If you keep up with the latest beauty trends, then you probably already know that lips have been the focal point of beauty looks for the past few seasons. As far as beauty experts and gurus are concerned, lips are the final touch that make the biggest impact on a woman’s overall appearance. However, not all of us are lucky enough to have plush lips with an enviable natural curve. At the practice of Dr. James B. DeStephens in Gainesville, FL, we are happy to help you find the best lip enhancement option for you!
What Is Lip Enhancement?
Lip enhancement is a cosmetic term for any method or technique that alters the shape, color, or volume of the lips. Enhancement is a type of contouring treatment that can correct superficial flaws on the lips, such as a flat shape, volume loss, vertical lines, and symmetry issues. This type of treatment is ideal for women who are interested in elevating their overall appearance by improving their smile and perfecting the application of lip products.
Common Enhancement Techniques
Enhancement can be minimally invasive or non-invasive, and some methods can even be done from the comfort of your own home. Depending on your overall appearance goals and how long you want results to last, women opt for different methods. A few common enhancement techniques include:
Cosmetics
The most basic type of lip enhancement comes from cosmetic products. The use of lip balms, lip stains, and lipsticks to enhance the shape and color of lips has been common for millennia. In fact, lip-enhancing products have been used in Eastern cultures since the earliest records of civilization. Today with the clever use of cosmetics we can temporarily enhance the shade and shape of our lips. Cosmetic techniques include using bold colors, outlining the lips in lip liner, and using highlighting powder in strategic areas to trick the eye.
There are also some lip cosmetics that are formulated with special active ingredients that can enhance the lips. By using active ingredients such as capsaicin, cinnamon, and mint, the sensitive skin of the lips is mildly irritated so that lip tissue swells and creates a temporarily plumped appearance. However, like all make-up, the effects of plumping lip products last only for as long as the product is applied, and sometimes only for a fraction of that time.
Suction
When lips became the focal point of beauty looks, a slew of over-the-counter devices for lip plumping became available for the wider populace. One of the most popular methods of at-home lip plumping is using devices similar to suction cups, where the user simply applies suction pressure to their lips to temporarily cause the lips to swell. But just like make-up, suction devices and similar methods only last for a short time.
Fillers
The most effective and longest-lasting form of enhancement is dermal fillers for the lips. Dermal fillers can only be obtained through cosmetic and dermatology clinics where a certified technician injects the filler directly into the lips. Dermal fillers are minimally invasive techniques that can correct all lip-related concerns for a significant amount of time without the need for invasive, painful surgeries.
What is the most popular type of dermal filler for the lips? We’re glad you asked!
Introducing: Juvederm
Juvederm is a collection of dermal fillers specialized to correct many appearance concerns on the face, including aging issues, volume loss, contouring concerns, and the shape of the lips. Juvederm has a well-earned reputation for producing satisfactory results with limited downtime. Juvederm is an ideal option for any patient who wants to achieve fast, long-lasting results.
Juvederm for Lip Enhancement
For Juvederm, enhancing the lips has been a dedicated mission that has resulted in two individual products. While both of these dermal fillers for the lips achieve the same goal, the nuance between the two can make one filler more suited to your needs than another. We will help you determine which of these fillers is right for you.
Juvederm Volbella
Volbella is the first product Juvederm dedicated to the enhancement of the lips. Volbella is a silky-smooth gel that, once administered, can moderately augment the lips. The primary purpose of Volbella is to correct the vertical lines on the lips, or so-called “lipstick lines,” that cause creases on lip tissue and make the application of lipstick uneven. Volbella restores volume in a natural-looking way to smooth out the texture of the lips.
Juvederm Ultra XC
Ultra XC is a newer product for enhancing both the lips and the area around the mouth. Ultra XCis made with a gel that corrects mild and moderate lip concerns, such as a thin shape, low lip volume, and uneven lip shape. Ultra XC is also approved to correct mild age-related issues around the mouth, such as smile lines around the nose and mouth. Ultra XC can restore and augment the appearance of lips for most patients to create a plumper, fuller and more youthful lip appearance.
How Does Juvederm Work for Lip Enhancement?
Like many other dermal fillers, Juvederm is able to enhance the appearance of lips through small injections in targeted locations. The formulas of the injections do one of two things: replace proteins like collagen that are lost due to aging or introduce enzymes that stimulate the body’s natural regenerative abilities. For the lips, the most common cause of thinness or low volume is a lack of structural support in the sub-dermal layers of lip tissue. Juvederm fillers are able to provide the support lips need to create a plush volume and shape.
What Can You Expect for Lip Enhancement Treatment?
When we talk about dermal fillers and the need for injections, many patients hesitate due to anxiety from the prospect of needles anywhere near one of the most sensitive patches of skin on the body. Some patients are comforted when they know what they can expect from treatment. Here are a few basic steps you can expect when you have Juvederm treatment at our practice:
Consultation
Your first appointment will be a consultation where we gather important information about you. We will discuss your expectations and your appearance goals and examine the condition of your lips. We will collect your general medical history, such as your current medical issues, current medications and supplements, and any drug allergies you may have. Because of the nature of dermal fillers, we may also talk about how easily you scar or how sensitive your skin is to hyperpigmentation.
During your consultation, we will help you decide which Juvederm lip filler is right for you and your personal appearance goals. We may also take photographs of your lips to use as a reference for how well you respond to the treatment.
Pre-Treatment Instructions
Before your treatment appointment, we will provide you with a list of pre-treatment instructions. You will need to follow these instructions to help ensure that your treatment is safe and effective. Some pre-treatment instructions will include:
- Avoid certain over-the-counter medications
- Avoid certain supplements
- Avoid alcohol the day before treatment
We may also advise you to drink an adequate amount of water or eat certain foods, such as pineapple, which contains enzymes that limit swelling. You will not need to arrange for transportation on the day of your appointment.
Treatment
On the day of your treatment appointment, please arrive at the office with a clean face. We will sterilize the treatment area and apply a topical numbing cream to your lips. Juvederm injections are combined with lidocaine, a local numbing agent, which will make your injections comfortable. Patients report feeling only minor sensations during treatment.
Post-Treatment Instructions
After your treatment, we will provide you with post-treatment instructions that you will need to follow to help guide you through recovery. Following these instructions will limit any discomfort or side effects you may experience after the treatment. Some post-treatment instructions will include:
- Avoid certain over-the-counter medications and supplements
- Avoid alcohol for 24 hours
- Avoid using a straw or smoking for 24 hours
- Avoid excessive heat, sweating, and sunlight for 1 to 3 days
- Avoid massaging the face and lips for 7 to 10 days after treatment
We may also advise you to apply a cold compress in 20-minute intervals for 24 hours after treatment to reduce any minor swelling that may occur after treatment.
Recovery
Recovery from Juvederm lip fillers is generally very short. For the first 1 to 3 days, your lips will feel sensitive and appear slightly swollen, so during this time it is important to follow the post-treatment instructions. After 3 days, you will be able to return to your normal daily actives. The injection solution is considered “settled” after 7 to 10 days, which is when your official recovery time ends.
Results
When can you see results from Juvederm lip fillers? For most patients, the most obvious signs of a fuller, plumper mouth happens between 2 to 3 weeks after treatment after the injection has settled. The results for this treatment can last for 6 to 12 months, depending both on your goals and how well you respond to treatment. Many patients schedule regular appointments every 6 months to maintain results.
Benefits of Lip Enhancement
Now that you know how the treatment works, you might be wondering what you can gain from the treatment. There are many benefits of enhancement that makes this treatment attractive to women, including:
Volume
Enhancement treatment can restore lost volume or correct thin lip volume. The volume of lips refers to the fullness of the lips, particularly how plush your pout is.
Shape
Lip fillers can improve the shape of lips, specifically altering the bow-shape of the lip and improving lip symmetry. For many women, one side of the mouth has a slightly different shape than the other side, an issue that this treatment can easily correct.
Cosmetics
Lip cosmetics simply look better when they have a larger, softer, more plump canvas to work with. Cosmetics can also be more easily and more smoothly applied after lip filler treatment.
Confidence
Women can boost their confidence with fuller lips. Many of us know the power of a pretty and plush pout as well as how much easier it is to smile when we feel confident about every aspect of our appearance.
Are You a Good Candidate?
Most women over the age of 21 are good candidates for this type of treatment. You may be a good candidate for enhancement treatment if you want to:
- Revitalize lip volume
- Correct lip shape
- Treat smile lines
- Ease cosmetic application
- Refine the texture of lip tissue
Elevate Your Appearance With Lip Enhancement!
It’s time to stop using clever make-up tips and tricks to plump your lips. If you’re ready to elevate your appearance with Juvederm lip fillers, contact Dr. James B. DeStephens in Gainesville, FL to schedule your consultation today!
