It’s easy to pick out imperfections on our faces, especially as we get older. While lip injections can help alleviate wrinkles around the mouth and add volume to your lips, they have limits. If you’re considering lip injections, an experienced physician can give you a fair idea of what to expect, what hyaluronic acid does, and whether the treatment is right for you.
At Skin Deep Laser MD, serving Fort Worth, Weatherford, Benbrook, Burleson, Mansfield, Granbury, and Arlington, Texas, Dr. Laura Riehm provides precise lip injections to give you the perfect pout.
How hyaluronic acid works
There are plenty of injectables on the market, ranging from neurotoxins (like Botox™) and purified neurotoxins (Xeomin™) to hyaluronic acid fillers (the Juvederm™ family, the Restylayne™ family and Versa™) to calcium hydroxy-apetite fillers (Radiesse™). The options can be confusing and overwhelming, but don’t worry, you don’t have to know what is best for you; Dr. Riehm knows what fillers work best in every area, and which ones will work best for you.
While they might sound intimidating at first, these products aren’t toxic or dangerously acidic — in fact, hyaluronic acid is produced naturally within the body.
Like collagen and elastin, hyaluronic acid is plentiful when you’re young. However, the production of these proteins and acids decline as you get older, resulting in volume loss, wrinkles, and other signs of aging. A lack of hyaluronic acid is often most noticeable in the lips: they become thinner, giving you a stern, angry or sad appearance (or, as it is un-affectionately called,
“RBF”…”Resting B*tch Face”)
Injecting hyaluronic acid back into the lips can replace lost volume, giving your lips a plumper, more youthful appearance. However, they cannot completely overhaul the effects of time.
The limits of lip fillers
One benefit (and downside) to lip fillers is that they don’t last forever. Juvederm typically lasts 4-6 months, while Versa injections can last a year or more.
This is good news for anyone hesitant to undergo lip injections — if you aren’t happy with your results, they’ll fade away relatively quickly (or you can go back and have them dissolved).
However, those looking for a more permanent solution should be prepared to undergo lip injections every year. While this might be a hassle for some, Dr. Riehm can maintain your look by establishing an injection schedule that works for you.
When to consider lip injections
Hyaluronic acid lip injections are popular among people of all ages: young women seeking a plumper pout and older women looking to restore their natural lips. If you spend time prodding at your lips in the mirror, overdraw your lip lines every morning, or want to get rid of smoker’s lines around your mouth, fillers might be what you need.
Interested in learning more? Dr. Riehm specializes in injectables, and she can help you nail the perfect lip look. Schedule a consultation by calling 817-263-7546 or book an appointment online.
