With the advent of cosmetic injectables, lip augmentation has become the leading aesthetic enhancement procedure that uses dermal fillers. There are many advantages to using injectable fillers for lip augmentation, not least because it is a convenient and simple procedure for the patient that gives immediate, visible results. The lips are an important facial feature, and age often thins the lips as volume is lost through various intrinsic factors, including the depletion of hyaluronic acid from tissue. Patients also seek enhancement due to the perception (especially in western culture) of full, well-defined lips as the societal standard of beauty and youth. Lastly, some patients look to cosmetic injections to improve various defects of their lip that are not necessarily age-related. This includes problems with asymmetry, disproportion, a flattened Cupid’s bow, or an undefined lip border.
Professional tips: choosing Restylane for lips
If your patient has been thinking about getting lip injections, chances are they would have heard of Restylane. As the first hyaluronic acid dermal filler available on the market, Restylane enjoys a solid reputation as a dermal filler that is effective and consistent in giving natural-looking results, and is especially famed for its use in lip enhancement procedures. Restylane refers to a portfolio of dermal fillers, each with their own specific application and indication. These fillers are manufactured through one of two proprietary processes, Optimal Balance Technology (known in the United States as XpresHAn technology) or Non-Animal Stabilized Hyaluronic Acid (NASHA) Technology, to produce hyaluronic acid gels, each with their own set of unique properties to address specific aesthetic concerns, from lifting and volumizing, to skin rejuvenation and conditioning.
Which Restylane filler is best for lips?
The product used to treat the lips will depend on the patient’s aesthetic needs. Typically, younger patients are looking at some form of enhancement in the size and shape of the lips, whereas lip treatment older individuals tend to be corrective to restore volume to the lips. When it comes to augmenting the lips, the products that are most suitable to treat the lips include Restylane (to add subtle fullness to the lips) and Restylane Silk (for defining the border, and also to treat fine lines around the mouth).
Restylane for lips treatment
A patient looking to treat their lips with Restylane should, before anything else, seek consultation with an experienced, board-certified doctor who can evaluate and determine if treatment with Restylane is right for them. A typical injection session will take 20–30 minutes and can be performed at the doctor’s office. The lips are a particularly sensitive and delicate area to treat, as such it is very likely that some form of pain management strategy is required to make the patient comfortable throughout the procedure. Some options include applying a numbing cream, administering a nerve block, or injections of local anesthetic. After treatment, results are immediately noticeable, and recovery period is not necessary.
Augmenting the lips using Restylane can offer many benefits with little drawbacks for the majority of patients. With the right dermal filler treatment in the hands of a qualified and experienced injector, the patient can experience a comfortable treatment with successful outcomes.
