Since the year 2000, lip augmentation procedures are up 43%, as more and more people are in search of the perfect pout. One reason lip fillers are so popular is that they’re relatively inexpensive and the procedure doesn’t take long to work.
If you’re thinking of getting lip fillers for the first time, it’s natural to have some questions. Most notably, how long do lip fillers last? Well, the short answer is that it depends, but generally speaking, you can expect them to last between 6 and 12 months.
Read this guide to learn more about the different types of lip fillers, why the results are temporary, and what you can do to help make them last longer.
Different Types of Lip Fillers
One thing that determines the lifespan of lip fillers is the type of injection you choose. While collagen used to be a popular lip filler, it’s one that’s rarely used anymore because it doesn’t last very long. Additionally, many people experienced allergic reactions to collagen injections.
Today, the most popular type of injection is hyaluronic acid fillers. This is a gel-like material that gives you perfectly plump lips by attaching itself to the water molecules in your skin. Your body slowly absorbs hyaluronic acid fillers, so they last longer than the older collagen option.
Currently, there are four popular hyaluronic acid fillers that most doctors use on their patients:
- Restylane
- Juvaderm
- Volbella
- Vollure
Restylane and Juvaderm are both very natural looking and tend to last around six months, on average. Volbella focuses less on plumping your lips and more on smoothing out the vertical lines on your lips that become more prominent with age. It lasts around a year.
The newest lip filler option is Vollure, which can last up to 18 months. It doesn’t swell as much as some of the other options, which helps the results to look even more natural.
Why Are Lip Filler Results Temporary?
So, why don’t even the best lip fillers last forever? Since they’re made with naturally occurring enzymes, your body will metabolize them over time. That means that if you have a fast metabolism, it’s more likely that your lip fillers won’t last as long as they would if you had a slower metabolism.
Additionally, the more you move an area with fillers, the faster the hyaluronic acid breaks down. Since it’s nearly impossible to go about your everyday life without moving and using your lips, it’s only a matter of time before your results fade.
Since everyone metabolizes at different rates, it’s impossible to tell how long your lip fillers might last until your get your first injection. Once you do, you’ll have a better idea of how long you can expect your results to last.
How to Make Your Lip Fillers Last Longer
While you’ll never be able to get years-long results from one injection, there are a few things you can do to help your lip fillers last longer. Keep these tips in mind after your next injection appointment.
Follow Aftercare Instructions
Once you get your lip fillers, your doctor will provide you with some aftercare instructions for the best results. Be sure to follow their advice to help make your lip fillers last longer.
Generally, your doctor will advise that you wait until 24 hours after your appointment before exercising or drinking alcohol to help reduce bruising and swelling. If you follow this advice, there’s a better chance that your lips will look great for a longer period of time.
Take Care of Your Skin
By taking care of your skin and keeping it hydrated, you can actually help your lip injections as well. Moisturizing your skin and drinking plenty of water will keep it hydrated, which can enhance the effect of the hyaluronic acid in your fillers. As a result, your lips will look plump for longer.
Avoid Too Much Sun Exposure
Wearing SPF daily to help combat sun exposure is one of the best things you can do for your skin. But, if you’re not careful, the sun can affect your lip fillers as well.
Too much sun exposure will start to break down your fillers more quickly, meaning that your body will start to absorb them faster. If you are getting fillers before a sunny vacation, try to wear wide-brimmed hats to keep your lips out of direct sunlight as much as possible.
Reduce Your Stress Levels
Did you know that stress can affect more than just your mood? When your body produces stress hormones, it can cause your lip fillers to break down more quickly than they otherwise might.
While it’s impossible to completely avoid stress, you can help keep your stress levels lower by practicing meditation and other calming techniques like yoga.
Maintain Your Fillers
Finally, if you want to keep your lips looking great, be sure to go back regularly for follow-up injections. Your doctor can give you top-up appointments to help keep your lips looking plump without fully going back to their original size and shape.
If you wait too long between appointments, then you run the risk of your body completely absorbing the fillers, and you’ll be back where you started.
Talk to your doctor for more advice specific to you about how often you should plan to come in for top-up appointments.
How Long Do Lip Fillers Last? Now You Know
After reading through this guide, you should have a better idea of how to answer the question, “how long do lip fillers last?” Now, you can move forward with scheduling an appointment to get the lips you’ve always dreamed of having.
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