Unsatisfactory Results
Every year, more than 10 million hyaluronic acid filler treatments are made in the world, of which 15-20% is for the lips. On the other hand, it has been reported that there is a dissatisfaction rate related to the outcomes by approximately 12-18% of patients. The causes could be the injection technique, quality of the filler, or specific anatomy of the patient’s lips. According to Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, in 8% of cases, an imbalance due to wrong dosage or misplaced injections is responsible for direct client dissatisfaction.
The “golden ratio” of the lip is a thickness ratio of about 1:1.6 between the upper and lower lips. However, many cases did not achieve that proportion, with many ending up having an overly full upper or lower lip, which looks unnatural. One client noted that her upper lip became 4 millimeters thicker after an injection, far thicker than her lower lip, making her face look bulky and her expressions stiff and unnatural.
Hyaluronic acid fillers are usually absorbed within 6 to 18 months, but the absorption rate may be irregular. Some studies indicate that asymmetric absorption or shifting of fillers in 10%-15% of patients occurs within three months of administration of fillers. Asymmetry can also occur on one side of the upper lip, possibly appearing in the form of lumps. For more information, visit .
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, as many as 25 percent of filler consumers acknowledge that their expectations were unrealistically high; they hoped that with just one injection, they’d get “perfect lips.” A single shot rarely gives perfect lips, and more than 60 percent of first-time patients are dissatisfied with the look of their lips after three months.
Injecting hyaluronidase allows for the dissolving of more than 98% of all hyaluronic acid fillers within 24 hours, with minimal bruising and a very fast procedure time. Following treatment to dissolve the filler, patients can either choose a natural recovery or a redesign appropriate for their face shape. Indeed, some clinics offer specially designed “results correction plans,” which generally range in cost from $200 to $800.
Adverse Side Effects
While hyaluronic acid lip fillers generally bear a reputation for their safety and efficiency, this does not mean that their administration is free from side effects. In fact, 12%-18% of the patients develop some degree of post-injection adverse reactions. These usually include problems like swelling, itching, and localized redness that may last up to 48 hours. Yet, some more serious issues, such as nodules or persistent pain at the site of injection, occur in 5%-7% of patients, sometimes with recovery times extending two weeks or longer.
In one case reported in International Journal of Dermatology, 2022, the researchers estimated that about 3% of patients have allergic reactions to fillers; the data was supported by information from 2,500 patients who underwent lip filler injections. This was commonly because of crosslinking agents present in hyaluronic acid products. These could lead to abnormal swelling and, in severe cases, result in difficulty breathing. Medical chains have introduced special management plans in case of an allergic reaction, with treatments costing $300-$1,200. For more guidance on how to manage or prevent such outcomes, check out these .
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons survey shows that over 20% of patients who experienced complications reported varying levels of anxiety or regret. Some patients stress that the side effects can affect their social life and professional image, especially in professions demanding an attractive appearance, like models or actors. These emotional problems are addressed by adding to the services offered in many high-end cosmetic clinics psychological counseling, which ranges from $200 to $600 depending on the number and content of sessions.
Long-term use of fillers can sometimes develop tissues laxity or permanent changes in the form of natural lips. A five-year study among 800 users of fillers reported that 12 percent of the respondents who used fillers for more than five years experienced a loss of elasticity in their lip tissue. This effect is very closely related to the repeated over-stretching of the skin by fillers, Other physicians advise dissolving fillers and giving oneself at least 12 months break before re-injecting to avoid these kinds of problems.
Filler Migration
Filler migration is a relatively common problem in cosmetic procedures. According to the Journal of Cosmetic and Plastic Surgery, about 8-12% of patients develop different degrees of filler migration following hyaluronic acid injection. This phenomenon is usually related to injection techniques, facial activity frequency, and the firmness of skin tissue.
Clinical presentations of the migration of fillers may manifest as blurred lip lines, a localized lump, or asymmetrical appearance. A 34-year-old woman who had received 1 milliliter of filler in her upper lip developed a foreign body sensation in the right corner of her mouth within three months. Ultrasonography showed that fillers had migrated from the central part of her lip to the corner, forming a 0.5-centimeter nodule.
If doctors fail to control the depth of injection or the dose, the fillers may be displaced by gravity into non-target areas. It was highlighted in a study that migration rates reached up to 18% in non-professional institutions, far more than in professional medical institutions, where the rates are 6-8%. This disparity explains the increasing demand for high-level medical services and why the global high-end cosmetic injection market grew by 12% in 2023.
Habits such as lip rubbing or chewing hard foods constantly apply uneven mechanical pressure on the fillers, speeding up their migration through the tissue. In a postoperative survey of 500 users, more than 20% of the subjects admitted they did not rigorously follow postoperative care instructions. Among these patients, complications due to migration occurred in 15%, compared with only 5% among those who adhered to instructions. For additional insights into the potential impacts of dissolving fillers, refer to this .
Dissolving fillers is an effective solution for migration when it causes discomfort or affects appearance. Success rates for resolving migration issues exceed 95% with hyaluronidase. The procedure typically takes 15 minutes, and the cost ranges from $300 to $1,000, depending on the type and quantity of filler. After dissolving, a re-injection may be performed, during which doctors adjust the injection plan to avoid similar errors and achieve better results.
Reshaping Lips
The reasons for reshaping the lips are many: from an urge to follow current trends–for instance, the “thin lips” trend initiated by some Western countries. Searches around “thin lips” started showing up 35 percent more in the last two years. Others do it to adjust problems left behind by injections done earlier, such as when the shape is too big or not natural enough. For example, a 28-year-old model who injected 1.5 milliliters of hyaluronic acid felt her upper lip was too full in relation to her face. A dissolving and re-injection to a 0.3-millimeter upper lip brought her lips into proportion.
The other type of revision requirement arises from changes in one’s occupation or life. A 2022 consumer behavior survey revealed that more than 40% of the patients reshape their lips because of large changes in either professional or social roles. For example, one 35-year-old female became a media spokesperson and decided to change the “heart-shaped lips” she got earlier to “natural lip” to correspond to her professional identity. It involved the dissolving of 0.8 milliliters of previous filler, followed by three small-dose injections costing about $1,200. For more information on safe procedures, visit .
Plastic surgery requires high skills, and experienced doctors and professional institutions are essential. According to research, the technical level of doctors is in close correlation with patient satisfaction. Through the analysis of 1,200 lip adjustment procedures, it was found that the success rate for doctors having over five years of experience was 96%, while for doctors with less experience, the success rate was 78%.
Preventing Over-Accumulation
The Journal of Cosmetic and Plastic Surgery reports that 20%-30% of lip fillers users have to inject every year, while over-accumulation causes unnatural-looking results in 12% of cases. Hyaluronic acid fillers may be biodegradable, but with more injections, tissues can expand and the metabolic burdens increase, especially when injection intervals are shorter than six months.
In fact, a three-year study with 1,500 users of injectables found that 8%-10% experienced drooping tissues or uncontrollable thickness following successive injections. This might be due to less elasticity in skin or incomplete metabolic processes of hyaluronic acid. For instance, a 45-year-old woman who had built up 8 milliliters of the substance over time noticed her lips increased in width by 20%, which resulted in her having disproportionate facial features. It took a dissolving process for four weeks and cost more than $2,000. For insights into other effective treatments, explore these .
Over-accumulation can be effectively treated by dissolving the filler. Hyaluronidase can dissolve over 98% of hyaluronic acid fillers within 24 hours and thus restore natural lip shapes. Dissolving costs usually depend on the dosage and the complexity—typically ranging from $300 to $800.
