Lip filler can add hydration for a smoother lip at close to the same size, or definition and volume where you want more. The decision is which of those you actually want.
Lip filler uses hyaluronic acid to change one of two things: how hydrated and smooth the lip is, or how much volume and definition it has. Those are different treatments using similar products, and confusing them is why a lot of lip work does not turn out the way the patient imagined.
Hydration treatment puts a small amount of a softer product into the body of the lip. The lip looks smoother and fresher and is close to the same size. Augmentation adds volume, shape or border definition, and changes the proportion of the lip against the rest of the face.
At Dr Ellie Sateei’s London and Sevenoaks clinics, that distinction is the first conversation, before any product is chosen. Results vary between individuals.
Hyaluronic acid attracts and holds water, so it hydrates the tissue it sits in as well as occupying space. In the lip, product placement matters more than the amount used. A softer gel placed in the body of the lip behaves nothing like the same volume placed along the border, and the wrong choice is what produces a lip that reads as treated rather than fuller.
Dr Sateei assesses the lip in the context of the face rather than on its own. Lip proportion works against the chin, the nose and the width of the mouth, which is why a lip that looks correct in a mirror at close range can look out of proportion in a photograph.
Where a patient is nervous, or where the change requested is significant, the sensible approach is a smaller amount first, reviewed once swelling has settled, and built on if you want more. Filler cannot be un-injected, but it can always be added to.
Lip filler may suit you if you are looking to:
It is not the right treatment if what is troubling you is fine lines above the lip with no volume change, where conservative anti-wrinkle treatment or a skin booster is more appropriate. It is also not the right treatment if the size you have in mind would not sit in proportion with the rest of your face, and Dr Sateei will tell you that at consultation rather than after.
As an injectable treatment, it is not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding. A history of cold sores should be disclosed, as treatment can trigger an outbreak and may need antiviral cover.
Numbing cream is applied first, and most lip fillers contain a local anaesthetic such as lidocaine, so discomfort is generally mild. Treatment takes around 30 minutes including numbing.
Lips swell more than anywhere else on the face. Expect noticeable swelling for the first 24 to 48 hours, during which the lip will look fuller than the final result, and some bruising is common. This is worth planning around: allow two weeks before an event, not two days.
The result settles at around two weeks, which is when it should be judged and when any adjustment is made. Lip filler generally lasts six to twelve months, at the shorter end of the filler range, because the lip moves constantly and metabolises product faster than structural areas such as the cheek or jaw.
| Treatment | London | Sevenoaks |
|---|---|---|
| Lip filler | From £550 | From £495 |
| Filler dissolving | From £350 | From £350 |
New patient consultation, £195 at both clinics. If you go ahead with treatment on the day of your appointment, this fee is deducted from the cost of your treatment.
Prices correct as published and subject to change.
““Almost every patient who ends up with lips that look obviously done got there gradually, a little more each time, with nobody telling them where the line was. I would rather have the awkward conversation at the start. I will treat your lips smaller than you asked for if that is what suits your face, and I will explain why, and you are free to disagree with me and go elsewhere. What I will not do is keep adding because you keep asking.””
Dr Ellie Sateei has over two decades of experience in dermatology and aesthetics.
From £550 in London. Your consultation is £195, deducted from the cost of treatment if you go ahead on the day.
Not with a conservative amount, well placed, in proportion with your face. Dr Sateei will recommend less than requested where that produces a more natural result, and will explain her reasoning.
Generally six to twelve months. Lips move constantly and metabolise filler faster than structural areas such as the cheeks or jawline.
Noticeably, for the first 24 to 48 hours, and some bruising is common. Allow two weeks before an event rather than two days.
Yes, and it is often the better approach. A smaller amount first, reviewed once swelling settles at two weeks, then added to if you would like more.
Hyaluronic acid can be dissolved using hyaluronidase where clinically appropriate, from £350. This is assessed individually.
Treatments of interest alongside lip fillers
If you are considering lip filler, the useful conversation is which of the two treatments you actually want, hydration or volume, and how much would sit in proportion with your face. That may be less than you had in mind. Dr Ellie Sateei will tell you honestly at consultation, at her London clinic.
Our London clinic is located at 91a New Cavendish Street, London, W1W 6XF
We serve patients from London, Kent and the home counties as well as from all over the world. Our London clinic sits in the heart of Marylebone, within easy reach of the West End by tube, while our Sevenoaks clinic in Ightham is moments from the M25 and M26 for patients across Kent.
