How Does Lip Filler Work? Tell Me Everything.

We explain how much it should cost, how not to end up looking like a duck, and where to find the best injectors near you.

You can get lip filler so you look like you got lip filler, or you can get filler to subtly adjust something you may not like about your lips. It’s your choice! What you don’t want is to be the person who identifies as the latter and ends up the former. Most of that comes down to finding the right aesthetic provider. “Your injector should be like an honest bartender, the one who will tell you when you’ve had enough and it’s time to call an Uber,” says board-certified plastic surgeon Jimmy C. Sung, MD, the medical director of Tribeca Aesthetics.

If you want to control the outcome of your lip injections, it also helps to do a little research. “Remember, this is a medical procedure — filler is a drug, it’s an injection,” says Sung. “You have to treat it as if you’re going to see the doctor. You can’t just make a decision based on a TikTok video.” Below, experts share some of the questions you should consider before you get lip injections and some tips for finding the best lip filler — and provider — for you.

How does lip filler work?

When you get lip filler, your provider may numb your lips with a topical anesthetic (though it’s not necessary), and then they will inject a gel-like substance just beneath the surface of your lips, positioning the product based on your goals and the look you want to achieve. There are multiple types of dermal filler, but in 2024, the vast majority of providers you see for lip filler are going to use a hyaluronic acid (HA) dermal filler that’s FDA approved for use in the lip area, such as the products from Restylane, Juvéderm, and the RHA Collection. They’re made with different formats of hyaluronic acid, a juicy sugar molecule your body produces naturally and can metabolize — meaning hyaluronic acid lip fillers aren’t permanent.

What’s it like getting lip fillers and what are the side effects?

Getting your lips filled is a minimally invasive procedure, and the consultation and prep often take longer than the injections themselves. The needle may hurt a bit more than, say, getting your blood drawn or getting a vaccine — and it’s worse than getting Botox, if you know what that feels like — but it should not be incredibly painful. You may experience bruising, swelling, and tenderness. “Plan the treatment for when you’re okay with a few days of swelling and potential bruising,” says licensed medical aesthetician Kristin Gunn, the owner of Halcyon Skincare and Beaux Medspa, in Texas. If you’re prone to cold sores, getting filler can cause a flare up, so talk to your provider about how to manage that. In rare instances, some people may experience an allergic reaction, infection, or tissue death, so definitely call your provider immediately if you notice any abnormal swelling, itching, or color changes after the procedure.

What can filler do for your lips?

Aesthetic providers don’t just use lip filler to plump; it can also help balance your features and adjust for asymmetry. In some people, lip filler can even help to smooth the vertical wrinkles around the edges of the lips that are sometimes called “smokers’ lines,” says Gunn. As you age, “the lip border flattens and the lips fold in on themselves like a raisin — that’s why we see little old ladies with lipstick bleeding into the lip lines, that border is gone,” she says. “Putting some structure back in the lips [with filler] can help knock out some of the vertical lines.” But it all depends on your physiology and face shape, which is why consultations are important.

How long does lip filler last?

The longevity of your lip injections depends on your body and what type of filler was used, but most fillers will last six to eight months in the lips. However, “if you are just trying to maintain hydration and your current size and shape, with the fillers we use some people come annually,” says Gunn.

Should I worry about filler remaining in my lips for the long term?

Sung says that he doesn’t typically worry about filler remaining in the lips for too long. “Usually, this is not an area where you’re going to have a lot of, so-called, residual filler,” says Sung. “That’s because we have so much circulation and a lot of movement in the area, so the body is able to absorb it.” There are other areas of the face, like under the eyes, where there may be more long-term effects of cosmetic filler.

How do I prevent filler migration?

Filer migration is when you get a dermal filler injected in one area and it shifts to another, changing your appearance or the balance of your features. Sung says this doesn’t typically happen on its own in the lip area, but it can occur when you keep getting filler in the same spot, before your body breaks down the original filler that was placed there. “I have patients with filler who come in because they’re unhappy with the way their lips look, and so they ask for more filler to fix it,” Sung says. There are providers who would probably oblige them, but Sung says sometimes the better adjustment is for him to inject hyaluronidase, an enzyme that dissolves HA filler. “I trim down what they have, then mold it and it looks better. I never even put an additional drop of filler in.”

How much does lip filler cost?

In the United States, the average cost for lip filler is $743, according to the latest statistics from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. The price will vary depending on how much filler your provider uses, but the average amount injected is about 1 mL (or 1 syringe). Where you live and the type of business you visit will also affect the cost  (in general, medi-spas and aesthetic clinics tend to have lower prices than doctor’s offices). “The pricing is structured so that the more filler a doctor uses, the cheaper it is for them to buy from the companies,” says Sung. Because the chains and spas are doing a volume business, they can pass the savings on to patients. But that doesn’t mean you should shop by price!

How do I get rid of lip filler?

Ideally, you’ll choose a practitioner who gets it right the first time, because dissolving filler with hyaluronidase can be more painful than the original injections. There may be some localized swelling and similar side effects to getting filler, but complications like allergic reactions and tissue are rare. On average, the dissolving procedure costs about $475, according to patients who self-reported their costs to the website RealSelf.

Who does the best lip filler and how do I find a good injector?

I suggest you start by asking your hairstylist and any other beauty providers you see regularly (facialists, masseuses, nail techs, etc.). People naturally end up talking about their appearance when they’re in salons and spas, so these experts often know who does the best work in their area. You can also do your research on social media, but know what to look for: “A social media account of the staff dancing and mouthing dubbed in text is not what you need,” says Gunn. “You want to see before and afters—real people with real results, and many different types of lips.”

Once you hone in on a clinic, spa, or doctor’s office, check the credentials of the provider you plan to see. (Licensing requirements vary based on where you live. In a few states, such as Texas, you don’t have to be a medical professional to inject cosmetic filler, but in most places, including New York, injectors must be physicians, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, or dentists.) Then, if it’s your first time with a new provider, book a consultation and treat it like an interview process. Make sure you vibe with the person and their style, ask lots of questions, and expect them to ask you lots of questions, too. “You don’t want it to feel like a gas station, where you pull up, we fill you, and you pull out,” says Sung.

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