after the filler is injected, the lips will slowly decrease in fullness before taking their original shape and will not “deform” at all.
When the lips are adversely affected after the injections have stopped, it is almost always because too much volume of filler was injected too quickly. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved the use of lip fillers in people under 21 years old. Even after the body's natural enzymes begin to dissolve the filler over a period of six months to two years (this depends on the particle size of the filler used and where it's placed), what's left actually thickens the dermis of the skin (the outermost layer you want to keep thick and healthy to avoid fine lines and wrinkles). It is best to wait until after eating before injecting any topical anesthetic or nerve block so as not to accidentally bite your lips or alter the filling.
Bowe says that if you are looking for fuller lips, research and make sure that you are seeing an experienced dermatologist, plastic surgeon or nurse practitioner who knows what they are doing. Bowe says his patients generally need lip retouching after about six months if he uses a filler like Restylane Silk.
