Full and sensual lips are a dream for many women and men. As we get older, the contour of the lips becomes more indistinct and the amour arch on the upper lip also loses its clarity. These are just some of the reasons why many people get lip injections.
Lip injections are one of the most common beauty treatments worldwide. Using a very thin needle to create discreet volume and symmetry for the lips and other areas of the face is for many people today as natural as going to the hairdresser.
If you have gotten lip injections, you might wonder how to prolong the life of your lip filler. The results aren’t permanent and you must have realistic expectations of how long they are likely to last naturally. Although the easiest way to maintain your plump lips is by using a lip filler treatment, there are other tips and tricks you can use to help you enjoy them a bit longer.
Pay Close Attention to Aftercare Advice
Getting lip injections is a relatively quick treatment with little downtime required. This might make it tempting to resume your normal daily activities straight after getting the treatment. However, you must slow down and listen to your provider’s specific aftercare advice and follow it accordingly.
By following aftercare advice, you’ll take care of your lips and get long-lasting results, and counteract unnecessary swelling and discomfort. Instructions like avoiding heavy exercise and alcohol for at least 24 hours following the treatment will prevent bruising and swelling and give them a chance to last longer.
Minimize Sun Exposure
While it’s recommended to wear SPF every day and minimize the time you spend in the sun, especially during the hottest hours of the day, you should be even more aware of this after getting lip injections.
Being exposed to UV rays for a long time can cause certain types of fillers to break down faster which may lead to your body absorbing them sooner than you may like. If it’s impossible to avoid the sun, use a strong SPF and try to wear a wide-brimmed hat to cover your face and lips, and stick to the shade as much as you possibly can.
Eat Healthy Food and Drink Water
Now and then, we all get cravings and love to indulge but consuming too much junk food can cause inflammation in the body which may cause lip fillers to break down faster. So, it’s recommended to avoid such foods and reduce sugar intake.
Sugar binds to collagen and elastin and is known to interfere with keeping our skin clear and hydrated. Cutting down on caffeine and dairy products also helps curb inflammation and promote good hydration within our bodies which is better for our fillers. Eat plenty of fruits and veggies and make sure to get healthy fats and oils that are typically found in fish and various nuts.
Control Your Stress Levels
As we already know, stress has a huge impact on our health and it can even have a bad effect on our lip fillers. When stressed, our bodies produce extra hormones, and these hormones may cause the lip filler to break down faster, leading you to repeat treatments more often.
For this reason, do your best to lower your stress levels. Even though we’re unable to avoid life’s stressful situations, we can still find various ways to manage our reactions to such events and maintain our health and maximize our lip results.
Rethink Your Exercise Regime
Staying active and moving your body is key to maintaining your physical and mental health. However, research shows that people with faster metabolisms tend to “work” the filler out of their systems more quickly.
We don’t recommend that you give up on your exercise to make your lip injections last longer, however, if you have a very active lifestyle, you might have to schedule more regular top-ups at three or six months.
Schedule Top-Up Appointments
If you don’t want to see the size of your lips fluctuate too much, you must maintain your filler by regularly getting top-ups. If you go 12-18 months without a top-up, your lips will most likely return to their natural shape and size.
Speak to your aesthetician about when the best time is for scheduling a top-up and you‘ll be able to maintain the same beautiful pout.
Final Thoughts
Unfortunately, injectable lip fillers don’t last forever. The longevity of your filler results depends on the filler’s thickness and the formula’s material, but also the individual metabolism. However, with the above tips and tricks, you can maintain your lips’ appearance and keep them nice and plump for longer.
