Lip treatment

What It Is

Injectable gel that adds volume, shapes contours, and can reduce wrinkles. NOT permanent.

Treatment Protocol

Treatment Areas and Protocol:

LIPS:

• Typically 0.5-1ml first time
• Duration: 6-12 months
• Maintenance: Every 8-12 months
• Swelling: 3-7 days (can be 10-14 days)

CHEEKBONES:

• Typically 1-2ml per side
• Duration: 12-18 months
• Maintenance: Every 12-18 months

JAWLINE:

• Typically 1-3ml total
• NOT for severe sagging skin
• Duration: 12-18 months
• Maintenance: Every 12-18 months

CHIN:

• Typically 1-3ml
• Duration: 12-18 months
• Maintenance: Every 12-18 months

NASOLABIAL FOLDS:

• Reduction of depth (NOT complete removal)
• Typically 0.5-1ml per side
• Duration: 9-12 months
• Maintenance: Every 9-12 months

TEAR TROUGH (under the eyes):

• MOST DEMANDING area
• Requires very experienced injector
• Risk of clumping
• Typically 0.5-1ml total
• Duration: 12-18 months

TEMPLES:

• Fuller face
• Typically 1-2ml per side
• Duration: 12-18 months

NOSE (non-surgical rhinoplasty):

• ONLY performed by our ENT doctor
• Can smooth out bumps, lift the tip of the nose
• NOT for everyone
• High vascular risk - requires expertise
• Duration: 9-15 months
• Maintenance: Every 12-15 months

First year: Often 2-3 treatments to build up the effect

Procedure

1. Consultation and planning
2. Photography (before)
3. Cleaning and disinfection
4. Numbing cream (20-30 min) or local anesthesia
5. Marking of injection points
6. Injection with needle or cannula
7. Massage for even distribution
8. Assessment and adjustment
9. Ice to reduce swelling
10. Total time: 30-60 minutes

Duration

30-60 minutes (including anesthesia)

Pain Level

Moderate. Numbing cream or local anesthetic is used. Some discomfort during injection. Soreness afterward.

Downtime

IMPORTANT - Plan for downtime:

• Minimum: 3-5 days
• Average: 5-7 days
• Maximum: 10-14 days
• NOT before important events (at least 2 weeks margin)

What to expect:

• Significant swelling (especially lips)
• Bruising (40-60%, lasts 3-14 days)
• Tenderness
• Asymmetry (normal in the first few days)

Healing Time

Day by day:

Day 0: Significant swelling (30-50% more than final result), possible bruising, redness, tenderness

Day 1-3: MAXIMUM swelling (often day 2), possible asymmetry - DO NOT PANIC! This is normal

Day 4-7: Swelling significantly decreases, more natural appearance

Day 8-14: Most swelling gone, final result visible

2-week check-up: Assessment and possible adjustment

Individual variation in swelling:

• Minimal (20-30%): 1-3 days
• Average (50-60%): 3-7 days
• Significant (10-20%): 7-14 days

Side Effects

Very common:

• Swelling (3-14 days)
• Bruising (40-60%, lasts 3-14 days)
• Tenderness
• Asymmetry (first few days)

Common (20-40%):

• Clumping (can be massaged away)
• Tyndall effect (blue color if placed too superficially)
• Product migration

Rare:

• Infection
• Granulomas (inflammatory reaction)
• Necrosis (extremely rare, BUT serious - tissue death)

Allergic reactions: Very rare

Aftercare

First 24-48 hours:

• Ice regularly (10 min per hour)
• Sleep with your head elevated
• Avoid heat (sauna, steam room, hot shower)
• No massage (unless instructed by therapist)
• No intense exercise
• No alcohol (increases swelling and bruising)
• No dental visits for 2 weeks (for lip filler)

Week 1-2:

• Continue to avoid heat
• Brush your teeth gently (for lip filler)
• No facials
• SPF 50+ if exposed to the sun

After 2 weeks:

• Gradually resume normal activities
• Contact us if you have any concerns

Who Is This For

Best suited for:

• Facial volume loss
• Desire for contouring
• Reduction of wrinkles (not complete removal)
• Realistic expectations
• Willing to maintain
• Accept swelling for 3-14 days

Who Is This Not For

NOT suitable for:

• Significant sagging skin (needs surgery)
• Active infection in the area
• Pregnancy/breastfeeding
• Autoimmune diseases (relative contraindication)
• Unrealistic expectations of permanent results
• Cannot accept swelling/downtime

Important Information

CRITICAL REALISM:

• Gives volume, DOES NOT lift sagging skin
• Requires maintenance (6-18 months depending on area)
• First treatment often conservative
• Significant swelling in the first few days is NORMAL
• Final result is only seen after 2 weeks

Can be dissolved immediately:

Hyaluronidase dissolves fillers immediately if:

• Unsatisfied with result
• Complications
• Wrong placement

Contraindications

Absolute:

• Pregnancy and breastfeeding
• Active infection in the treatment area
• Allergy to hyaluronic acid or lidocaine
• Bleeding disorders (relative)

Relative:

• Autoimmune diseases
• Blood thinning medications (increased risk of bruising)
• Previous poor reaction
• Unrealistic expectations

Warning Signs

Contact the clinic IMMEDIATELY for:

• Severe pain that increases (may indicate vascular occlusion)
• White skin color (sign of blood supply problems)
• Vision loss or changes (IMMEDIATE HELP!)
• Black spots (necrosis)
• Throbbing pain
• Pale skin in or around the treatment area

This is RARE, but SERIOUS and requires immediate treatment!

Individual Variations

Duration varies with:

• Area (lips last shorter than cheekbones)
• Product type (different density and viscosity)
• Metabolism
• Lifestyle (smoking, stress reduces duration)
• Age (younger = faster degradation)

Swelling varies with:

• Area (lips swell the most)
• Individual factors
• Injection technique
• Amount of product

Maintenance

Maintenance Schedule:

• Lips: Every 6-12 months
• Nasolabial folds: Every 9-12 months
• Cheekbones/Jaw/Chin: Every 12-18 months
• Tear trough: Every 12-18 months

First year: Often 2-3 treatments to build up the desired effect

No maintenance: Fillers gradually break down and the volume disappears completely