Lip Filler Guide

Lip fillers use filler material to enhance your lips with a fuller appearance. Read a helpful guide on lip fillers & how to enhance your thin lips today.



Lip fillers, also referred to as lip injections, use collagen or alternate filler types of material to enhance your lips with a fuller appearance. One or both of your lips are injected using a needle & syringe as applicable. Why do people choose to get lip fillers? What are the benefits and costs for this type of procedure?

Thin lips create self-confidence issues in some people. Lip fillers are generally affordable. They are also safe enhancement treatments capable of restoring your self-confidence/appearance so you feel and look your best. What type of recovery time is associated with lip filler procedures? Where are the best locations to get lip filler treatments in 2021? Read ahead for a helpful guide containing general information about lip fillers and how to enhance your thin lips today.

Lip Filler Procedure 101

Lip fillers are also referred to as lip injections. Lip filler procedures use collagen or another type of approved filler material to bolster the fullness and appearance of your lips. Both your bottom and top lip are capable of undergoing lip filler treatments. Your lip or lips are injected with a needle/syringe, which contains the filler material. The filler material is injected into your lip(s) using the needle, effectively filling them and creating a new, fuller appearance.

Collagen was previously the most common lip filler used in lip filler treatments. This is no longer the case. Collagen is still used but newer options deemed safer and longer lasting are now used more frequently instead. Fat injections are one filler method used as an alternative to collagen, but are also known to have less consistent results and potentially increased side effects during recovery. 

The most common lip filler methods used in lieu of collagen today are hyaluronic acid fillers. Hyaluronic acid fillers, also referred to as dermal fillers, are materials injected into your lips albeit with a temporary affect over a varied length of time. Hyaluronic acid/dermal fillers are comprised of materials the body naturally absorbs over time. Therefore the fullness obtained using such a method is also temporary. This type of filler treatment lasts in efficacy for approximately six months at which point you need to have more injections to maintain a fuller lip appearance. Hyaluronic acid/dermal fillers are produced in various types. Some of these types contain the local anesthetic Lidocaine, which is administered to mitigate pain and discomfort. Different types of hyaluronic acid/dermal fillers used in lip filler treatments include:

  • Prevelle Silk.

  • HylaForm.

  • Restylane.

  • Restylane-L.

  • Restylane Silk.

  • Juvederm Ultra.

  • Juvederm Ultra Plus.

  • Juvederm Volbella XC.

  • Belotero Balance.

  • Elevess.

Why People Need Lip Filler Treatments

People get lip fillers for a variety of reasons, almost all related to preference, self-confidence and personal appearance. On some occasions, as people age their lips become too thin to function normally. Cases also exist where a person is born with lips too thin to function properly. In both these types of cases lip filler treatments are used to prevent drying, cracking and bleeding lips. Normally, however, lip filler treatments are done as cosmetic procedures meant to alter the shape of your lips by making them fuller and younger looking in appearance.

Lip filler treatments help boost self-confidence in people who think their lips are either too small or too thin. The procedure is done to alter lips looking out of balance with the rest of the face or to feature the lips in a more appealing way. Certain people also feel the shape of their lips is either out of proportion or wrong for their face. Lip filler treatments are used to adjust the shape of lips as well. Obtaining a younger sexier look, becoming a status symbol, improving self-image issues and boosting social confidence are all reasons people choose to undergo lip filler procedures in 2021.

Lip Filler Recovery & Aftercare

Getting lip filler treatments does involve some recovery time and aftercare requirements. Makeup and lip products are not to be used for a minimum of twelve hours after the procedure. Use clean ice or a clean ice pack to reduce swelling and pain the entire day post-procedure. It is also recommended to sleep with your head on two elevated pillows to help reduce the swelling. Alcohol and blood thinners are also forbidden during the fist twenty-four hours post-procedure. Additional lip filler recovery time & aftercare information is as follows:

  • No massages or heavy pressure on your lips for a minimum of one week.

  • Maintain high levels of hydration for several days post-procedure.

  • Avoid strenuous exercise for at least one week post-procedure.

  • Tenderness & soreness is common for several days post-procedure.

  • Important: Avoid flying for a minimum of two weeks post-procedure (flying causes dehydration & pressure on your skin, which is capable of counteracting the results of your treatment).

Lip Filler Treatments – Benefits, Types & Average Costs

The benefits of lip filler treatments are multiple for those looking for a safe and affordable method of enhancing their physical appearance. Fullness looks natural, which helps boost self-confidence and also appeal with other people. The lip filler process is done gradually to produce the best and most natural result. Recovery time is generally short barring any complications and side effects are minimal. It is of course essential to discuss all known allergies with your doctor and treatment provider prior to undergoing any lip filler procedure but ultimately side effects including allergic reactions are considered rare. 

Various types of effective lip filler treatments are available today. Porcine Collagen, Human Collagen, Artecoll, Aquamid and Perlane/Restylane are just a few. The average costs of lip filler treatments in 2021 range between $500 and $2,000 per treatment depending on the type of filler used and facility providing the treatment.

Where Do I Get Lip Filler Treatments?

Choosing a lip filler treatment provider is an important decision. This is a medical albeit non-surgical procedure requiring the expertise of a licensed dermatologist with special training in cosmetic medicine & injection services. Use Yelp to find cosmetic surgeons near you, but make sure to check the credentials of every potential provider before undergoing any treatments. It is also possible to use the following resources to find a trusted plastic surgeon near you: