Big lips and a seducing pout, combined with your killer lipstick are all you need to go out and paint the town red! After many selfies during the night and lots of fun, laughter and maybe some kisses, you realize, yes, bigger lips would really increase your self-confidence and make you and others see you as more attractive and even more beautiful than ever. Now you ask yourself the question: “What should I go for – lip fillers or lip plumpers?” Well, let me make the comparison for you, and help you choose. In the end, you’ll see that only one of the choices seems reasonable.
What are Lip Fillers?
Lip fillers are a cosmetic procedure that makes your lips bigger by injecting dermal filler in or around your lips. Most of these dermal fillers have substances similar to hyaluronic acid which is the natural substance in our body (usually in the eyes and joints) and as a medicine is extracted from rooster combs or made in the laboratory with the purpose of enlarging the lips.
Apart from hyaluronic acid, collagen is also used as a lip filler but it has been proved that it is not the safest option, so today people replace it with “safer” options. In addition, fat injections and implants are a preferable choice by some people even though they also pose a great health risk.
All of the methods don’t give permanent results as the effects wear out after some time. For example, the effect of the hyaluronic acid fillers fades after 6 months and you would need more injections if you want to keep the volume of your lips.
What’s the Procedure Like?
The procedure is quick and it is performed in the doctor’s office for all of the methods except for the fat injection method because with this one there is a need for liposuction of a small area to remove fat from another part of your body which will be then injected in your lips (huh?!).
First, local anesthesia is applied in the form of a topical or local numbing agent to ease the discomfort and very often nerves are blocked with separate injections so that the lips are completely numbed. Then with fine needles, the substance is injected into the previously marked areas. After this, ice should be held against the lips so that the mouth won’t swell excessively. In addition, you can’t use any lipstick or other lip products after the procedure.
What Can Go Wrong?
Unfortunately, many things. You could bleed from the spots the injections were inserted, swelling and bruising are likely to appear, the lips will be red and tender for days and cold sores or fever blisters (like the herpes simplex) can be reactivated.
And they are only the less scary side effects.
Other, more serious, side effects may happen including severe and prolonged swelling or bruising lasting up to 10 days, different sized lip parts aka lip asymmetry, lumps in the lips, infection, and tissue loss if the injection hits a blood vessel, ulceration, scarring or stiffening of the lips. And last but not least – an allergic reaction to some of the substances which might cause redness, swelling or itching around the lips.
How much does it cost?
Usually, fillers are paid per injection and the cost is estimated depending on the material that is to be used. Total costs per one procedure range from $500 and $2000 and it is important to know that most health insurance companies won’t cover you for this kind of cosmetic procedure. Finally, keep in mind that this procedure should be done again and again at a regular time interval.
Sounds scary? Are you still considering it?
First of all, you should ask why you want to undergo this procedure. Are you certain that you will be happy with the result? Never forget that your expectations might be one thing and the realistic outcome something completely different. If you want to do it because someone else has asked you to, or to fit the expected image of you in the society – think twice and think harder.
Bigger lips are really the most attractive facial feature but you don’t have to bleed to get them. Fortunately, there are lip plumpers that can make you happy and satisfied with the results. Here is how.
… on the next page.
