The majority of dermal fillers consist of a synthetic version of hyaluronic acid (HA), which is a natural polysaccharide that exists in all living organisms and is found throughout the body, giving volume to the skin, lubricating the joints, and giving the eye its shape.

Dermal fillers are biocompatible, which means that they can integrate safely with your skin tissues and allow the passage of oxygen and nutrients. Over time, the HA gel injected within your skin is slowly absorbed and replaced by water.

Other dermal fillers work by stimulating your body’s collagen production in the treated areas to address the underlying causes of your ageing skin and to create natural volume.

The dermal fillers we use for lip enhancement treatments give your lips a soft, natural feel. These dermal fillers tend to be kind on your lips and result in minimal swelling.

We can use dermal fillers to enhance your lips in the following ways:

• Add volume to your upper and/or lower lips
• Add definition to your lip line/border
• Enhance and lift your Cupid’s bow to add definition
• Reduce visible smokers’ lines
• Lift your mouth corners to give you a less down-turned, sad resting face

To maintain your look, you may need to visit us for a top-up treatment after six to twelve months.

The dermal fillers we use at Face Matters have a proven safety record and offer long-lasting but non-permanent results. Hyaluronic acid-based fillers can also be reversed. However, no treatment is without potential side effects.

After a lip enhancement treatment, you may experience some mild bruising at the injection sites, which can take two to three days to vanish. Inevitably, the more injections you have, the higher your chance of some visible bruising. That being said, dermal fillers designed especially for use in and around the lip area do tend to be soft and less prone to bruising.

Some people also experience temporary redness, swelling, itching or discomfort. It’s fairly common for the treatment area to look slightly discoloured, but again, this should resolve within a few days.

Much rarer side effects include blistering, infection, cold sores (especially if you have a history of cold sores), allergic reactions, and – in less than one in 15,000 cases – lumpy tissue, skin necrosis and red wheals, all of which are usually mild to moderate and self-limiting, lasting for approximately two weeks.

Choosing an experienced practitioner like Dr. Tschoepe who has a proven history of successful treatments is important to minimise the risk of side effects.

As we’ve discussed above, your skin may look red and swollen or feel tender and itchy immediately after your treatment. You should avoid touching the treated area for at least six hours, after which you can apply light make-up and gently wash your face with soap and water.

We recommend that you wear a high factor sunblock (SPF 30 or above) and avoid sun exposure.

You should steer clear of extreme temperatures until the initial swelling and redness have resolved – this means no saunas, sunbathing, solariums or extreme cold.

We will give you more detailed aftercare instructions when you have your treatment, so you know exactly what to expect and how to follow our recommendations for the best outcomes.