Are you excited about your upcoming lip filler appointment, but also feeling a bit nervous? The injectable specialists at Mountain Radiance in Asheville are here to walk you through everything you need to know to have a successful lip filler experience.
Preparing for your appointment can minimize potential risks, help to ensure that you get the desired results, and even ease your nerves. So from choosing the right injector to learning how to explain what you’re looking for, here are a few steps you can take to prepare for your appointment.
- Choose an expert injector
- Avoid blood thinning medications
- Pass on the alcohol
- Reschedule if you have a cold sore or infection
- Space out your next dental appointment
- Hydrate
- Bring example photos, or “wish pics”
- Come as you are
Choose an expert injector
One of the most crucial factors in your lip filler journey is choosing an experienced medical professional. This choice can make the difference between achieving your desired results and facing potential complications. Lip filler may seem like a quick and easy procedure, but outstanding lip filler results require a deep understanding of underlying facial anatomy, a sharp eye for aesthetics, and experience treating a variety of patients of all ages.
Don’t hesitate to ask your injector about their expertise and approach to lip filler procedures!
Your injector should also be able to choose the ideal brand and formula of filler that will create the look you want. One of the most popular brands is the Juvéderm® family of fillers. At our Asheville medspa, our favorite options to enhance the lips are:
- Juvéderm Volbella XC to achieve voluminous lip enhancement and to fill in vertical lines around the mouth
- Juvéderm Vollure XC to create more shape and volume while maintaining a natural softness
- Juvéderm Ultra or Ultra Plus to add volume and create a soft, sensuous texture
After you’ve scheduled your appointment, here’s what you can do before your lip filler treatment to support beautiful results and minimize unwanted side effects.
Avoid blood thinning medications
For about 1 week before your appointment, avoid taking medications and supplements that thin your blood as these may increase the risk of bleeding and bruising. Blood-thinning medications include aspirin, ibuprofen, fish oil, and vitamin E. If any of these are medically necessary for you, be sure to let your injector know during your consultation so they are aware and can adjust your treatment if necessary. If you choose to take an over-the-counter pain medication before lip filler to reduce soreness, acetaminophen (Tylenol) is OK.
Pass on the alcohol
Do not drink alcohol before your appointment. Having alcohol in your system may cause excessive bleeding, bruising, and swelling, so it’s best to pass on the bottomless mimosas for at least 24 hours before your appointment.
Reschedule if you have a cold sore or infection
Reschedule your lip filler injections if you have a cold sore, acne, or infection on or around your lips to avoid worsening the condition or impacting your results. If you are prone to cold sores, let your injector know so they can prescribe a prophylactic antiviral to prevent them.
Space out your next dental appointment
We recommend scheduling your filler appointment at least 2 weeks after any dental work to avoid potential issues with infection. It’s also best to schedule future dental appointments at least 4 weeks after your filler appointment so your lips aren’t irritated by having your mouth held open or by the nature of the work being performed.
Hydrate
In the hours leading up to your appointment, keep yourself hydrated—your lips will look and feel better, and water helps resolve temporary swelling and bruising so you can enjoy your new look even sooner.
Bring example photos, or “wish pics”
We also highly recommend that you bring example photos to your appointment for a few key reasons:
1. Visuals
We totally get it; it can be hard to describe what you want your lips to look like with words alone. Photos help us see what you are picturing in your mind! While you should remember that filler results will vary based on your unique anatomy and the type of filler used, photos are the best way for your injector to understand the look you’re trying to achieve. Ideally, look for photos of individuals whose lips have a similar overall shape to yours.
2. Communication
You probably have a few screenshots of hair inspo to show your stylist during your hair appointments, right? The same goes for lip filler! Discussing your goals can sometimes be challenging because words have different meanings to each individual. What you consider “natural-looking” or “full” might be different from what your injector envisions. When you bring in photos, we can ask you specific questions about the examples to understand your interpretation of what you like or don’t like to make sure that your results meet your expectations.
Show—don’t tell! To better communicate with your injector, bring “wish pics” of lips that you want yours to look like after filler treatment.
3. Setting realistic expectations
Your injector will assess your natural lip volume and shape and use the pictures you provide to explain what is realistically achievable with lip filler. The goal isn’t to replicate someone else’s exact lip look, but to place the filler in such a way and with the ideal amount to enhance your natural features and align with your aesthetic preferences.
Your injector’s main priority is for the final result to harmonize with your overall facial features, preserve functionality, and look beautifully natural. It’s all about creating the best version of you!
Come as you are
Don’t worry about applying any makeup around your lips before your appointment, as your injector will thoroughly clean and sanitize the area before your injections begin.
Ready to create the perfect pucker? We’re here to help!
We hope this post helps you feel prepared and confident walking into your lip filler appointment! The Asheville med spa team at Mountain Radiance would be thrilled to help you achieve naturally beautiful results with lip filler. Dr. Mark Chandler oversees our medical spa so that each patient receives safe, outstanding results. No matter your skin concern, we use the latest treatment techniques and the best products available to achieve your goals!
Call our office at (828) 627-2711 or send us a message to schedule your lip filler appointment with Dr. Chandler, nurse injector Sarah, or physician assistant Christina today!
