The Lip Filler Facts

Whenever I do a post like this, I always have to preface it a bit. Because I know I’m about to get chewed out for my own decisions. Last time I shared a post about microneedling, a woman asked me why I hated myself so much. Ummmm what? So let me preface – I decided to get lip filler because I wanted to. It doesn’t mean I think YOU should do it nor am I recommending it. I did it because I wanted to, I loved it, I had a great experience with it, and I wanted to share it! It doesn’t mean I hate myself, it simply means I wanted to enhance something I didn’t have much of in the first place. I wasn’t born with shapely arm muscles or leg muscles, so I go to the gym and work on them. Does that mean I hate myself? Nah. I just want to feel good in my own skin! Don’t we all want that in some way shape or form?

And lip filler was exactly that – something that made me feel good. I’ve never had much in the smooch department, but I was always too scared to get them done because I’ve seen so many friends and people on instagram with applegate chicken sausages for lips after they got them done. I didn’t want that, I just wanted a little more shape and fullness. But after seeing a blogger get her lips done and not look like a complete clown, I started chatting with my esthetician/injector Marcy Tarango about it. I told her I wanted to be super conservative to start, she agreed, and we started with just 1/2 a syringe of Juvederm XC since we could always add more later on. And that’s exactly what we did! I got 1/2 a syringe added one day when I was getting microneedling done, then she added more 4 weeks later at my next microneedling appointment.

The reason I wanted to talk about it today is because I wanted to show people that it doesn’t have to be this balloon-like situation. It can be subtle and look pretty damn natural! So first let’s talk through some of the facts:

What type of lip filler did you get?

Juvederm XC. My esthetician also uses Juvederm Volbella for older clients.

Is it permanent?

Lip fillers felt super scary to me before I had mine done so I immediately asked what would happen if I didn’t like them. Well luckily they have an eraser enzyme that breaks down the fillers to get rid of them quickly if you are unhappy with the result.

How long does it last?

You’ll want to get them refilled about every 6-9 months or so. Everyone’s body is different so some may break down faster because of the person’s metabolism, while others may experience the fillers lasting longer.

Does it hurt?

You injector will numb you up ahead of time, which definitely helps. It feels like a minor prick and some pressure when being injected, then afterwards your lips may feel sore and achey, but this only lasts about a day.

Do your lips feel different?

They really don’t, which surprised me. The only time I feel like they feel slightly different is when I purse my lips together.

What does it cost?

This will all depend where you live and who you go to. My esthetician charges $650 for a full syringe of lip filler, but I’ve heard prices going up to $2000 depending on the area.

What are the risks?

There are risks of bleeding and bruising, which is very normal, but there is also a risk of vascular occlusion which is blockage of a blood vessel, usually with a clot. This is rare, but it’s definitely something to keep in mind!

Will I need to take time off?

Not really. After your treatment you’ll be red from the injection points, but that doesn’t last long. This is definitely a treatment you could do at lunch then head back into work!

Now let’s get into my own experience! Above is a photo of before my first treatment (all glossed up from numbing cream for microneedling, FYI), right after the 1/2 syringe of lip filler was injected, then two weeks later! As you can see, I was swollen right after the treatment and had a small bruise in one spot. But both the swelling and bruising diminishes with time, leaving the lips looking more full and shapely! Here is another photo of before the treatment paired with an after photo once I used the other 1/2 of the syringe.

As you can see, it’s not super dramatic. And that’s what I think is so important about finding a good injector – Marcy didn’t push me to do a full syringe or more on my first appointment. And this is something that is common because some injectors are just out to make money instead of truly listening to the customer and wanting what is best for them. If you’re looking for a minor change and your injector wants to add 2 syringes worth of filler to your lips, it may not be a good fit. You want someone you can trust and someone that wants to make sure you are happy with your results.

Something I did not expect from getting lip filler is having LESS chapped lips. After going through accutane years and years ago, my lips were never the same. Especially since I live in Colorado, which is extremely dry. My lips have peeled DAILY since accutane in 2013. And you’ll usually see me biting or picking at my lips because of it. But since getting lip filler and expanding those fine lines in my lips, they rarely peel at this point. I can now wear lipstick without it getting all weird and peeling off within a couple hours. It’s freaking awesome. If you’ve never experienced your lips peeling daily, be grateful for it, it’s a pain in the ass. But now with lip filler, I don’t have to deal with that anymore! It’s so rad!

I was so nervous to get lip fillers at first, but now I’m so glad I did it! I feel more confident and my lips actually feel healthier! I know some people see these enhancement type treatments as so taboo, but I wanted to share my experience to hopefully give you a different perspective – a positive one! And I thought it was perfect timing because my esthetician Marcy Tarango is offering $100 off fillers this week, so if you’re in Denver, it’s a great time to try it out while saving some money! She works at Cherry Creek Facial Aesthetics (with my longtime esthetician Shawn Haviland – 720-459-7960) and she is a true joy. She’s so damn sweet! If you’re in Denver, she is the injector to go to! But if you’re not in Denver, be sure to look for either a registered nurse and/or board-certified professional. And be sure to check out their work beforehand! You want to make sure that you trust them and you two are on the same page!

If you have any lip filler questions, feel free to ask them below and I’d be happy to answer them!! I hope this post gave you some insight into the lip filler experience and shows you that you don’t have to have chicken sausages when you’re using filler.