Full, youthful lips have become a symbol of beauty and sexiness, especially for women. Whether you were born with thin lips or your lips have seemed to deflate with age, full lips are more aesthetically pleasing. Thus, it is a common cosmetic procedure to have lips plumped up with injectable fillers. Popular fillers for this purpose include Juvederm and Restylane.
Juvederm For Lip Enhancement
Juvederm is generally the more common choice for lip injections because of its ability to interlace well with the existing tissue, giving the lips a natural shape. Made from hyaluronic acid, a sugar that already exists naturally within the joints, muscles, and tendons of the body, Juverderm also has hydrating and lubricating properties. These properties aid in achieving an aesthetically pleasing result for lip augmentation.
Restylane for Lip Enhancement
Restylane is similar to Juvederm in that it is also largely made of hyaluronic acid. However, when this filler is synthesized into its gel form, it is thicker than Juvederm. This means that it doesn’t mix well with the existing tissue, but rather holds its own form. The administering doctor has to then mold the filler to the desired shape after it has been injected.
How Long Do These Fillers Last for Lip Augmentation?
Naturally, hyaluronic acid would be absorbed by the body within about 12 hours. However, once its chemical structure is manipulated to turn it into a cosmetic filler, the body takes longer to process it. The body won’t process Juvederm for 6 to 9 months, and it won’t process Restylane for about 4 months. In addition, the natural bond these products have with collagen and elastin makes for even plumper, firmer lips.
Dangers with Juvederm
Not everyone is able to use Juvederm. People who are allergic or hypersensitive to bacterial proteins would likely have adverse reactions as a result of lip enhancement using this filler. (This is not the case with Restylane, as it does not contain proteins and thus bestows little chance of setting off an allergic reaction). Aside from allergic reactions, side effects may include:
- -Pain
- -Bruising
- -Redness
- -Swelling
Juvederm and Restylane should both be injected in the proper amount and at the five designated divisions of the lip (two injections in the bottom lip and three in the top lip), to obtain a natural-looking and pleasing result.