As an expert in the field of cosmetic treatments, I'm often asked if lip fillers can cause wrinkles. The answer is no, lip fillers cannot cause wrinkles. However, overuse of fillers can result in longer-term damage, including lip wrinkles and impaired attachment of facial fat pads and some degree of skin irregularity and aging. The FDA has approved botulinum toxin products such as Botox, Dysport, Xeomin and Jeuveau to treat facial wrinkles.
These products are not dermal fillers. They work by preventing muscles from contracting, so wrinkles aren't seen as much. The safe use of dermal fillers in combination with Botox and other treatments has not been evaluated in clinical studies. Dermal fillers are not permanent and break down on the skin over time.
This means that the initial wrinkles may seem to have worsened when the filler wears off. But in reality, dermal fillers can't make wrinkles worse in any way. A large proportion of fillers are used to treat the effects of aging. However, patients of all ages have also been using fillers to improve their characteristics.
Hyaluronic acid fillers trigger collagen production, which can prevent or delay physical signs of aging (wrinkles). If you are left with loose lips as a result of regular overinflation, the only remedy is lip reduction surgery, that is, trimming excess skin, which can leave significant scars. It is important to schedule a follow-up appointment with your healthcare provider two weeks after the lip filling procedure. Generally, patients need lip retouching after about six months if a filler like Restylane Silk is used.
Make sure you research and find an experienced dermatologist, plastic surgeon, or nurse practitioner who knows what they are doing. After the procedure is finished, your healthcare provider may gently massage your lips to absorb the filler. Even after the body's natural enzymes begin to dissolve the filler over time (this depends on the particle size of the filler used and where it is placed), what remains actually thickens the dermis of the skin (the outermost layer you want to keep thick and healthy). This helps avoid fine lines and wrinkles.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved the use of lip fillers in people under the age of 21. Often, patients will have their eyebrows too high or their lips too full, and over time, because the fillers are temporary, their appearance will return to the same as before. If you want to increase the size of your lips, consult a healthcare provider who specializes in lip fillers to discuss your options. Lip fillers are very safe when performed by an experienced healthcare professional, including a plastic surgeon, dermatologist, or cosmetic surgeon. On average, your healthcare provider will insert 1 milliliter (ml) of lip filler into your lips, which is about one-fifth of a teaspoon. It is best to wait to eat until the injection of the topical anesthetic or nerve block has disappeared so as not to accidentally bite your lips or alter the filling.
