talk the talk

A crash course on the language of lip fillers.

cc: Cubic centimetre, the volume measurement most doctors use to describe how much filler they are using. Most syringes hover just under or above 1cc – but you will pay per syringe, not per cubic centimetre). Subtle lip enhancement usually requires about ¼ to ½cc. hyaluronidase: A chemical that dissolves hyaluronic acid fillers. In other words: a safety net if your injector goes a little overboard with the filler. hyaluronic acid: Not an actual acid – it’s a sugar that plumps skin by holding 1 000 times its weight in water. This is the filler itself, the stuff you’re getting injected into your lips. Different versions have different molecular weights (some are bigger and better for volume, and others are smaller and more subtle). It’s naturally found in human joints for lubrication, and is used by orthopaedic surgeons. Juvéderm Volbella/ ultra: The hyaluronic acid filler comes in several varieties, two of which are great for the lips. Juvéderm Volbella XC is a soft, flexible filler that’s supposed to last up to a year. Most last about six months in the lips. The firmer Juvéderm Ultra XC is preferred among bigger-is-better filler fans. lidocaine: An anaesthetic included in many filler formulas to minimise the pinch of injection. You can enjoy it in Juvéderm Volbella and Ultra, Restylane Silk and Refyne, and more. restylane: The original hyaluronic acid filler has now spawned a whole family. Restylane Silk, a soft filler said to last six months to one year, is the go-to for lips. There’s also Restylane Refyne for lines, and Restylane-l, a firmer filler that some doctors like for Cupid’s bow enhancement. For what it’s worth, experts say the brand of filler doesn’t matter nearly as much as the person injecting it, so it’s best to defer to your doctor. Bee sting: What 99% of doctors say getting injected with filler feels like. So, not awesome, but not terrible. the vermilion border:

Another name for your lip line. Dermatologists have started to inject here for more defined lips. Fat: Some doctors will plump lips using fat – it’s thicker than fillers, so it’s more dramatic, and it can last for months or years, depending on how it’s injected. “You can’t just take it off a shelf,” says dermatologist Dr Jessica Wu. “You need to have liposuction first. Also, there’s more swelling and bruising with fat than with other fillers.”

“A technique for injecting Botox with water is already beginning beta testing, and I could see that happening for fillers down the road.”