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All you need to know about lip fillers

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If you’re thinking about lip fillers, but want to get more clued-up on the procedure and what your options are, this blog post lays out all you need to know at this stage…

What are lip fillers?

A type of dermal filler, lip fillers provide a volume enhancing solution, for those unhappy with the size or shape of their lips. The popular procedure is non-invasive, and enhances lips without comprising how they feel for you or others.

Today’s sophisticated fillers use Hyaluronic Acid, a substance naturally found in the body, which helps the skin retain its softness and moisture, while increasing volume. Collagen fillers, previously the most common dermal filler, are now less frequently used.

There are a few reputable dermal filler brands available, however, The Private Clinic favour the dermal filler brand, Juvéderm which is constructed of hyaluronic acid containing a local anaesthetic which numbs the lips and reduces discomfort during treatment.

lip fillers before and after uk

Who can have a lip filler injection?

Adults of any age can use lip filler to enhance their lips. With different formulations targeting different concerns, lip fillers can address a range of needs. Some address fine lines around the mouth, whereas others focus on increasing volume to the lips, for example.

Talented aesthetic medical professionals can help achieve natural-looking results appropriate for adults at all ages complimenting both your lips and facial shape.

What are my lip filler options?

Your practitioner can address either or both the main body of your lips and vermillion border (the border of the upper and lower lips that is pinkish-to-red in colour). Whether you want to treat both lips, the bottom lip, the centre of the top lip or the lip border, you can address whichever region you and your aesthetic practitioner decide is most complementary to your profile.

For defining the lip border, adding volume or evening out the lips, different types of dermal filler are available. At The Private Clinic, we offer Juvéderm Smile, Juvéderm Volift and Juvéderm Volbella for lip filler treatments. Juvéderm Smile adds fullness and body to both the upper and lower lips, meanwhile enhancing its overall shape and contour. Juvéderm Volift provides the lips with natural-looking and long lasting volume. Juvéderm Volbella helps define the lip line, and can treat lines around the mouth.In regards to the amount of lip filler used, this will depend on the patients desired results. However, at The Private Clinic, we usually advise injecting up to 1ml at a time, and more volume can be added over a couple of treatments.

The golden ratio for lip fillers is usually 1:1.818 top to bottom – any ratio outside of this can achieve an unnatural looking result. Although, it is not a blueprint for all, some patients suit more symmetrical lips, or a ‘top-heavy’ look. Your practitioner will advise what is best for you.

lip filler injections before after UK

What does the treatment involve?

Before treatment, your aesthetic practitioner will first clean your lips, and can also apply topical anaesthetic to the area in addition to the anaesthetic already included in most dermal fillers. Your medical practitioner will then prepare the syringes with the predetermined amount, and inject small amount of dermal filler directly into the skin, through an ultrafine needle.

You may experience minimal pain but the anaesthetic in the dermal filler should make the treatment virtually pain free, and provide comfort during and after the injection.

lip fillers results before after photo

Are lip fillers safe?

For safety and confidence in your results, it is very important to only use a qualified medical practitioner for treatment. You may find that spas or beauty salons offer lip filler procedures, however, only qualified nurses and doctors can achieve the most effective results and are able to treat you or prescribe medication if there is any complication.

Do augmented lips feel different to natural lips?

When carried out correctly, by a qualified medical practitioner, lips treated with lip fillers should not be able to feel any different to natural lips.

How much do lip fillers cost?

Lip filler injections can cost anything between £250 and £500 per ml, depending on the amount and type of dermal filler used.

At The Private Clinic, our lip filler prices start at £250, and you can save money when buying a course of dermal filler with us. An exact cost quote will be provided after a consultation in which your lip filler requirements are determined.

How do long do the results lasts?

Both temporary and permanent lip fillers are available. However, at The Private Clinic, we only use the highest quality temporary fillers, which in our opinion are safer with more stable results. Permanent fillers are becoming less popular, as their complications are much more difficult to treat, and excision could be the only possible remedy.

The effects of temporary lip fillers will fade gradually, but are likely to last between 4 and 6-8 months, subject to the type of treatment used and the individual variability. After this point, you are able to have a top up treatment, or if you choose to have no further injections, the gel will then biodegrade in your skin and disappear.

What are the side effects of lip filler & aftercare required?

Immediately after treatment, you might experience some temporary swelling, bruising, redness and tenderness around the treated area, and may also feel a slight itching sensation.

Regarding necessary aftercare, you should avoid anything which could increase swelling. At The Private Clinic, we recommend being gentle with the area, and that you refrain from touching the region as much as possible immediately after treatment. We also advise you to avoid lipstick or lip balm and extremes of temperature for 12 hours. It is also advisable not to schedule treatment within 2 weeks of any special event to allow sufficient time for any bruising or swelling to resolve.

lip fillers before and after photo

Why choose The Private Clinic?

The Private Clinic has over 35 years’ experience using non-invasive and minimally invasive treatments to help patients look and feel their best. We pride ourselves on only using the highest quality brand of temporary fillers from reputable manufacturers such as Allergan which are renowned for their superior standards.

Committed to the highest safety standards, we only offer expert qualified doctors and nurses for our lip filler treatments. Each of our qualified medical practitioners offer a comprehensive lip filler consultation prior to treatment, where you can discuss your lip filler options and ask any questions or talk through any concerns you may have.

Aesthetic Doctors

Aesthetic Nurses

To find out more about our safe lip filler treatments or schedule a consultation please call, 0333 920 2471 or use our dermal filler online contact form.. Our lip filler treatments are available at the following clinic locations: Harley Street London, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds and Northampton.

Setting the record straight on Dermal Fillers

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A couple of interesting facts have emerged in the past few years. First, there’s no denying it, minimally invasive treatments are the way forward and their popularity is only growing. Second, women no longer hold a monopoly on interest in subtle cosmetic procedures and male demand is steadily rising.

Injectable treatments such as Dermal Fillers have proven to be a reliable non-surgical option for rejuvenation and aesthetic definition, but there still seems to be some confusion over which ones are best, what areas can be treated with them, the results that they can offer and most importantly who can administer them.

So, let us explore the wonderful world of Dermal Fillers and set the record straight.

Fillers: what are they?

Let’s keep things simple.

There are two types of Dermal Filler: temporary and permanent ones. Both serve to add volume, get rid of lines and wrinkles and to plump certain areas.

The latter are becoming used less as the complications associated with them are much more difficult to address and they have to be surgically removed. They require great expertise, meaning that it’s very easy to fall prey to a great discount at a beauty salon and end up with botched results.

The Private Clinic doesn’t offer permanent Dermal Fillers. We only use the highest quality available of temporary fillers instead.

Dermal fillers naso-labial folds before and after photo

Why? Because the best ones are made from a natural substance that can be found in the body and are far safer than permanent ones. Being made from Hyaluronic Acid makes these fillers feel soft to touch and are absorbed by the body. They can last between three to 12 months and can easily be altered or removed if need be.

Filler application is highly unregulated in the UK so it’s best to use reputable brands such Juvederm from Allergan or Restylane from Galderma. Furthermore, it’s a procedure that should ONLY be performed by nurse prescribers and doctors – as is the case at our clinic. You only want someone who’s qualified to handle the contouring of your facial features, right?

Find out more about the safety of Dermal Fillers here.

What are dermal fillers used for?

Most areas of the lower facial area can be treated with Dermal Fillers, but whether the treatment is appropriate depends on the issue at hand and your desired result. Below we list the most commonly treated areas and the results you can expect.

Lip Enhancement

Without a doubt the most popular filler procedure, Lip Fillers became HUGE after Kylie Jenner revealed the procedure was part of her beauty routine.

Lip fillers can enhance the size of your lips without compromising the way they feel to you or others, but a good practitioner will know that a natural look requires for them to be injected within the middle grooves of the lips instead of lining them.

Tear Trough

The area below your eyes can easily become hollow – be it because of genetics, ageing, weight loss or an unhealthy lifestyle – and when that happens you can gain a tired and sometimes even ill-seeming appearance.

It’s not a great look but a specialised nurse or doctor can address the issue by expertly injecting the gel fillers consist of into the Tear Trough, so that it can restore volume to the area and balance out your facial features. Please note that only a few practitioners are actually trained and specialised in treating the area below the eye.

Less based on current fashion trends, this treatment can help both genders with a far too common problem.

Nose Reshaping

Turns out that you don’t need to have a Rhinoplasty (nose surgery) to change the way your nose looks. Well, that is if size isn’t your main concerns.

Certain issues can be addressed with a non surgical nose job by strategically using dermal filler to add volume to precise areas so as to even out the shape of the nose. Solid knowledge of anatomy and an eye for proportions are key here, but the advantage is that you won’t have to go under the knife.

8 Point Lift

Known for being the equivalent of a non-surgical facelift, this treatment focuses specific areas of the lower half of your face to add volume to them and restore a healthier and fuller appearance to it.

By targeting key areas, the 8 Point Lift can add definition to your face by elevating your cheeks, reducing the indent of your naso-labial crease and by distinguishing your jaw. It’s an effective way for men and women to replace the subtle changes brought on by the years, although men can also use it as a way to gain sharper, or more robust features.

What else?

Dermal Fillers can also be used to add contour to the cheeks or reshape jawline by adding volume to the chin.

Leave this to the professionals

Notice our use of words like ’specialised’, ‘experienced’, ‘strategically’ and  ‘expertly’. It doesn’t take much to get some of these procedures wrong, so having them done by anyone who isn’t medically trained can leave you with botched results.

Because the Dermal Fillers are so loosely regulated, it’s easy to come across tempting discount offers, which more often than not, aren’t performed by professionals. Here, it really is a case of ‘you get what you pay for’ and far too often have our doctors and nurses had to fix the work of those who aren’t properly qualified.

So please, stay safe and opt for treatment from a registered professional – in the end it won’t only save you money, but a lot of grief as well.

Dermal Fillers at The Private Clinic

As mentioned above, we at the Private Clinic only offer Dermal Filler procedures at the hands of our highly experienced and reputable Nurse Prescribers and Cosmetic Doctors.

Aesthetic Doctors

Aesthetic Nurses

Dermal Filler injections are available in London, Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Manchester, Northampton and Buckinghamshire clinics.

If you would like to arrange a consultation please get in touch via 0333 920 2471 or use our online contact form here.

Cosmetic treatment: Is 17 old enough?

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Is 17 too young to undergo a non-invasive treatment? And is 18 really old enough? We explore. 

Having faced months of media (and public) speculation as to the seemingly fluctuating size of her lips, Kylie Jenner recently admitted that nature and make up had less to do with her new facial structure than a good aesthetic practitioner…

Kylie Jenner before and after lip fillers results too young

Speaking on an upcoming episode of Keeping up with the Kardashians, the reality star confessed that she had used temporary fillers to create her fuller pout, stating rather bluntly “I have had temporary lip fillers, it’s just an insecurity of mine. It’s what that I wanted to do.”

However, at just 17, Jenner’s decision has been an extremely controversial one and something that has sparked debate as to just how young is too young for any treatment…no matter how ‘non-invasive’ it is.

The Private Clinic’s Dr. Dennis Wolf spoke to The Huffington Post about the issue saying that, in the case of Jenner, 17 is “very young to be undergoing a cosmetic procedure such as lip fillers“. Our bodies constantly develop during our teenage years (and sometimes even later) and the face can change extensively. Opting for a treatment at too young an age is not normally recommended; you can’t be sure as to how your face will develop, and if you’ll be disappointed in the results later on down the road.

Dr. Wolf is one of many doctors who has a policy that he won’t treat anyone under the age of 21, except in the case where treatments are wanted for more than purely aesthetic reasons (for example if it could be causing psychological or physical harm). “If patients come in that are younger than that [21], but over the age of 18, then I insist that they come with parents or a guardian that can lend support and help to take in the consultation contents, and even then, I would only consider seeing them for a consultation if the treatment they were seeking was for reasons beyond just pure aesthetics”, he told the newspaper.

This is an opinion shared by many doctors across multiple treatments. For example, our hair surgeons will very rarely perform a hair transplant on anyone under the age of 25. This is because in your teens and early twenties it can be hard to understand the true nature and extent of your hair loss and you may find that, while we restore one area, more hair loss will take place elsewhere, leading you back to where you started. For those under 25, we will often advise you to meet with a trichologist in the first instance to analyse what’s causing the problem and how it can be controlled without surgery. Something like N-Lite acne treatment, meanwhile, would be looked at completely differently and there are normally little issues for it to be performed on teenagers, providing it is suitable and full parental consent is given. It’s always about finding the best treatment for that particular time; as a clinic we have a huge duty of care to make sure that you’re not just happy to begin with, but will be happy with the results in the long-term.

Aesthetic treatments are always an extremely personal decision. We understand that and will only ever consider your own individual circumstances when consulting on a treatment. If something isn’t necessary or right for you, it doesn’t matter about your age. We believe in being honest and giving you the care, attention and skill that you need. It’s your body and we always appreciate that. Our job is to make sure you only go ahead with treatments that will help you be comfortable in yourself – not just now, but for the long-term too.

At The Private Clinic all of our injectable treatments are carried out by experienced cosmetic doctors, nurses or surgeon prescribers, who have undergone extensive additional training to qualify in prescribing and performing Dermal Filler injections.

Aesthetic Doctors

Aesthetic Nurses

To find out more about dermal filler treatment at The Private Clinic, please call 0333 920 2471 or use our online dermal filler contact form to request a call back.

Should celebrities be honest about cosmetic treatment?

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In a recent interview with Vogue, pop singer Iggy Azalea decided to open up about her experience with plastic surgery, admitting without hesitation that she’d undergone a breast augmentation.

The 24 year old, best known for her song Fancy, was asked in the interview what she would change about her body to which she replied “I did change something, four months ago I got bigger boobs! I’d thought about it my entire life.”

The rapper commented she didn’t originally plan on being open about the surgery, particularly as she didn’t want to put pressure on young fans to do the same, but decided she “wasn’t into secret keeping” and took the plunge to tell the world.

Far from putting pressure on people to copy, some people have taken Azalea’s admission as a positive thing; suggesting that it actually shows women that nobody is ‘naturally perfect’. Samantha Allen, writing for thedailybeast.com compared Azalea’s  answer to one from Katy Perry in 2010, in which the curvy pop princess answered “Well, my boobs are real” when questioned to give an interesting fact about herself. Allen writes:

“talking about “self-empowerment” while bragging about being “au naturel” in the same breath sends a dangerous mixed message. Women are under just as much pressure to be natural as they are to be perfect.”

Perhaps Samantha makes a good point, particularly in light of this week’s most prominent social media storm which showed just how far some go because of tenuous influence from celebrities. The #KylieJennerChallenge (which took over Twitter and Instagram and was in no way endorsed by the television personality herself) encourages participants put their lips into glasses, bottles and…well…anything they can find to emulate the star’s seemingly new-found pout.

Kylie Jenner, who is only 17, has strenuously denied having any form of treatment on her lips and insists her new visage is down to clever make up and knowing how to pout properly. However, taking Samantha Allen’s point into view, it could be the concept of her lips being natural that has driven so many people to attempt dangerous emulation. Far from achieving Hollywood-worthy lips, the majority of challenge-triers have ended up with a bruised, split or even bleeding mouth from the pressure of the suction or, in some cases, from glass breaking directly on to their face. Doctors have also commented how the challenge could leave serious long-term damage, with collagen weakened and tissues damaged. Leading many to have thinner lips than they would have originally.

Social media has been flooded with unhappy attempts to get a bigger pout.
Social media has been flooded with unhappy attempts to get a bigger pout.

Cosmetic treatment, no matter how small, should always be something you think very heavily about before undergoing; you need the safest clinic, the very best medical team, and the knowledge that you’re always going to be treated as an individual. We take your thoughts and feelings into consideration during every consultation, meaning we’ll only ever allow patients to go ahead if we believe it’s going to be beneficial for them and if we believe they’ll be happy with the results. With over 35 years’ experience as a leading UK clinic, our staff are highly experienced medical experts giving you the chance to find the right treatment to achieve your goals safely and effectively.

If you would like to discuss your cosmetic surgery options, please call 03339209135 or use our online contact form.