Thinning Lips – Causes and Filler Treatment – Auckland NZ

As we age we experience volume loss through all layers of the skin and the structures beneath. The bones in our face actually shrink, our teeth can become less healthy and the lips suffer a loss of collagen and elastin – the good elements that keep them plump. External factors such as sun damage from sun exposure, smoking, stress and an unhealthy diet can all contribute to thin lips.

At Palm Clinic we use hyaluronic acid dermal fillers for lip enhancement procedures as they achieve subtle, immediate results. We only use the market leading filler, Juvederm. Thin lips can be enhanced by dermal fillers by putting extra volume directly into the lips, around the edge of the lips (vermilion border) or directly under vertical fine lines above the lips that cause lipstick to bleed.

We choose the dermal filler to fit the purpose; a softer, finer filler for a subtle enhancement, and a firmer more voluminous filler for a more noticeable lip augmentation result.

At the top of our minds at all times is to achieve a natural looking, rejuvenating result. We aim for a subtle increase in size, but moreover an improved definition, a lifting of the corners of the mouth and a hydrated effect.

It should never look like you’ve had work done. Lips shouldn’t appear swollen, stiff on movement or like there is dermal filler in your lips.

We do not do the ‘trout pout’ or the ‘duck lip’ but can offer a more noticeable lip augmentation if desired. Younger women often want fuller, more sensual lips. An appropriate increase in lip size is easily achieved with dermal fillers like Juvederm. Older women often have vertical lip lines treated at the same time as a subtle enhancement of lip size to maintain a natural, youthful appearance.

When approaching lip filler treatment, we always take into account symmetry, balance between the upper lip and lower lip, and harmony with other features of the face. For example, did you know that the larger your eyes, the larger your lips can be to look in harmony and proportion to them? We will always go for a more subtle lip rejuvenation for somebody with smaller features in order to keep proportion.

Likewise, it’s important to consider vertical lines above the upper lip, the nasolabial folds (from the nose to the lip) and marionette lines when treating the lips to achieve a more youthful appearance.

As you can imagine, the lips and surrounding tissues are a very sensitive area. At Palm Clinic, we always use topical anaesthetic on the lips and surrounding skin prior to filler treatment to minimise discomfort.

Additionally, modern dermal fillers contain local anaesthetic so that while you do feel the initial scratch of the needle, you don’t tend to feel the lip filler being injected.

You will see immediate results after your filler treatment, but it can take a week or two for the filler to soften and feel completely natural. The results generally last anywhere between three months (for a more subtle enhancement) up to one year.

As with women’s lips, the approach for men’s lips is to keep things looking natural. Men have a different lip shape to women and it’s important to retain that when treating the lips. The same attention to symmetry, balance and harmony still applies.

Not everybody is interested in filler treatment to their lips, often scared off by what they have seen in the media or at the local cafe. The best lip treatment is the one that you can’t pick, as with any dermal filler treatment. At Palm Clinic, we make it look natural.

If you would like to discuss options, please book a consultation where we can listen to your concerns, consider your medical history and offer solutions tailored to your needs.

At Palm Clinic, Auckland, NZ we use Juvederm. This is the market leading dermal filler and is made of hyaluronic acid (HA). Hyaluronic acid occurs naturally in our bodies, and is one of the things that naturally reduces in our tissues with ageing. It works like a sponge and attracts water to itself keeping the skin and the tissues beneath it hydrated.

Dermal filler side effects are incredibly rare however if these were to occur, there is an ‘eraser’ treatment available, which is to inject an enzyme called hyalase to dissolve the filler.

Dermal filler treatment of the lips can usually be done with one syringe of filler. Depending on the level of enhancement desired – and hence, the amount of filler used – the treatment can range from $850 – $950.