Lips are the treatment people most often rush. Taken slowly, the aim is lips that suit your face, rather than lips that announce themselves.
What it is
Lip filler is hyaluronic acid gel placed into the lip to add hydration, definition or a small amount of volume, or to improve the balance between the top and bottom lip.
Lips move constantly, so filler there breaks down faster than elsewhere, often within six to twelve months.
A great deal of lip work is about shape rather than size. Sometimes the honest answer is that a very small amount, or none at all, is what will suit you best.
Who it suits, and who it does not
It may suit you if
- You would like more definition, hydration or a little more volume.
- Your top and bottom lip feel out of balance with one another.
- You want a subtle, gradual change and are willing to build slowly.
- You are in good general health, and not pregnant or breastfeeding.
It is not for you if
- You are under 18. It is a criminal offence in England to give cosmetic filler to anyone under 18, and I do not treat under-18s.
- You are pregnant or breastfeeding.
- You get cold sores and have one active now. We would postpone, and may discuss preventative treatment first.
- You want a very large or obviously augmented look. That is not what I offer, and I would rather tell you now than at the appointment.
- You have had filler elsewhere and are not sure what was used. We may need to talk about dissolving and starting again.
At the consultation
- We look at your lips in proportion to the rest of your face, not in isolation.
- I take a full medical history, including any history of cold sores.
- We talk honestly about what a small amount can and cannot achieve.
- We agree a plan and a price, with a minimum of 72 hours before treatment.
Read more about what happens at a consultation.
On the day
- The lips are cleansed and topical numbing cream is applied. Lips are sensitive, so this matters.
- Filler is placed with a fine needle or cannula, in small amounts, checking as we go.
- Treatment usually takes around 30 minutes including numbing time.
- Lips swell more than anywhere else on the face. They will look larger than the final result for the first few days.
Aftercare and recovery
- Keep the area clean and leave makeup off for the rest of the day.
- Skip strenuous exercise, alcohol, saunas, steam rooms and very hot environments for 24 hours.
- Try not to press, rub or massage the area unless you have been told to.
- Some swelling, tenderness or small bruises are normal and settle over a few days.
- Expect noticeable swelling for two to three days, and most of all the morning after.
- Keep lip balm and makeup off the lips for the rest of the day.
- Lips take a full two weeks to settle. Judge them then, not on day one.
You are not left on your own afterwards. If anything does not feel right (pain that is unusual or increasing, significant colour changes in the skin, or anything that simply worries you), contact me straight away rather than waiting. Being able to reach the medical professional who treated you is the whole point of being medically led.
This is general guidance, not personal medical advice. The aftercare instructions you are given at your own appointment always come first.
Pricing
- Lips (up to 1.1ml)£120
- Elective dissolve£120
- Dissolve & refill£200
Prices are a guide and confirmed at your consultation. Lip treatment is deliberately kept to a conservative amount per session.
Common questions
Does lip filler hurt?
Lips are the most sensitive area I treat. Numbing cream is applied first and the filler itself contains local anaesthetic, so most people describe pressure rather than sharp pain.
How swollen will I be?
More than you expect on the first two days, particularly the morning after. Most of it settles within three days. Do not book lips in the week of an event.
How long does lip filler last?
Usually six to twelve months. Lips move constantly and break filler down faster than firmer areas of the face.
Can I have just a very small amount?
Yes, and often that is the better choice. A small amount to improve hydration or balance is a perfectly reasonable treatment, and you can always add more later.
Can lip filler be dissolved?
Yes. Hyaluronic acid filler can be dissolved with hyaluronidase, either because you would like to start again or because there is a problem that needs it.
I have filler from elsewhere and I am not happy with it. Can you help?
Often, yes. We would talk about what you know about the product, assess what is there, and discuss whether dissolving and starting again is the sensible route.
Could it trigger a cold sore?
If you are prone to them, injections can trigger an outbreak. Tell me at the consultation. As a prescriber I can discuss preventative treatment beforehand.
Think this might be right for you?
Every treatment begins with a face-to-face consultation. Prices are a guide and confirmed at that appointment.