How Long Do Lip Fillers Last? Best Brands, Tips and Other Questions About Fillers

• Lip fillers are temporary treatments that last for several months.
• A healthy lifestyle can help the results last longer.
• To maintain the results, you will need to repeat the treatment.
• After the effect wears off, lips go back to normal with no permanent effects.

Lip fillers are injectable cosmetic treatments that give you fuller lips for a more youthful look. Unlike surgical augmentation, lip fillers are temporary and last months before the effects fade away. Some factors can affect how long lip fillers last.

How Long do Lip Fillers Last? 

On average, modern hyaluronic acid (HA) injectable lip fillers last between six and nine months. Collagen is another type of filler that is no longer commonly used and lasts around three months before the body degrades the material.

Lip fillers can add fullness and plumpness or shape and define the edges of the lips, typically using smaller amounts of the material. Since the body breaks down HA gradually, the smaller amounts of filler used to add definition may be degraded quicker. 

Do lip fillers last longer the first time you undergo the procedure?

Lip fillers do not last significantly longer or shorter the first time you get the procedure as the body breaks down the filler material at the same rate. 

Which lip fillers last the longest?

Hyaluronic acid injectable lip fillers are the current industry standard when it comes to longevity, effectiveness, and safety. Hyaluronic acid fillers can produce that last between six to nine months and may last up to twelve months in some cases.

Juvederm and Restylane are the leading HA-based filler brands approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the United States. They have comparable longevity.

Does longer-lasting mean better?

Long-lasting results do not necessarily mean better outcomes. Longevity is not the only factor in choosing a lip filler; texture, natural look, and safety must also be considered.

Polyalkylimide is a biocompatible material that may be used as a dermal filler and is considered semi-permanent. However, the unpredictable degradation process makes it a poor option as a lip filler.

Other lip augmentation options such as fat transfer (semi-permanent) and lip implants (permanent) are significantly more invasive. They are also associated with a higher risk of complications.

How much do lip injections cost?

Most dermal fillers come in vials or syringes of 1 cc (1 mL) each. You can expect to pay around $650 to $700 per syringe of hyaluronic acid filler (Juvederm or Restylane).

The final cost depends on how much filler is used plus any applicable facility or physician fees. Most people require one to two vials of HA filler to achieve good lip filling results.

Less common lip filler options such as collagen cost around $400 to $800 per treatment.

Do lip fillers last longer in some people?

In theory, people may differ in how fast their bodies can metabolize and degrade hyaluronic acid fillers. No studies have specifically tested this theory yet. 

Some lifestyle factors may influence how long lip fillers last in some people. Generally, these factors correlate with overall health–results last longer in people who maintain a healthier lifestyle.

These factors may include:

• Skincare: people who maintain good skin hygiene have healthier skin, prolonging the results of lip fillers.
• Physical activity: maintaining a moderate level of physical activity contributes to better overall skin health and longer-lasting results. Excessive exercise may do the opposite, speeding up the degradation of HA.
• Stress: higher levels of stress mean less healthy skin and a shorter duration of effect of fillers.

How can you make lip fillers last longer?

Hyaluronic acid lip fillers last, on average, six to nine months. There are several things you can do to help keep your results at the higher end of this range.

• Hydration: HA works by binding water, adding to the filling effect. Good hydration means that more water is available to be bound to HA. 
• Skincare: moisturizing and keeping your skin clean can help the results last longer.
• Repeat treatments: if you wish to keep your results for longer than six to nine months, you will need to get repeat treatments. 

What not to do after lip injections

After getting lip filler injections, you should not massage the area as this may contribute to filler migration. You may use ice packs or cold compresses to reduce the swelling.

You should avoid sun exposure after the treatment. If you must be in the sun, you should apply sunscreen.

Although moderate physical exercise helps you keep your skin healthier, excessive exercise–particularly in the immediate post-treatment period–can speed up the rate of filler break down.

How often can you get lip fillers?

For more natural results, repeat lip filler treatments are generally most effective before the results of the previous treatment have completely worn off. For example, if the results are expected to wear off after nine months, you may get better results by repeating the treatment after seven to eight months.

There is no hard limit on how many repeat lip filler treatments you can get. In the short-term, most common side effects are mild and self-limited. More serious complications such as infections and tissue damage are rare.

Some studies suggest that hyaluronic acid injections may be associated with a slightly increased long-term risk of inflammatory reactions. It is unclear whether having frequent repeat treatments further increases the risk of serious complications or inflammatory reactions.

Do lip fillers permanently change the shape of your lips? 

Hyaluronic acid lip fillers do not permanently affect the shape of lips. Hyaluronic acid is completely biodegradable, meaning that the body can break down the entire volume that was injected over time, leaving no residual effects.

In case you are unsatisfied with the results of your lip filler procedure, you can get hyaluronidase injections to reverse it. Hyaluronidase is an enzyme that can break down hyaluronic acid and remove its effects.

How do you prepare for the lip injection procedure?

The most important choice you have to make to ensure a successful procedure and satisfying results is picking the right provider. You should choose a qualified, board-certified plastic surgeon or dermatologist whose sense of aesthetics aligns with yours. Ask if they can share before & after pictures of their previous patients.

Let your physician know if you have any medical conditions or take any medications. This includes over-the-counter medications such as aspirin or ibuprofen, which are blood thinners and may increase the risk of bleeding.

You should avoid rigorous exercise for 48 hours before the procedure. Make sure to hydrate by drinking plenty of water. After the procedure, avoid touching or massaging your lips and avoid direct sun exposure for 48 hours. 

Takeaway  

Lip fillers usually last between six and nine months. Repeat treatments are needed to maintain the results. Adequate hydration, moderate exercise, and maintaining good skin hygiene can help keep your skin healthier and make the results last longer.