Having pouty lips is a look that has endured the test of time. Unfortunately, time is not on our side when it comes to age and the volume our lips are able to maintain. Adding insult to injury, as we begin to lose the fullness in our lips, we also inevitably start to see fine lines appearing around the edges of the mouth. In addition, the philtrum—the little dimple between your nose and lips—starts to flatten. It sounds a little depressing, doesn’t it?

Fortunately, science gives us the ability to cheat the toll time takes on our looks. Fillers can be injected directly into the lips, bringing back a plump, contoured look that also helps to eliminate those fine lines and brings back the dimple. A dermal filler called hyaluronic acid is a great choice for this minimally invasive procedure as it is made from naturally occurring proteins already found in the human body. On the plus side, that means you should have little to no side effects after the injection. On the other hand, since it will also break down and be absorbed by the body over time you may need additional treatments in the future to restore the look you desire.

However, before you start looking for a cosmetic center or spa where you can have the procedure done, you may want to do a little research on the kind of lips you’d eventually like to have. Each person’s idea of the perfect look is different, so if you can find samples (maybe photos of celebrities from magazines or web searches) to bring with you to the consultation, it will greatly help illustrate exactly what you are trying to achieve.

Current trends are also showing that making the lower lip appear to be slightly larger than its upper teammate helps to enhance the “pout” look so many desire. Again, look at photos of others and try to pinpoint exactly what it is you want. When you’re ready to move forward, do a web search for clinics or spas that provide this kind of service and check their credentials.

Yes, there is more to the procedure than just injecting a filler. Experienced technicians are also talented artists who know where and how much filler to inject to achieve the results you are expecting. Therefore, it is also important to choose a facility that has technicians who understand the big differences subtle shaping can make. And if you end up not liking the results you won’t be stuck with what you see until the filler can be absorbed naturally. The technician can inject a special solution that will dissolve the gel more quickly. You’ll be back to your former self in a matter of days.