5 Questions to Ask Your Doctor About Lip Fillers

Ready for lip fillers? Having an honest conversation with your doctor about lip augmentation — and posing the right questions — can help you get the results you’re after.

Like many other things in life these days, getting lip fillers or lip injections can become an Instagram-versus-reality situation. After scrolling through image after image of social media stars flaunting their full lips, you might assume that if you opt for this cosmetic treatment you will leave the dermatologist’s office with the same results.

But in reality, each person’s face and outcome is unique. So it’s crucial to talk to your doctor about why you’re choosing lip fillers and the physical look you’re hoping to achieve. “An honest conversation with the physician is key,” says Dr. Vivian Bucay, a board-certified dermatologist. “It’s all about setting realistic expectations.”

Read on for basic information about lip fillers and tips on what to ask during the consultation with your doctor.

What are lip fillers?

“Lip fillers typically refer to gel-like substances injected into the lips to enhance their fullness, to restore lost volume or to smooth out surface lines,” Bucay explains. You can choose from several different types of lip fillers, with ones containing hyaluronic acid being the most common and lasting up to a year.

Choose a professional

If you’ve opted to move forward with lip fillers, take time to find the right doctor to do the work for you. “Do your due diligence,” Bucay says. Check if the physician is board certified and in good standing with their state medical board. This information is publicly available. Medical societies like the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the American Academy of Dermatology and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery are also good resources.

Bucay also recommends utilizing your personal connections to find a provider. “Word of mouth recommendation is the best, because the referral is from someone who was pleased with their treatment,” she says. “Social media and online reviews are not as authentic to me because they can be manipulated.” Make sure that a supervising physician will be on site at the doctor’s office while the procedure is being done, if not giving the treatment themselves. And never seek treatment from anyone other than a medical professional — treatments in private homes or salons could be dangerous to your health and appearance.

How to prepare for lip fillers

Once you’ve selected a doctor, schedule a consultation and come prepared with a list of things to ask. “Asking questions during the consultation is the best way to ensure a great experience and great results,” Bucay says. Here are some questions to ask before you get started to make sure your doctor gives you the look you’re after.

• How will my facial features affect my lip fillers? Your doctor should take your face shape, lip shape and proportions into account. Some people, for example, naturally have a larger upper or lower lip. Working with your own features is more realistic, Bucay says. Large, full lips don’t necessarily work on every face.
• Do lip fillers look natural? It’s key that you can still move your lips naturally after you’re done with the procedure, so that they don’t look stiff or interfere with your speech or smiling, Bucay says. “Lips that don’t move naturally don’t look natural,” she says. “The filler that is selected for treatment should feel smooth and be very flexible, so it moves with the lips and not against them.”
• Can I get the same pout as my favorite celebrity? Photos of celebrities, or someone whose lips you like, can be helpful in conveying the idea of what you want, Bucay says. Just don’t expect that your lips will come out exactly the same as theirs. “If your natural lip shape, skin thickness and facial proportions aren’t right for that look, you’re probably not going to be happy with the outcome,” she explains.
• How long does it take for the lip fillers to settle?Don’t judge the results right away; it can take as long as two weeks for the swelling and bruising resulting from the treatment to come down, Bucay says. (Your doctor can let you know what types of medications can help with these side effects. Ask about prescriptions and over-the-counter options during the consultation.)
• What if I’m not happy with the results? Bucay recommends giving your treatment a bit of time to settle, and then scheduling a follow-up appointment with your doctor three to four weeks later to determine if a touch-up is needed.

Asking all of these questions can help you get the results you’re looking for and inform you about the treatment itself, the results and the side effects. “Honest and open communication is the foundation for setting expectations,” Bucay says.

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