What's Covered on This Page
- What Lip Fillers Actually Treat
- Choosing the Right Injector in South Carolina
- How to Prepare for Your Lip Filler Appointment
- The Procedure & the Results
- How Long Do Results Last and When Should You Come Back?
- How long do lip fillers last in Murrells Inlet's humid coastal climate?
- Does getting lip fillers hurt?
- What should I avoid after getting lip fillers?
- Can lip fillers fix uneven or asymmetrical lips?
- How do I know if I am choosing a qualified injector near Murrells Inlet?
- Is there anything I need to do before my lip filler appointment?
What Lip Fillers Actually Treat
When I speak to patients about their lip injections, most of them initially think the procedure is primarily about making their lips larger. While the increase in lip volume is definitely one of the benefits, it's not the only reason patients are seeking these treatments in Murrells Inlet.
Many people struggle with thin lips, but in reality, the treatment is quite. Let's discuss the many ways that patients benefit from injectable lip treatments:
- Patient lips have lost volume from age, resulting in a deflation of the lip and a loss of shape over time.
- The patient's lips are asymmetrical, meaning one lip appears smaller and/or the shape of the two lips differs.
- The vermilion border is ill-defined, causing lipstick to easily bleed into the vertical creases that surround the lips.
- The patient has downturned corners of the lips, which can give an unhappy or tired-looking appearance when they don't feel that way at all.
- Patient has noticeable, vertically-oriented fine lines above the top lip.
In fact, I regularly treat patients who want me to fix one specific issue, but then after I've looked at them, I spot two other issues that I can correct while treating them. For example, just a few weeks ago, I had a patient who drove up from Garden City who said she was happy with how her lips looked, but she just wanted to have a little more fullness. I could see that her main complaint was that she was tired of covering up a blurred lip line by drawing with a lip liner. I was happy to fix both those issues in one appointment.
Lip fillers can help to restore symmetry to your lips. Your face has a natural tendency to lose balance as you age. Often, we don't notice these changes in the mirror or on the photograph of our children until we see pictures of our faces in a previous decade. That's a common discussion we have right here in Murrells Inlet.
The goal of lip injections isn't just to have "huge" lips. The primary goal is to improve the health of the lips, or to return them to their original condition. In other cases, the primary goal may be to give them an appearance that harmonizes with the other features of a patient's face. As we inject, we assess your lips, your smile, and your facial proportions, and we work hard to make sure our results are in balance.
Some of our patients seek this treatment just to sharpen up their lips by increasing their cupid's bow definition. Other patients have lips which they consider "dry" and which feel tight and unmoisturized even after they have applied lip balm. Both of these conditions can be improved with hyaluronic acid fillers injected into the lips by a knowledgeable and highly trained provider. It should go without saying, but having injectors who have received additional facial certification, training and education is important. There is a reason these certifications exist and why we insist our injectors have them.
Choosing the Right Injector in South Carolina
Your results are very dependent on who is providing the lip filler injections.
That isn't a hyperbole! Many times, patients show up at our practice in Murrells Inlet who have had their lip filler corrected. They have gone to a med spa that's a couple of towns over, received lip filler treatment, noticed a less than ideal result, and then come back for us to fix their lip injection results.
Almost all the cases we treat are caused by a lack of medical training and understanding about the patient's anatomy. So what should you actually look for? Here's what matters most when you're picking an injector:
- A medical license. Nurse practitioners, physician assistants, or physicians who've done advanced injection training beyond a weekend course.
- Before-and-after photos of real patients. Not stock images. Not filtered selfies. Actual work they've done.
- Willingness to say no. A good injector will tell you if you're asking for too much volume or a shape that won't suit your face.
- Experience with dissolving filler. If something goes wrong, you want someone who knows how to reverse it quickly.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, complications from dermal fillers are most often linked to injector inexperience rather than the product itself. That should tell you everything.
Don't be shy about asking questions during your consultation. How many lip filler treatments do they do each week? What's their plan if you have a reaction? Do they carry hyaluronidase on site? These aren't rude questions. They're smart ones.
We'd rather turn someone away than overfill their lips just to make a sale. You'll sit down with a licensed provider who maps out your lip anatomy, talks through your goals, and gives you a realistic picture of what lip fillers can do for your specific face.
Feeling good about your injector before the needle ever touches your skin changes the whole experience.
How to Prepare for Your Lip Filler Appointment
Most people overthink this part. The prep is simple, but it matters.
We walk every client through what to do before they come in. A little planning goes a long way toward better results and less bruising. Here's what we tell folks in Murrells Inlet to do before their lip filler appointment:
- Stop blood thinners like aspirin, ibuprofen, and fish oil at least a week out. These make bruising worse. If you take prescription blood thinners, talk to your doctor first.
- Skip alcohol for 24 to 48 hours before your visit. Even a glass of wine the night before can thin your blood enough to cause extra swelling.
- Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water the day before and the morning of. Hydrated skin responds better to filler.
- Come with a clean face. No lipstick, no lip liner, no heavy moisturizer around your mouth. We'll clean the area, but starting fresh helps.
- Eat a small meal beforehand. Don't show up on an empty stomach. Some clients feel lightheaded during injections, and a snack takes care of that.
Those who suffer the most bruising are those who forgot about the ibuprofen they took Tuesday morning. A small thing is a big difference. Come ready with a picture of what you want. Not that selfie that you filtered and posted on your Instagram feed. Instead, a simple picture of lips you think that you would consider normal and natural-looking. This helps establish your desired look, whether that means you want just a little volume or a more voluptuous and noticeable pout. Just have a visual reference to bring to your appointment, and it helps us start off on the same page.
Plan ahead so you can relax. You should be able to drive yourself after the appointment and resume your normal daily routine, so don't schedule your filler right before that wedding day on the beach. It is best to schedule at least 48 hours ahead so that any swelling has a chance to subside (though most of our clients are able to be out and about by day three). Unsure if you're eligible for treatment or have to adjust anything with your medication beforehand? Give us a call and we can sort out the details beforehand so you can come in knowing the answers.
Need help with lip fillers?
Book An Appointment. Jolie Visage Rejuvenation Centre is ready to help.
The Procedure & the Results
From the moment you arrive for your appointment to your lips being filled with dermal filler is a matter of 15-20 minutes. That's it. Here's a glimpse into the procedure timeline:
- We'll first prepped the treatment area and apply topical anesthetic for about 10 minutes before we start.
- We'll then identify key areas on your lips that need to be filled according to the treatment plan discussed in your consultation.
- Lip filler is placed with a very fine needle. Most of our clients say it is more like a pinch and nothing more.
- We'll then adjust the filler to reach the desired fullness and symmetry that you want, and you will have a hand in seeing the results.
- We'll check the placement and evenness, massaging the lip filler as needed to smooth things out.
Many of our clients comment that it was an easier procedure than they anticipated. Right away, your lips will look swollen (as expected). There may also be some mild bruising, which is also expected at the injection site. Ice can help, and we'll give you at-home care tips so you don't have any complications. Some of our Murrells Inlet patients head off to their lunch date at the MarshWalk or just back to their day, as there really is no real recovery time.
You will need to avoid heavy exercise for 24 hours, and you should also steer clear of hot tubs, steam baths, and steam saunas for that amount of time. No drinking with a straw, and refrain from touching, pressing, or massaging your lips. Swelling will be highest by day two, but will decrease quickly afterwards. By day five or six, you're seeing the actual results, which continue to settle in and look more natural for the following two weeks. We always like to schedule a follow-up appointment at the two-week mark, at which time the filler is fully integrated and we can determine if a touch-up is needed. It's better to top it off at two weeks than it is to add too much on day one. You're best served with a bit of patience.
How Long Do Results Last and When Should You Come Back?
This is likely the first question you'll ask us when you visit us for lip fillers in Murrells Inlet. Makes sense.
Here's how it works: You'll see your ultimate results after about two weeks, once any swelling has subsided and the filler has integrated into the lip tissue. After that, you can expect to keep your results for somewhere in the range of six to twelve months. Some patients keep fillers longer than this, while others metabolize fillers a little faster. This depends in part on your body type, how active you are, and how much time you spend sunning out in the MarshWalk.
Your lips won't just look flat after a week, with nothing to show for your lip fillers. It's a gradual process. After you get lip fillers in Murrells Inlet, you'll observe your volume slowly diminishing over time, and this is when the majority of patients will make an appointment for a touch-up, says the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Generally, hyaluronic acid fillers last for six to twelve months, depending on the site treated and the metabolism of an individual.
Here are a few things that influence the longevity of your lip fillers:
- A faster metabolism will reduce your filler quicker.
- Regular intense exercise will also help reduce filler.
- Hydration helps your filler last longer.
- Smoking is a negative, we see this time after time.
So when do you make your next appointment? Generally, after your first appointment, we ask our clients to return in four to six weeks to check their results and add a little filler if necessary. After that point, Murrells Inlet filler patients will likely return every eight to ten months.
Patients will usually book an appointment to get filler before it has entirely worn off. A little bit of filler volume can mean we use less filler each time, you stay in a maintenance cycle of sorts, and the process becomes a breeze.
Not sure if it's time? Give us a call; we can take a quick look.
Additionally, subsequent treatments of lip fillers can last longer than previous treatments. The lip filler can also provide a kind of framework for collagen production. Those patients who have been coming to us for several years can go longer between visits and can use smaller amounts of filler than they originally needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about lip fillers services in Murrells Inlet
How long do lip fillers last in Murrells Inlet's humid coastal climate?
Lip fillers typically last six to twelve months, though the coastal humidity in Murrells Inlet does not affect how long they last. Your metabolism, how active you are, and the amount of filler placed matter more than weather. People who move their mouths a lot — talking, eating, exercising — tend to break filler down faster. Most of our clients come back around the nine-month mark for a touch-up to keep their results looking fresh.
Does getting lip fillers hurt?
Most people feel a mild pinching or pressure, not sharp pain. We apply a topical numbing cream before we start, and most fillers also contain lidocaine, which numbs the area as we inject. By the second or third injection, you feel very little. Clients who were most nervous usually tell us afterward it was much easier than they expected. The whole treatment takes fifteen to twenty minutes, so even if you feel some discomfort, it does not last long.
What should I avoid after getting lip fillers?
Skip intense exercise, alcohol, and direct sun exposure for at least 24 to 48 hours after your appointment. Do not press or massage your lips during the first two weeks. Avoid facials, dental work, or anything that puts pressure on your mouth area right after treatment. Swelling and light bruising are normal and usually settle by day three. Most of our Murrells Inlet clients look and feel great well before the end of that first week.
Can lip fillers fix uneven or asymmetrical lips?
Yes, lip fillers are one of the best ways to correct uneven lips. We map out your lip anatomy during your consultation and place filler precisely where volume or shape is missing. One side being thinner than the other is very common, and most people do not even notice it until we point it out. Correcting asymmetry is often more impactful than simply adding volume. The goal is balance, not bigger lips.
How do I know if I am choosing a qualified injector near Murrells Inlet?
Look for a licensed medical provider — a nurse practitioner, physician assistant, or physician — who has completed advanced injection training beyond a basic course. Ask to see real before-and-after photos of their actual patients. A qualified injector will also carry hyaluronidase on site to dissolve filler if needed. Do not be shy about asking how many lip filler treatments they do each week. The American Academy of Dermatology links most filler complications to injector inexperience, not the product itself.
Is there anything I need to do before my lip filler appointment?
Stop aspirin, ibuprofen, and fish oil at least one week before your visit to reduce bruising. Avoid alcohol for 24 to 48 hours beforehand and drink plenty of water the day before. Come in with a clean face and eat a small meal so you do not feel lightheaded during the appointment. Bring a real photo of lips you find natural and attractive — this helps us understand the shape and volume you are looking for before we start.