Thin lips & lip volume

Artistically administered, dermal filler will gently volumise the lips, define their shape, and restore what has been lost with time. In this way, our expert team of injectors produces a result that is discreet, understated, and in keeping with your natural anatomy.

The lip area can be especially sensitive; however, we use lip-specific dermal fillers containing a local anaesthetic known as lidocaine, which helps to reduce discomfort. Applying a topical numbing cream, prior to treatment, can also help to dull the sensation.

The lips are most prone to swelling, and the area will feel tender for the next day or so. However, this is completely normal, and most patients are fit to continue with their day as normal. If bruising does occur, it is easily covered with post-procedure makeup, though this should not be applied until the day following treatment. We also encourage patients to sleep with their head elevated for the first few nights following the procedure, to keep any swelling to a minimum.

The volumisation is immediately noticeable; however, this will settle over the coming days. The best results are seen in two weeks’ time, when the filler has fully integrated with the tissue and the lips have settled.

Lip filler tends to last longer than most patients expect. The lips settle within a fortnight, and from that point the result is stable rather than static, softening gradually as the filler integrates. Dr McKeown treats the lips conservatively, building volume in stages rather than in a single sitting, which means many patients find they need very little topping up once the right balance has been reached. You can read more about how long dermal fillers last and what influences longevity.

Thin lips are usually either genetic or age-related. Some people simply have naturally fine lips, while others lose volume over time as the lips age, which can also soften the lip line and allow fine lines to form around the mouth. The cause guides which treatment suits best.

Dermal filler in the lips is not permanent, and one of its advantages is that it can be adjusted. If the shape is not quite right it can be refined, and if necessary the filler can be dissolved. This is part of why a measured approach and a considered assessment matter from the outset.

The lips are sensitive, so comfort is planned for. The lip-specific fillers used contain lidocaine, a local anaesthetic, and topical numbing cream can be applied beforehand. Most patients describe the sensation as pressure rather than pain.

A lip lift is a minor surgical procedure that shortens the distance between the nose and the upper lip. It is the right option when the concern is a long upper lip rather than a lack of volume, since adding filler in that situation makes the area look bulky without improving lip show.

It can help. Restoring volume to the lips and the area around them softens the fine lines that form with age. Where the lines are driven by muscle movement, anti-wrinkle injections may be used alongside filler, and the assessment will determine the right combination for you.