Lip filler in Bristol: natural-looking lips, 0.5ml to 2.2ml

Lip filler is a soft, clear gel made of hyaluronic acid, a substance your body already makes, which holds on to water. Small amounts are injected into the lips to add volume, define the border or bring the shape into balance. [[ASK Q31: the filler brand(s) you use, e.g. “I use {brand}, a CE-marked hyaluronic acid filler, and I’ll show you the box and batch number on the day.”]]

Hyaluronic acid filler is temporary: your body breaks it down gradually. Fillers like this are not medicines, and in England it’s against the law to give them to anyone under 18.

Lip filler may suit you if you’re 18 or over and you’d like:

• a more defined border to your lips
• a little more volume, or to restore volume that has thinned over time
• better balance between your top and bottom lip, or between the two sides
• lips that look smoother and more even

It isn’t right for you at the moment if you:

• are pregnant or breastfeeding
• have a cold sore, spots, an infection or inflammation on or near your lips (we’ll move your appointment until it has healed)
• have a history of severe allergies or anaphylaxis, or are allergic to local anaesthetics or to anything in the filler
• have a bleeding disorder or take medicines that thin the blood (tell me at your consultation: it can mean more bruising, and sometimes means we shouldn’t go ahead)
• have an autoimmune condition or a weakened immune system (we’ll talk it through, and I may ask you to check with your GP first)
• have had dental treatment in the last two weeks, or have some booked in the next two
• have had a filler in your lips that wasn’t hyaluronic acid, or you’re not sure what was used [[ASK: confirm your rule]]
• feel unwell on the day

And a good reason to wait: if you’re thinking about lip filler because someone else would like you to, or you simply aren’t sure yet. There’s no rush, and a consultation is a good place to ask questions without committing to anything.

The number is the amount of gel in millilitres. 1ml is about a fifth of a teaspoon, so even the larger amounts are small. I offer four:

• 0.5ml is often enough for a first treatment, for subtle definition, or for smaller lips.
• 0.7ml is a little more than 0.5ml, for definition with some extra volume.
• 1.1ml gives a more noticeable change, or builds on filler you’ve had before.
• 2.2ml is twice that, for more volume. [[ASK Q29: who 2.2ml suits, and whether it’s given in one appointment]]

I’ll recommend an amount at your consultation, based on your lips, any filler you’ve had before and what you’d like. It’s always easier to add a little more later than to take filler away. [[ASK: if you book one amount and we agree on another at consultation, can it be changed on the day, and how is the price handled?]]

My aim is lips that still look like yours, just more defined or balanced. You may have seen “Russian lips” online: a technique that aims for height in the centre of the lips rather than forward fullness. It doesn’t suit every lip shape, and I’ll tell you honestly at your consultation whether it would suit yours.

How long it takes. Allow about 45 minutes (60 for 2.2ml), including your consultation [[ASK Q31, Q58: confirm, and whether a first visit runs longer]].

Downtime. Your lips will be swollen and tender at first, and may bruise. Swelling is usually at its most noticeable on days two and three and settles over the first week or so; the final shape is clearer at about two weeks. Most people carry on with their day straight afterwards, but please avoid strenuous exercise, alcohol, saunas and sunbeds for 24 hours, and kissing and straws for 48 hours.

How long it lasts. Lip filler is temporary. How long it lasts depends on the product, the amount, where it’s placed and your own body, so it varies from person to person. [[ASK Q31: the duration stated in your filler’s instructions for use, e.g. “The filler I use is designed to last around six months to a year in the lips.”]] I’ll give you an honest expectation for you at your consultation.

Like any injection, lip filler carries risks, and you should know them before you decide.

The common ones are short-lived: swelling, tenderness, bruising, redness and small lumps that soften as the filler settles. If you get cold sores, treatment can trigger one.

Less commonly, filler can lead to infection, lumps that don’t settle, swelling that comes back weeks later, or filler moving from where it was placed (often called migration).

Rarely, filler can block a blood vessel. That is an emergency and needs treating straight away, so I watch for the signs during and after every treatment, and you’ll leave knowing exactly what to look out for.

We’ll go through all of this at your consultation, and you can ask me anything.

Your price includes your consultation on the day [[ASK: confirm]]. There are no booking fees.

If filler you’ve had, here or elsewhere, has moved, feels lumpy, or you no longer like how it looks, book a general consultation. We’ll go through what was used and when, look at it together and talk about your options, including doing nothing. Nothing is decided or done on the day.

The treatment room is in BS13, so it’s close by if you live in Bishopsworth, Hartcliffe, Withywood or Headley Park, and a short trip from Bedminster, Southville, Hengrove, Whitchurch, Knowle and Long Ashton. Your full address comes with your booking confirmation.