There are a lot of myths that need to be cleared up about the safety and health benefits of plastic surgery. This includes a lot of information about the health risks and benefits of lip enhancements. If you do more research, you will likely find that the health benefits can easily outweigh the drawbacks.
Lip enhancement is an effective way of restoring or adding volume to the lips. In recent years, plastic surgeons have noticed a significant hike in people’s interest in getting lip fillers.
Many people feel that lip enhancements are entirely cosmetic treatments. However, the Cleveland Clinic reports that there are a number of important health benefits of them as well.
What Are the Health Benefits of Getting Lip Enhancements?
Lip enhancements and other forms of plastic surgery are often seen as superficial things that don’t offer any real value. However, the Cleveland Clinic states that there are a number of reasons that lip enhancements can be a boost for your health.
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The first benefit is that lip enhancements can help with your mental health. Whether we want to admit it or not, our appearance plays a huge role in our mental well-being. We addressed this in a recent post on the importance of beauty jobs for helping people improve their mental health. People are more likely to feel happy when they are happy with the way they look, which lip enhancements can improve.
Another benefit of lip enhancements is that they remove the need for more invasive surgeries. This can reduce the risk of complications that more intensive plastic surgeries entail.
This treatment brings a new sense of beauty and appeal among women suffering from insecurities about their appearance. These filters also help cure certain physical conditions, restoring the face’s symmetry.
Grandview Research reports that the global lip augmentation market size was valued at $2.2 billion in 2019. Its popularity is expected to increase at a compound annual growth rate of 9.5% until 2027.
Despite its benefits, it is always advised to get in-depth knowledge of the treatment to make the right decision. There are still some minor health risks, even if they pale in comparison to more invasive lip surgeries.
What is Lip Enhancement Treatment?
Lip enhancement or lip fillers are the most popular dermal fillers. These are injections that help in adding volume to the lips, thereby giving them a fuller and plumper appearance. These injections are filled with hyaluronic acid (HA).
This acid is also naturally found in the human body. Hyaluronic acid improves the appearance of your lips by adding shape, structure, and volume.
While hyaluronic acid remains the most popular lip enhancement injection, other types are available in the market as well. These include Collagen Lip Fillers, Permanent Silicone Lip Fillers, and Fat Transfer Lip Injections.
The effect of the HA lip treatment lasts for around six to twelve months. However, this factor is heavily dependent on one’s age and how fast their body breaks down calories into energy (metabolism).
Youngsters have a faster metabolism; lip fillers tend to last for a shorter duration than older people. The individual might have to take additional treatments to bring back lip volume.
How is Lip Enhancement Treatment Performed?
People undergoing lip enhancement treatments should be aware of the procedures before, during, and after.
1. Before the Procedure
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved lip filler treatments only for those above 21 in age. Thus, the very first thing that the professional checks is the candidate’s age.
Apart from this, there are other factors that the patient will have to meet in order to be eligible for the lip enhancement treatment. The healthcare provider assesses a number of factors, including the physical and mental health of the patient.
Another important factor that is considered is the face’s shape. The healthcare providers examine, measure and take pictures of the face from different angles before the treatment.
They will also have to answer questions such as why they want lip fillers and what their expectations are from the treatment. Depending on the results from the tests and the answers to the questions, the physician will then decide whether or not the patient is ready for the treatment.
2. During the Procedure
The doctor first applies a topical anesthetic to the lips during the Lip Enhancement treatment. This is done to numb the lips so that the patient won’t feel any pain, irritation, or number when the treatment is being carried out.
The numbing cream usually consists of benzocaine, lidocaine, and tetracaine (BLT). The cream is kept and applied on the lips for at least 15-30 minutes. In case the patient has a numbing cream allergy, the healthcare provider administers a nerve block injection to numb the lips.
Next, the physician injects thin needles into every part of the lip. The main areas that are focused on include the edges of your lips, also called the vermillion border, the curve in the center of your upper lip, known as Cupid’s bow, and the corners of your mouth or the oral commissures.
Because of the numbing pain, the patient does not feel any pain. But they might experience a slight pinching sensation.
In general, the doctor inserts only 1 milliliter (mL) of lip filler into the lips. The doctor continuously applies an ice pack throughout the process to avoid redness or swelling.
After the Procedure
After the procedure, the doctor gently massages the lips to absorb the filler completely. During this process as well the doctor continues to ice the lips.
After the treatment, the doctor monitors the patient for about 15 to 20 minutes to check for any complications or side effects, such as dizziness, nausea, or substantial bleeding. Once they examine everything to be fine, the patient is discharged on the same day of the treatment.
After-treatment care includes applying ice packs regularly to reduce inflammation, pain, and swelling and avoiding wearing lipstick or lip balm for at least 24 hours after the treatment.
Also, keep yourself hydrated, take extra care while brushing, and avoid strenuous physical activity for 24 hours post-treatment.
The lips may feel and appear swollen, sensitive, and bruised. However, these subside gradually within 48 hours. However, if the side effects persist in remaining even after a week, then it is necessary to consult the doctor as soon as possible.
Physicians also conduct follow-up appointments for at least two weeks after the procedure to monitor the lips. After-treatment pictures are clicked to determine the changes.
Benefits of Lip Enhancement Treatment
The major benefits of lip enhancement treatments are as follows:
1. Improves Appearance
Lip fillers’ most prominent benefit is their enhanced and better appearance. Unlike lip implants that give an artificial appearance, lip fillers look much more natural. This is because of the hyaluronic acid that these injections contain.
As mentioned earlier, this is a substance that is naturally found in the human body. Therefore, the body naturally absorbs the filler and gives it a fuller and more natural-looking appearance.
Fuller and voluminous lips make one look and feel younger. Lip fillers are the mode of fighting insecurities and gaining confidence in one’s appearance. Lip fillers are long-term solutions for fuller and plumper lips.
2. Treats Aging Signs
Lip injections are the most effective remedy for those who wish to treat age-related signs such as wrinkles and fine lines that form around the mouth area.
Lip injections tighten the skin around your lips, thereby reducing sagging skin and fine lines. The lip area appears fuller and much younger as a result.
Lip Enhancements Are Safe Options for People Trying to Improve their Mental Health
You can improve your mental health by improving the way you look, so lip enhancements can be worth trying. However, a successful lip enhancement treatment relies heavily on the physician’s experience and knowledge. Thus, it is very important to carry out research beforehand and choose a clinic that has proven to offer effective results to its past clients.