Lip Filler

Like any medical procedure, fillers carry some risk including the rare but serious possibility of interrupting blood flow if filler enters a blood vessel. This can lead to complications such as tissue damage or in very rare cases vision loss. Our providers are carefully trained on identifying early signs of complications and acting immediately. We also have a medical director on site or immediately available by video call at all times. We keep hyaluronidase - the enzyme used to dissolve hyaluronic acid - on hand at all times, so we’re always prepared to intervene immediately. Our protocol also includes a series of interventions to improve collateral blood flow, which is important to further reduce the risk of tissue damage. 

Yes. We tailor every treatment to your unique facial structure and goals, ensuring your lips look soft, balanced, and never overdone. The Teosyal line of fillers we use is specially designed to move and flex with your lips so you won’t end up with stiff or duck-like lips. 

Discomfort is minimal. We use a topical numbing cream that includes bupivacaine, lidocaine, and tetracaine before your injection when possible. Teosyal fillers used at Park also contain lidocaine to ease discomfort after the procedure.

Lip filler typically lasts 9-12 months, depending on the amount and type of filler that was injected. More filler will take longer to be metabolized by the body, and newer technologies like those used in Teosyal’s manufacturing process make filler last longer than older fillers did. We recommend an assessment 9 months after your initial injection to keep your look fresh, and you’re welcome to return sooner if you’d like to add more volume.

Migration, especially in the lip, is common after multiple treatments. Over time, the body breaks down the filler, but it doesn’t always completely reabsorb it. The smaller fragments of filler that are left behind are more mobile than the larger molecules that were originally injected, meaning they can move outside of the intended treatment area. Mobile areas, like the lip, are more likely to see migration than other areas of the face. Injecting more filler in previously-treated lips may also push the old filler outside the intended treatment area. This is most common after three or more sessions, which is why we recommend dissolving the filler and starting with new product after three treatments. 

Most clients get 0.5-1ml, or a half or ‘mini’ syringe to a full syringe, for a subtle enhancement in their first session, and decide whether they would like more at their post-treatment assessment. The specific amount of filler depends on your goals and your provider’s assessment of your anatomy. Clients who want more dramatic volume will need more filler, which we usually do over sequential visits to ensure you never look overdone.

The most important thing to know is whether your provider is capable and prepared to manage a complication; safety is the most important thing, and it’s important that you trust your injector.

Getting lip filler can be a big step. It’s normal to have moderate swelling for 48h following your appointment. The lips will likely feel tight and achy, which is also normal. Bruising is common and improves within a week. Significant pain, especially if it’s localized in one place or getting progressively worse, is something that your provider should assess.

For your first time getting filler, we recommend starting with a conservative amount of filler, 0.5 to 1ml for most people, and building on that as desired. We always have people come back at two weeks to assess results, ensure you’re complication-free, and make any additions or tweaks you’re interested in.

The single most important thing in a clinic is its emergency preparedness. The best clinics for lip filler will be the ones that are prepared to treat complications, that have specific, evidence-based protocols available in the treatment rooms, and that have everything needed to treat an occlusion in stock at all times.

Having a doctor or nurse practitioner on site will further ensure your safety, because they will be more available to help with complications than a clinic or provider who only has virtual access to their medical director. Clinics that have all of these will be well-practiced in providing injections, so you know that you’ll be getting the safest treatment and best outcomes possible.

Being in close proximity to your clinic will also be important if you have a complication in the days following your treatment; being able to get to your provider quickly will help reduce the risk of a poor outcome. Park Medical Aesthetics is a great option if you live in Dundas West, Queen West, Liberty Village or Roncesvalles.

Hyaluronic acid filler is reversible. If needed, we can dissolve the product using an enzyme called hyaluronidase. It’s quite rare for us to do this for treatments done at Park, but patients across Toronto come to Park for corrective work after lip filler that was injected elsewhere. 

We use the Teosyal line by Teoxane at Park Medical Aesthetics. Over his aesthetics career Dr. Shoghi has used filler products from Restylane, Juvederm, and Revanesse, and has found that Teosyal produces the most natural looking results with the injection techniques used at Park. That said, provider skill and knowledge is much more important than the specific product used; always choose a provider who is licensed and experienced in lip filler injection and complication management. 

Lip filler uses hyaluronic acid to add volume and structure. A lip flip treatment uses neurotoxin to relax the orbicularis oris muscle, causing slight eversion and the illusion of a larger lip without actually changing anatomical volume or structure. Many patients benefit from both, and your provider can help you design a treatment plan to match your goals.

Yes, though depending on how the lips look, we may recommend dissolving your previous filler before adding more. At Park Medical Aesthetics we believe in keeping your results natural, balanced, and in harmony with your features, and sometimes that means dissolving old filler to minimize or correct migration.

Adding filler when we don’t know what’s already there risks unintended excess volume, migration, nodules and otherwise suboptimal results. Your provider will assess your history and how things look to decide whether dissolving is necessary.

Lip filler needs very little in terms of up-keep between treatments. Because hyaluronic acid works by attracting water molecules to create volume, being well hydrated at and for the days following your appointment will improve your results; it will also help with discomfort, bruising, and swelling. Pairing the right skincare can also improve your results: 

• Skinceuticals AOX Lip Repair: using this once in the morning will protect your lips from oxidative stressors, protecting protein function and overall health and appearance of the lips. 

• Skinceuticals HA Intensifier Multi-glycan serum, can help optimize and prolong your results by maintaining the lips’ hyaluronic acid and moisture balance – especially because filler is made with hyaluronic acid.