Lip enhancement is an extremely popular treatment, appealing to both women and men of all ages, who are seeking natural-looking yet full lips.
New Restylane Lip Refresh and Lip Volume give Aesthetic Medicine Physicians new specialist lip filler products tools with which to enhance and treat their patients’ lips. Dr Barbara Kubicka explains the features and benefits of the new products and how they are used in treatment.
What are Restylane Lip Refresh and Restylane Lip Volume treatments? How do they differ and how do they compare to general-use fillers?
Restylane Lip Refresh is a HA (hyaluronic acid) based filler, as with standard Restylane. However, it is formulated to restore hydration and plumpness to the lips, which are lost with age, but without giving extra volume.
Restylane Lip Refresh gives an especially soft result and is excellent for treating small lines around lips. Results are good for smokers and those who have had excessive sun exposure. Restylane Lip refresh also helps to treat dry, flaking lip skin.
Restylane Lip Refresh treatment is especially suitable for more conservative clients, who want a very natural look, restoring hydration and volume with no risk of “trout pout” or over-done lips.
By comparison, Restylane Lip Volume is primarily designed for lip enhancement and adding volume. Specially formulated for the lip area, Restylane Lip Volume “settles” well in the lip area for natural, soft results. It has been designed to avoid any risk of lumpiness and minimise swelling.
Compared to other products, Restylane Lip Volume lasts longer, gives more volume and offers a smoother finish than other products.
Treatment/procedure for Lip Refresh and Lip Volume
Restylane Lip Refresh treatment involves a series of small injections in the outline of the lips and around them using a very fine needle. Sometimes there are also injections into the lip area itself.
Restylane Lip Volume treatment involves reshaping the lips through injections to add volume into the lip area. Treatment is usually with a cannula as opposed to a needle, which reduces bruising and swelling. The filler is administered into the lip border to add volume.
Who is the right candidate for Restylane lip treatments?
After proper consultation to assess their needs, most patients are very good candidates for both Restylane Lip Refresh and Restylane Lip Volume treatment. Lip Refresh helps to remove small lines and make the lips more ‘moist’ and hydrated, while Lip Volume improves the shape and/or volume of the lips for more dramatic reshaping.
It is vitally important to understand what finished result patients are seeking from the treatment and to agree on the most suitable approach, so that the patient can be reassured and confident that they will achieve the look they desire – not too little, or too much lip enhancement.
Contraindications (where treatment may be inadvisable) include patients who have previously had permanent fillers or certain psychological problems. Some patients are allergic to the common local anaesthetics like lidocaine and probably should not consider lip injections. Medically, we do need to be aware of past history of oral herpes infections, although this can be managed with preventative medications. These issues would be reviewed and discussed at consultation.
How long does each filler last for?
Restylane Lip Refresh gives hydration and fullness for up to 3 months, while Restylane Lip Volume can provide lip enhancement volume in the lip area for 6-9 months.
With both options, results tend to last longer with every treatment.
How much does each filler cost?
As with all injectable treatments, prices will depend on the amount of filler product used. As a guideline, prices start at £300 for Restylane Lip Refresh and £350 for Restylane Lip Volume. Prices would always be confirmed prior to treatment at a private consultation.
What are the potential side effects?
Side effects may include localised swelling, bruising, itching and initially localised bleeding. Any side effects normally pass within a few hours although they can last for a few days.
Do you use an anaesthetic gel to numb the lips prior to injection?
A combination of anaesthetic gels, ice and oral painkillers are used as standard treatment. If client requires it, dental block is also an option.
Contact Us
To book Lip Enhancement treatment, or to arrange a private consultation with Dr Barbara Kubicka to discuss your requirements, please contact us on 0207 352 6803 or email drb@drbarbarakubicka.co.uk.