Now more than ever lips have become a huge focus in the beauty industry, but far from the ‘trout pout’ aesthetic, lip fillers are being used for so much more than creating a plump pout.

Whether you’ve lost volume in your lips as you’ve aged, have an unsymmetrical smile or have lines that have appeared over the years, lip enhancement using lip fillers has come a long way. So we decided to delve into the current treatments available, to answer some of those burning questions around lip fillers, including getting a natural look.

We chatted to Dr. Mitchell Kim, Cosmos Aesthetics Gold Coast Medical Director, about lip fillers – to help separate the fact from the fiction.

What are lip fillers and how is it done?

Lip fillers are done using dermal fillers. Dermal fillers are usually made up of hyaluronic acid, which are naturally occurring sugar molecules, which we already possess under our skin. By injecting dermal fillers strategically, we can augment the patient’s lips, to give volume, improve definition, and also improve hydration.

What should I expect after having lip fillers? What are the side effects?

After lip fillers, you can resume most normal activities. Some common side effects include bruising and swelling which should subside in a few days. However, there are some not so common, but more serious side effects, which the injector should always discuss with the patient prior to undergoing the treatment.

Are all lip fillers the same? Why is Cosmos Aesthetics different?

There are a variety of dermal filler brands available on the market, and each brand has different fillers, suitable for different applications. What makes Cosmos Aesthetics different is our experienced medical staff, and our “less is more” mentality. Anyone can make lips look big and obvious, but the art in creating beautiful lips I believe, is a result which people definitely notice, but still believe is natural.

How do lip fillers work?

As I explained before, dermal fillers are made of hyaluronic acid, which is a naturally occurring sugar molecule, which we possess under our skin. This hyaluronic acid integrates with our natural hyaluronic acid to give volume. By injecting dermal fillers in the lips, a talented injector can create volume, fullness, and definition around the lips. Furthermore, depending on the patient’s anatomy, ethnic background, a certain ratio between the upper and lower lip is needed for it to look good, and natural.

What are the benefits of lip fillers? What can be achieved?

Fuller, more defined looking lips than before. Also, with a little volume from the lip fillers and the extra hydration it leads to, the grooves on the lips can soften, so that lipstick doesn’t clump in between.

How do I know if lip fillers will work for me?

Best to have a face to face consultation with an experienced injector

How long do lip fillers last?

Longevity of the dermal fillers vary, depending on the brand/type of filler used. Typically ones we use last 9-12 months.

Does it hurt?

Not going to lie and say it’s completely pain free. However, at Cosmos Aesthetics, we use a specially formulated numbing gel prior to the injection, to minimise the pain. And also the dermal fillers we use, innately has local anaesthetic mixed in, so as the injections occur, more anaesthesia is achieved.

Does everyone get a ‘trout pout’ after lip fillers?

Definitely not! Now if that’s the look a patient wants, it can be done, and I think the trout pout is what’s really given lip fillers a bad reputation. It’s all up to the skill of the injector after a careful consultation with the patient to really find out what they are after, and to inject accordingly to achieve those goals.

If you’re unhappy with the size, do your lips have to stay that way?

No. The great part of hyaluronic acid based dermal fillers, is that they are instantaneously dissolvable with a dissolving agent. We see a large number of patients who come to us after an unsatisfactory result elsewhere, in which case we dissolve the previous work completely, let it settle and start from scratch.

Is it really obvious when you’ve had lip fillers?

The two factors can increase the obviousness of lip fillers immediately after the treatment are swelling and bruising. Applying ice can minimise both swelling and bruising to an extent, but initially the lips will be a little bigger than what it will eventually look like for up to a few days. And bruising can usually be quite easily covered with cosmetics.

Are lip fillers just for the young and glamorous?

Not at all. As we age, our lips lose volume, get thin, get wrinkly, and lose moisture. And a lot of our maturer patients elect to get lip fillers, not to get necessarily bigger and more glamorous lips, but to add volume, and hydration.

It’s really expensive, isn’t it?

Well that depends on what you define as expensive. Price depends on where you go, who injects you and with what product, but usually 1mL of dermal fillers suitable for the lips are typically $400-800 in Australia as far as I’m aware.

*Before and After Images Disclaimer: Results may vary from patient to patient. All ‘after’ images are taken 2-4 weeks post treatment.

We’re proudly working with Cosmos Aesthetics to bring you this article. As an experienced multi-disciplinary cosmetic surgery team in Australia, Cosmos Aesthetics masters a range of techniques and procedures that reflect organic creation of beauty.