A hugely popular and rapidly growing trend in the health and beauty industry, lip fillers can provide sensual, full lips that scream confidence and sexy. They can help with the application and appearance of makeup, and just one thing is for sure – full lips are here to stay.
As over 2.5 million lip-filling procedures are done annually in the U.S., and as that number rises, more people understandably want to fully comprehend the full scope of what the procedure entails.
Here, Dr. Maya Kato of Aesthetic Art Facial Rejuvenation shares her extensive industry knowledge and clears the water surrounding one commonly asked question- do lip fillers permanently stretch the lips?
What Exactly is the Function of Lip Fillers?
To accurately answer this question, we first must explain what lip fillers are and what they do to provide the results we want – full, pouting, youthful, vibrant lips.
Lip fillers are a category of soft-skin injectable that is used in the beauty and medical industry to add volume to an area of sunken skin.
In our youth, our skin and face appear full, plump, and radiant due to healthy skin with high production of collagen. Moreover, healthy deposits of fat tissue and muscle around the face, particularly in areas such as the cheeks, jawbone, and lips, make the skin over the face taut.
As we age, collagen production slows, and the musculature and fat deposits in the face begin to weaken and descend. Collagen is vital to tight and healthy skin, as it is responsible for the structural integrity of the skin.
Lip fillers act to replace the structure lost due to reduced collagen production and to restore volume in areas of weakening musculature or sinking fat deposits.
What Are Lip Fillers Made of?
Unlike other injectables, such as Botox and Dysport which are derived from sources outside of the body, modern lip fillers are created from Hyaluronic Acid (HA), which is a naturally occurring substance in our bodies.
The beauty-beneficial property of HA is its high-water retention. It can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water. When injected into areas such as the lips, small amounts of HA fillers hold significant amounts of water in the region, which creates volume.
Popular sophisticated lip fillers with these properties include brands such as Juvéderm® Ultra and Juvéderm® and Volbella.
Can Lip Fillers Permanently Stretch the Lips?
As with most cosmetic procedures, lip filling is a perfectly safe and well-established procedure when administered by a certified, experienced, trusted plastic surgeon.
The effects of lip fillers do wear off over time, and as such, patients often require 2-3 treatments per year to maintain optimal results. Because of this, the surgeon mustn’t overfill the lips – otherwise, yes, it is possible to overinflate the area, which leads to irreversible skin stretching.
However, when adequately discussed and planned with a trusted and award-winning surgeon such as Dr. Maya Kato, lip fillers are one of the most satisfying cosmetic procedures available and can provide exquisite results with minimal time needed for the procedure and recovery.
If you are considering lip fillers, need more advice, or need a top-up, reach out of our clinic on 760 610 558 or arrange a virtual consultation where you can conveniently discuss any issues you have from the comfort of your own home.