A beautiful smile is an asset, we have often heard that a smile can make things easy. Voluminous lips are considered attractive and related to fertility. Research says that attractive men and women tend to have higher paying and more prestigious jobs. So the need of the hour is to look good, as beautiful lips are considered as an important part of ones personality. With the advances of medical science, getting the perfect look has been made easier, lip filler being one of them. Before undergoing any sort of procedure, know what the parameters of the so called ideal lips are. Ideally upper lip should be smaller vertically and protrude slightly further than the lower lip. The lower lip should be 75% larger than the upper lip. Lips should have well defined borders and philtrum. So, today we shall discuss some tips to avoid mistakes while getting your lips job done.
Prepare youself, ask questions
Ask yourself, know what are your needs, do a thorough research.
Surf internet, read about various fillers available in the market i.e., Juviderm, Restylane, Perlane, etc
Read about the procedure, how it is done, which is the best place to get it done, etc.
Address your fears including pain of procedure, fear of needles, lips being made too big.
Know about your injection specialist, his experience level .
Next, know about the type of numbing used for procedure (is it topical numbing or a dental block).
Tell your doctor if you have ever suffered from lip herpes and or allergic reactions to medications including numbing agents such as benzocaine ,lidocaine, etc.
You doctor should be well aware of any history of bleeding and blood clots before beginning the procedure.
Aspirin or vitamin E supplements should be stopped 1 to 2 weeks prior to treatment.
Prerequisites
The ideal candidate for lip volumising is a person with thin lips or if the lips have become thinner with age.
All your queries should be put to rest, although most claim it to be a lunch time procedure, one should, plan ahead, take out time and make no hurry.
Remember, the procedure is minimally invasive with very little discomfort.
Finally, if you desire more volume in your lips and are a typically healthy individual, then it’s likely you’re a perfect candidate for lip augmentation.
Post care instructions
Don’t be in a hurry to leave, sit down for 20-30 mins, talk to your doctor. Take proper post care instructions and be careful to follow them. It is always a doctor who tells you that your lips will remain a little swollen for a day or two after the procedure which will eventually subside. Other don’ts are:
Do not massage
Managing bruising
Do not rush to your gym immediately after
Avoid hot and cold sips immediately after the procedure
One shouldn’t drive immediately after
Do not combine it with other procedures
Do not forget to read your prescription carefully as it might have some medications
for pain relief
Sleep with your head elevated to minimize swelling and try to sleep early
Do not touch your lips too much
Donot massage
Never keep any appointments for facials or facial massages after the procedure. Massaging the face and lips is contraindicated for first 2-3 days as it may spread the filler and change the shape and volume of your lips. It may lead to inadequate volume, lumpiness or asymmetry. So it is best to avoid massaging, however you may gently apply a lip balm on your lips without applying pressure to keep your lips well hydrated. If you have done the same and landed yourself in trouble, consult your doctor as he may give you an additional corrective dose of the filler.
Managing bruising
Although a minimally invasive procedure, bruising may be seen after lip filler even with the expert hands as lips are very sensitive. Bruising can be decreased by icing. Rub ice gently on you lips after the procedure every half an hour for 4-6 hours after the treatment. Residual bruising can be concealed by makeup. Most bruising dissipates in 4-7 days, however bruising may last up to 2 weeks in severe cases. Sometimes doctors also advise non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs to manage swelling and pain.
Donot exercise
Exercises should be avoided for 24-48 hours after the procedure as it increases the blood flow and prolongs the swelling. However, if you are addicted to exercises, you may go for light stretching exercises, breathing exercises or yoga. Also, outdoor exercises and sports should be avoided as it is advisable to avoid excessive exposure to the sun until swelling has subsided.
Avoid hot and cold sips immediately after the procedure
As your lips have been numbed by your doctor, they can’t judge the temperature of fluid going inside your mouth, so you may end up harming yourself. Also due to the numbness, the movements of lips are affected which may lead to spilling of the fluid which can be quite embarrassing.
Keep away from lip greed
To avoid fish lips, be conservative and go slow. Compare your before and after photos as you might be a victim of what is called lip greed. There is nothing wrong in being conservative as it is easier to have a good result than to have a bad one corrected. However, if you realize that if you had too much of the filler, speak to your doctor. He may treat you with hyaluronidase which takes about 1-2 weeks to show reduction in detectable traces.
Do not combine it with other procedures like laser
If your facial appointments are due, make sure that you complete them before you go for your lip filler. Never schedule a facial treatment like a laser or even a simple procedure like microdermabrasion after a lip filler, as temperature, pressure, etc. can affect the outcome of the shape of your lips. Pressure may lead to lumpiness an asymmetry and temperature may add to the swelling.
Finally you should know that lip volumising is a temporary procedure and its affect stays for six to nine months. So speak to your doctor, and know when to come for a followup to maintain the results.