written by Lawrence Janowski, MD
We’ve all heard the horror stories and seen the images of Hollywood starlets and socialites with overdone and overinflated lips. I correct the lip area for patients who have had poor quality lip injection treatments elsewhere, on a weekly basis here in my Broomfield, CO office.
I get this question from patients a lot: What makes for a successful and beautiful lip filler injection? We all know what a bad one looks like because there are many examples on TV. Hollywood stars love to over-do it by plumping lips up beyond what looks natural. It’s an over-glamourized look that most “regular” people don’t want.
So, the first rule of thumb is, under-do it rather than over-do it. One can always add more volume if desired, but lips should look natural, not fake or “Hollywood-ized”. The second important principle is proportion. A beautifully enhanced lip should look natural and balanced, and the experience should be pleasant and relatively pain-less. Post-treatment, your friends and family should only notice that you look more youthful and radiant, not that you look overdone or have the dreaded “duck lips”.
When lips are injected incorrectly, it is often due to the fact that too much was injected in the top lip relative to the bottom lip (or none was injected into the bottom lip at all). In general, our top lip should be about 2/3 the size of our lower lip. So it is important always to inject both the bottom and top lips to maintain proper proportions. The next time you look at a glamour magazine, take note of the lip proportions in the models, and you will agree. Lastly, border and shape must be examined. Some people will have a well-defined lip, others, less-defined. This will determine how much filler should be placed into the border of the lip verses the lip body. There are many techniques for lip injection, and it requires an artistic eye, so make sure you are treated by someone with a great deal of experience and expertise, and don’t shop strictly on price. You may get what you pay for. Technique is everything, and lips require a true artistry.
I’ve been providing the most natural looking and beautiful lip enhancements, for clients in Denver, Broomfield, Arvada, and surrounding areas, using dermal fillers (like Juvederm Ultra XC) for over 10 years, and it is one of our most sought-after procedures.
Here are a few of the things that make the experience of lip augmentation different, unique, and very popular in our Broomfield office:
- All patients receive a dental block before the filler is injected: I can’t imagine someone getting a lip injection without a proper numbing injection first. This is a very sensitive area! It’s quick and easy, and makes the whole process very comfortable for the patient. There is no extra charge for the block, and dental blocks can and should only be done by physicians.
- I use Microcannulas, which allows for extremely precise placement of the product and a gentle experience: microcannulas are now replacing needle injections for filler by advanced MD injectors in most areas. They are thin, flexible rods that are used to inject the product more smoothly and painlessly than needles. Most importantly, they do not cause bruising, so recovery issues are virtually non-existent. (Watch a demonstration) <<Want more?: View another demonstration with Dr. Janowski.>>
- And again, it is important to visit an experienced physician injector with an artistic eye: This is perhaps the most important aspect to a quality lip injection. One must evaluate size, shape and definition of the lip and have a thorough understanding of how the filler will affect each. Proper technique is key, and my extensive experience performing this procedure will ensure a beautiful, natural-appearing result.
If you’re in Denver, Broomfield, Boulder, Arvada, or surrounding areas, call us today to set up a full, complimentary consultation with me and learn more about how you can have your fullest, most natural, and most beautiful lips!
*Results may vary from patient to patient