Dr. Barrett's Tips for Natural-Looking Lips: Injectable Fillers & More

What are lip fillers?

Lip fillers, or lip augmentation, is a procedure that increases or plumps lip volume and adds shape, typically through injectable dermal fillers. The most common type of injectable fillers are formulated with hyaluronic acid, a natural substance found in normal human tissues.

The treatment du jour, lip fillers are seemingly everywhere you look right now. But believe it or not, that’s exactly what we don’t want—because the best-looking lip fillers are the ones you can’t tell are lip fillers. Overdone, sausage-like and duck lips can give this treatment a bad rap, but for those with small, uneven or less than luscious lips, properly injected lip filler is a great way to restore or add shape, volume, or projection to the lips. The key is choosing a skilled injector that prioritizes a natural-looking result.

Dr. Barrett incorporates specific techniques that augment your existing natural shape to ensure a natural lip filler look. One of his keys to a natural look: don’t forget the corners of the lips. Focusing solely on the lip center and neglecting to fill the corners will leave lips with an exaggerated look that may appear jarring compared to the rest of the face. In fact, that’s often the first area of the lips he treats. Another of his key techniques for natural-looking lip filler: massage. Because lips expand and contract (similar to an accordion), Dr. Barrett does a special massage to prevent lumps and bumps and ensure a smooth result.

When choosing an injector, it’s important to look at their lip filler before and after images. Specifically, you want to be aware of the balance in their patients’ lips: ideally, the upper lip should be about 75% the size of the lower lip, and you never want the top lip to be bigger than the bottom (and if you’re on the fence about whether you need lip filler, this ratio is something that may help you decide). You should also look at their patients’ cupid’s bow; a skilled injector will (for the most part) leave a well-defined cupid’s bow alone, while also taking care not to blunt it.

How long does lip fillers last?

While everyone is different, lip fillers last approximately 6-12 months, depending on how fast your body absorbs the filler over time. However, many patients report longer-lasting results with consistent treatment. In other words, returning for subsequent treatments initially will allow you to go longer and longer between maintenance injections. Proper lip care can also ensure plumper, more defined-looking lips. Dr. Barrett recommends iS Clinical’s Lip Duo to his patients to care for their lips between their filler sessions. A two-step, at-home treatment, the lip polish exfoliates, smooths and hydrates with a blend of antioxidants and rich, botanical butters, while the Elixir’s formulation of botanical extracts, antioxidants and a proprietary combination of Extremozymes enhance, soften, plump and protect to visibly improving the look of dry and dehydrated lips and redefine lip contour.

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Are you interested in getting lip filler? Call us at (310) 398-2648 or fill out this virtual consultation form and we will reach out to you as soon as possible. We’re excited for you to take this next step!

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