Lip Fillers

Learn more about our non-surgical solutions to enhance and preserve your natural beauty.

People have always found ways to make their lips look full, sexy, and kissable. A pouting, sensuous, “bee-stung” look comes naturally to some through favorable genetics but many people have naturally thin lips. You may also find lip asymmetry frustrating, or note that your lips are less full and appear thinner as you age. This is because of a natural decline in collagen. Younger people’s lips are naturally full-looking because young skin contains collagen and plenty of naturally occurring hyaluronic acid. Being well-hydrated keeps our lips plump from the inside out, but moisture also depletes as we age. Plump lips are a prized facial feature but not everyone is lucky enough to have them. Thankfully, the cosmetic industry has produced many innovative and excellent filler products in recent years that allow your Plastic Surgeon to safely and comfortably fill out, correct, and accentuate your lips.

These products are typically created from hyaluronic acid- a naturally occurring substance in your body, or various other naturally-derived minerals or biodegradable and bioactive materials. Hyaluronic acid is a gel-like material that will typically stay where it is injected for many months until your body safely absorbs it. Other fillers are structured to stimulate longer-lasting responses from your body and build up a cumulative volume. Dr. Gartner has the long-term training and expertise to ensure that your treatment is done safely and artfully, with an expert eye to ensure that your look is naturally pouty, not “duck-faced” and unrealistic. It is amazing how good a little volume in your lips can make you feel.

Your lip augmentation treatment will be performed by Dr. Gartner himself, a double-board-certified plastic surgeon with extensive experience in performing aesthetic medical procedures. Because of this, he possesses artistry in achieving beautiful, balanced results and the depth of knowledge to ensure that your treatment is safe and any risks are minimized.

At Gartner Plastic Surgery and Laser Center in New York, at our Manhattan or New Jersey locations, you will have a variety of dermal filler product options to choose from. We don’t believe in offering only one type of filler because not only is every patient unique, but different areas and concerns of the face call for variable consistency and structure of the product. That’s why we offer treatment options based on hyaluronic acid, hydroxylapatite, and poly-lactic acid: Juvederm, Restylane, Belotero, Radiesse, and Sculptra. The best type of injectable filler for your lips will be selected after a thorough consultation.
At your private medical consultation with Dr. Gartner, we’ll invite you to bring your questions. Share your aesthetic goals and expectations. Dr. Gartner will recommend the best plan to achieve your desired results.

Due to his advanced training and knowledge of anatomy, Dr. Gartner has perfected a specialized, gentle injection technique that helps to reduce tissue trauma and limit the amount of bruising or discomfort you may have. This also helps to reduce swelling and pain related to lip injections.

Treatment

The lip enhancement treatment with injectable lip fillers will be relatively fast, taking only a few minutes of your time.

After an assessment of your facial features and a discussion of what you’d like to achieve, Dr. Gartner will determine the most suitable product and amount to administer.

Numbing cream may be applied to reduce any discomfort. Injectable fillers typically have a numbing medication called Lidocaine in them as well, to make the whole process as pain-free as possible. You will receive a series of quick injections to administer the filler in optimal lip areas. Dr. Gartner may press or gently massage the product into an ideal shape and placement.

An instant improvement may appear, however, some swelling may hide your true results. Don’t forget, the body often swells asymmetrically and it is not uncommon to see some asymmetric lip swelling immediately after treatment. This does resolve within a couple of days. It can take up to two weeks for the optimal results to appear and for the lips to feel completely soft and natural.

Recovery

You can return to regular activity shortly after treatment. You’ll be advised not to press on the lips or engage in activities that could damage the lips while they are still feeling numb.

You’ll fall in love with your new look. Many people wait to try lip filler for the first time because they are unsure of what to expect, because they are afraid they will look unnatural or too large, or because they hesitate to have any injection. Many of those same people become loyal patients because once you see the amazing results you can achieve with just a little filler in the lips- you’ll be hooked. You may be surprised that you feel more confident, have more fun putting on your makeup, and like what you see when you look in the mirror.

Risks

Complications from lip filler treatment are very rare. Minor bruising may be present for a few days post-treatment. Please avoid known blood thinning medications and supplements for a few days before treatment. Not everyone experiences swelling.

Typically sensitivity and inflammation will resolve within a few days.