Volumize and Add Definition to Lips in Milwaukee
We all know that it’s normal for our faces to change as we age. In addition to loss of healthy fat, our skin becomes weaker over time, leading to the formation of wrinkles, sagging skin, and hollowed areas. One of the less talked-about aspects of chronological aging is the impact it has on our lips, which often become smaller, flatter, and deflated as our body produces less collagen and hyaluronic acid to maintain a plump, hydrated appearance. The lips also tend to lose their elasticity and color as we get older. Alternatively, if you’ve always had smaller lips since childhood, that’s probably due to genetic factors. Either way, minimally invasive lip injections from Milwaukee’s ReFresh Aesthetic Center™ add volume where needed to enhance the appearance of the lips without much downtime required after for recovery.
Lip enhancement is available for our patients from Whitefish Bay, Glendale, Brown Deer, River Hills, Shorewood, Mequon, the Milwaukee area, and beyond.
Why Choose Lip Injections?
As our lips begin to lose volume, they lose their natural definition, and wrinkles may start to form on or around them. In addition to normal aging, other stressors—such as smoking, sun damage, and the repetitive movements made when drinking from a straw—can damage and break down collagen faster than it is replaced, resulting in further thinning and the development of visible lines.
Much like fillers that are used to treat other features of the face, lip injections involve soft gels that are injected directly into the lips to provide definition, hydration, structure, and volume. The gels are carefully designed to blend in with the lips’ natural “fillers,” imitating the look and feel of healthy collagen and fat. The fillers that are approved for lip injections contain a version of hyaluronic acid, which is a molecule your skin produces naturally to maintain hydration. Hyaluronic acid, or HA, is known for its ability to absorb large amounts of water.
What Can Lip Injections Address?
While many people choose lip injections to boost their lip volume, HA fillers are also used for a variety of purposes that aren’t limited to increasing the lips’ size. The hyaluronic acid-based gel can be added strategically around the lips to improve the definition of the borders and cupid’s bow, as well as to make the lips appear more symmetrical overall. Many patients have lip injections to soften wrinkles that have become etched into the lips or the skin surrounding them.
What is the Lip Injection Experience Like in Milwaukee, WI?
Before having any type of lip injections, it’s critical that patients start off by having a one-on-one consultation with one of our experienced aesthetic injectors to find out whether it would be an optimal treatment for them. During the consultation, patients will discuss their aesthetic goals and talk about their medical history, including any medical conditions, medications, and other activities that need to be considered before treatment. Our injectors will ensure that you are in a good state of health.
Since lip injections are an in-office treatment, the entire process is completed within an hour or less at ReFresh Aesthetic Center™. Patients will likely experience mild swelling to the lips, regardless of the product used. There is always the potential for bruising, though our expert injectors work to minimize this with their gentle touch and attention to detail during the treatment. To maximize comfort during the experience, your injector will apply a topical numbing agent beforehand. The lip fillers also contain lidocaine, which further alleviates discomfort.
Types of Lip Injections
There are several types of fillers used for lip injections at ReFresh Aesthetic Center™, including Juvederm® Ultra®, Volbella®, Restylane® Kysse™, Restylane® Silk, and RHA2.
Juvederm Ultra®
Ultra® is used by our aesthetic injectors when our patients are desiring fuller, plumper lips. This is a popular choice for our younger patients seeking lip augmentation, with noticeable yet natural-looking and feeling results.
Juvederm Volbella®
Volbella® is a thinner, more lightweight, and spreadable alternative to Ultra®. It works well for patients desiring more of a lip-restoration treatment, which adds subtle volume and hydration, along with the ability to soften lines surrounding the lips and mouth.
Restylane® Silk
Restylane® Silk is another lip filler we use similarly to Volbella®, where lip restoration and softening of lip lines is the desired goal. It is lighter and contains smaller particles compared to other types of Restylane®, making it ideal for subtle lip changes.
Restylane® Kysse™
Restylane® Kysse™ is made with a manufacturing process called XpresHAn Technology™ and is designed for flexible movement and a very natural looking appearance. It adds volume, structure, and hydration to the lips, while also being used to soften fine lines around the mouth. Our aesthetic injectors find Kysse to be a “sweet spot” go-to filler for the lips because of its versatility for various lip goals.
RHA2
Designed with less chemical processing, the hyaluronic acid contained in RHA2 lip injections is very similar to the natural molecule that occurs in the skin. These fillers can have a longer lifespan compared to other lip fillers and adapt very well to the tissue. Since they work well in dynamic areas of the face, they integrate well into the lips while you’re talking or during facial expressions.
Additionally, BOTOX® can be used synergicstically with any of our lip fillers. Neuromodulators like BOTOX® or Dysport® target the cause of lip lines, which is repetitive activity of the muscle encompassing the lips. Although neuromodulators are not lip fillers, they can also be used to evert, lift, or “flip” the lips to enhance further the results and longevity of lip filler. These neuromodulators are also used preventatively to minimize the formation of lip lines by “quieting” overactivity of the lip muscle.
What Are Recovery and Aftercare Like Following Lip Injections?
Since no surgery is involved—meaning there are no incisions, sutures, or anesthesia used—patients can usually resume most of their daily activities after lip injections without having to take time off for recovery. However, patients should avoid engaging in heavy exercise or alcohol for the first 24 hours. To minimize infection, we request patients limit the use of lip products for at least 12 hours, as we provide an antibiotic gel to keep the lips moist.
It can be normal to experience temporary side effects such as tenderness, bruising, mild to moderate swelling, and lumps or bumps as the product is settling into the lips. We also ask patients to wait two weeks for dental work, any other manipulation to the treated area, and vaccinations in order to decrease the potential for any delayed reactions or product displacement.
It can take up to three to four weeks before the lip filler results are settled enough to reveal the final aesthetic outcome. Though results are long-lasting, fillers and neuromodulators are both eventually metabolized by the body, so the lips will eventually return to their pre-treatment appearance.
Lip injections often have a shorter lifespan compared to other types of fillers because they are in a “high movement” area of the face. In order to maintain optimal results, most patients return for lip filler re-treatment typically between nine to 12 months, or sooner if additional volume is desired before the product has fully gone away.
Other Types of Facial Fillers That Complement Lip Injections
Lip injections are one of the most frequently requested injectables for beautification, but other types of dermal fillers—including the hyaluronic acid Juvederm®, Restylane®, and RHA® collections—along with poly-L-lactic acid-based Sculptra Aesthetic®, are available for various areas on the face. These other facial fillers and bioactivators can be used for a broad range of needs, including softening lines and folds, contouring the mid and lower face, and restoring structure and volume to targeted facial areas. Unlike temporary hyaluronic acid fillers, Sculptra Aesthetic® is a longer-lasting option that not only volumizes the areas where it is injected but also stimulates collagen regeneration within the skin. These fillers can be used in combination with each other or on their own to provide natural results for a refreshed look and feel.
