We want every client to retain their perfect pout. So when is it time to think about having your lips dissolved?
Maintain a Crip & Natural Result
Often, when dissolving lip filler gets mentioned it’s associated with filler that’s been poorly injected and needs to be corrected. However, in reality this is often not the case and if you are getting lip filler done regularly you need to be thinking about getting your lips occasionally dissolved in order to maintain the integrity of your lips and keep them looking crisp and natural.
Lip Filler Migration
So what do we actually mean when we refer to lip filler migration?
Migration occurs when filler shifts outside of the vermillion border. There are two different causes to migration.
Injecting into the Vermillion Border
The vermillion border is usually the blame for lip filler migration. Injectors are commonly advised to avoid injecting into the vermillion border as there is a risk that the filler can move and seep out into the upper lip.
However, although injections that are not carefully placed near the vermillion border can lead to lip filler migration, this is often not the primary cause.
Too much filler or injecting filler too often
There are two types of muscles in the orbicularis oris (the muscle around the lip) zone. Within the lip inside the vermillion border the muscle is stronger. In the upper lip the muscle is weaker and so filler can be easily pushed up into this area if either too much filler is placed at any one time, or if filler is being injected repeatedly without being dissolved.
What creates the commonly referred to ‘duck’ like appearance, is filler that has migrated into the weaker upper lip zone because someone has had injections too often. As a result, the lips are pushed upwards and forwards.
Migration can also migrate into the wet-dry border creating lumps.
Filler is made of hyaluronic acid. To prevent the hyaluronic acid from dispersing, the hyaluronic acid is held together with a bond. This is known as cross linking. This bond generally stays intact for between 12 to 24 months. However, because the lips move a lot, this causes the filler to move back into the lips and so it so not as visible. This often happens at around 6 months, which tends to be the point at which clients feel they need a top up. So, the filler moves back and more filler is then put in the lips. If you are doing this repeatedly then you are going to find that after a few treatments you start to get the appearance of duck lips. The reason being is that the filler you put it 1-2 years ago is still partially there, except it is pocketing to the back of the lips. Pockets of filler tend to stay there and there’s no guarantee that after the lips are dissolved the filler isn’t going to pocket straight back into that area.
How to avoid migration
Along with using a good product and the correct injection technique, in order to prevent lip filler migration we need to defend the vermillion border. To get a nice crisp vermillion border, filler should be injected just below.
Never overfill your lips. No more than 1ml of filler should be injected at anyone time to prevent too much filler being injected in one session and being pushed up into the upper lip zone.
Do not have filler more than twice in one year. If you are getting the lips filled more than twice a year, then you should be dissolving regularly to maintain the integrity of the lips and prevent too much filler being placed pushed back and up into the upper lip area.
How often should you get your lips dissolved?
This all depends on how often you are having your lips done. If you’re having lip filler done every six months and never dissolving and you’ve been doing this for 2 to 4 years, then it’s likely you are starting to get migration.
Getting regular fillers every 6 months is fine but if you want to keep the results looking crisp and natural then we would advise having your lips dissolved every 3 to 4 treatments, or once every two years in order to achieve the perfect pout.
This also helps the integrity of the lips. If you wait too long to get your lips dissolved when product has already migrated into the upper lip zone, then a cavity has now been created and once created, the filler will always travel there as it is the path of least resistance.
How long do you need to wait until you can get your lips refilled?
We recommend that you wait 4 weeks after getting your lips dissolved before getting your lips reinjected. This is to ensure that the previous filler has been completely broken down and the enzymes contained in the dissolver aren’t still present which could then break down the new filler being injected.
So, should you be apprehensive about dissolving?
Although dissolving lip filler can be done to remove an unsatisfactory result, it shouldn’t always be seen as something that is negative. Having your lips dissolved does not necessarily mean that something is wrong and needs to be corrected, instead it may be required to maintain the natural shape of your lips and so should be seen as a positive step to your long term lip enhancement.
Swelling and bruising may occur after having your lips dissolved but the swelling subsides after a few days and bruising subsides generally within one to two weeks.
After one month you’re ready to start again and have your next treatment to get beautifully defined lips.
Please get in touch if you would like to book a consultation or have any questions regarding the lip filler dissolving.
