Mel Bre Life

Why I Chose Lip Injections

After going through a wild rollercoaster ride of working on my health throughout the years, I ended up noticing a change in my lips. They used to be fuller and I loved the look of them, but after years of my body rapidly changing, they never regained their original fullness or proportion. I found that when I slightly over-lined my lips whenever I put lipstick on, I loved how they looked. Let me be clear though, I have never been self-conscious of my lips or thought they needed to be changed, I actually love my natural lip shape. I ended up joining a medical spa for monthly hydrafacials as part of a self-care/self-pampering routine, and that’s where I noticed the natural-looking results that the providers at this spa were able to help patients achieve. After realizing I could enhance my natural lip shape with some fullness and not alter how they looked drastically, I decided I wanted to give them a try.

Types Of Lip Fillers

 I am not an expert in lip enhancements, but I did do a lot of personal research before deciding to give lip injections a try. There are several types of lip fillers on the market, but the most common and widely used is hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers. Hyaluronic acid is naturally occurring in your body and is a completely different injectable than botox. HA fillers are popular because they are safe, temporary, and can be dissolved if needed. Some of the popular HA injectable brands are Restylane Kysse and Juvederm. Make sure you discuss with your provider which HA filler option is best for your desired results. 

 Choosing The Right Provider

 First and foremost, it is critical that you find a skilled and experienced injector to ensure your safety. The lips are a very sensitive area with tons of nerves and blood vessels, so finding a reputable doctor or an ARNP (advanced registered nurse practitioner) is top priority. I looked at before-and-after pictures from my provider and also from others in the area, as well as reading reviews and looking into what qualifications my provider should have. In the end, I chose to use the medical spa I was already attending. I found out my injector used to be an ER nurse, so I felt completely safe in her hands. I knew if anything went wrong, she could handle it! LOL

Side note, I asked her before she injected me if she had the dissolver on hand in case I had a reaction, and she did. She let me know how rare that was since I don’t have any known allergies and talked me through the risks involved, which were minimal. 

The Consultation

The consultation was the first time I met my injector and we discussed my goals for the lip injections, the process, the pricing, and she assessed my lips to give me a recommendation on which brand of HA fillers to use. She gave me ample time to ask questions and she was so knowledgeable and comforting. The consultation took about 30 minutes and then I decided to go forward with the injections. I was able to get injected right after the consultation, so I didn’t have to make two separate appointments.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

•  The consultation is the perfect time to make sure you are comfortable with the process and the injector. Ask any and all questions you have!
• For some reason, being a plus-size lady I was scared to get fillers done. I’m not sure why, but I realized if I felt judged at the medical spa I was attending, then I should find a different practice. Luckily the staff at my med spa are incredible, experienced, and so kind. 
• If you are anxious, speak up! I let my injector know all my fears about the process and she was able to provide me with distraction tools and a calming presence while performing the procedure. 

 My Experience 

I could not stop laughing at the numbing cream LOL

My injector first put numbing cream all over my lips and we let it sit for 30 minutes. During that time she answered all questions I had and walked me through the process again. I was really nervous about the pain level, so she gave me a stress ball and distraction tool to use on my jaw. This tool was SO helpful! She started on my upper lip and I’ll be honest, it did hurt. It was not unbearable (she could have done a dental block if it was unbearable), but it was definitely uncomfortable. The initial pinch of the needle is what hurt the most. At some points on my bottom lip, I didn’t even feel myself getting injected, though. The center of my lips hurt the most, but the pain went away fast. The consultation took longer than it did for her to do my injections. The numbing cream definitely did it’s job, but I am sensitive so the pain level was 7/10 during the procedure for me.

AMOUNT/TYPE INJECTED:

We used one full syringe of Restylane Kysse, and we went with Kysse because it would give me a naturally plump look and feel. My injector was so calming and soothing during the process and she would let me know whenever she was injecting so I could prepare myself. She would stop every so often to squeeze my lips and disperse the filler, and that did not hurt at all. Kysse has lidocaine in the formula, so it helps with pain reduction as the injections happen. 

PRICE:

My lip injections were $650 for the full syringe. The results should last between 6 months to a year, but typically last closer to a year. 

Aftercare And Recovery

I was given a handout that went over all guidelines to follow post-procedure. The main points were: do not put any pressure on my lips, don’t use a straw, refrain from hard kissing, and avoid makeup for the rest of the day. Easy!

1 Day Post-Injection Bruising

Immediately after the injections, my lips were a tiny bit swollen and not as defined as they would end up being after I healed. I used these ice packs to help reduce swelling and bruising and I used this lip treatment to keep my lips hydrated so they could heal faster. I did bruise in a few places, but it wasn’t terrible. My lips were swollen the next day, but then slowly went back to “normal” within a few days. 

Seeing The Results

The final result of lip injections look very similar to when they were first injected, but now that the swelling is down my lips have a more natural and defined border. My injector told me I had a good amount of lip tissue, so I could handle a full syringe on the first go. She told me she typically saves a tiny bit of kysse to correct anything at the 2 week follow up appointment. I opted out of that and asked her to just do all of the injections in that one appointment, because I was not a fan of the needle.

The lip injections can last anywhere from 6 months to a year, depending on how fast my body metabolizes the filler. I am so happy with the results and can’t believe I waited so long! If you have been considering them, I  would definitely get a consultation to learn more about what results you could achieve.