Collagen is a naturally occurring substance in our bodies that gives our skin and lips a natural plumpness and contour. Over time, collagen production starts to slow down, usually starting in a person’s 20s, then continues to decline at a rate of about one to two percent per year after. Over time, the skin starts to sag and fine lines and wrinkles begin to appear.

Fortunately, you can cheat the aging process with dermal fillers. Dermal fillers are injectable materials that use something called hyaluronic acid as a base material. Hyaluronic acid is a substance that is naturally found in the human body, so it has a very high success rate of not being rejected. These fillers provide stunning, natural results that have excellent longevity, meaning you will continue to see results for many months without needing a touch-up injection—usually somewhere in the range of six to 18 months. Over time, the hyaluronic acid will break down and be naturally absorbed by the body, so there are no adverse side effects.

In addition to restoring volume and shape to the lips, dermal fillers can help re-establish facial symmetry and can reduce the appearance of fine lines around your mouth. If you are concerned that the injection will give you over-inflated lips—a look sometimes referred to as trout pout—that seems popular with celebrities today, you can discuss your expectations with the clinician that will be performing your procedure so you get the exact look you want. If, for any reason, you decide you’re not happy with the results after you’ve had the procedure done, your clinician can inject a special solution that will dissolve the filler more rapidly and your lips will return to your pre-injection look in just a matter of days. This is rarely necessary though as most patients love what they see in the mirror afterward.

The entire process takes about 45-60 minutes and you will see results immediately. There is no real downtime after having the procedure done although you may notice some swelling and potentially a small amount of bleeding at the injection sites. To keep the process as pain-free as possible, a topical anesthetic is normally applied about 20 minutes before the filler is injected. The filler itself—which also may contain a numbing agent—will then be expertly injected in one or more places in your lips to provide you with the results you’re to achieve. This is why it is so important to pick a clinic or spa that has trained clinicians that are well-versed in the art of lip plumping and shaping.

For lip injections in Virginia Beach and the surrounding areas, Virginia Beach Spa & Laser Center has a variety of dermal fillers that can be used to give you natural, long-lasting results. Check out our “before” and “after” photos to see how dramatically a simple lip filler injection can revitalize your overall facial appearance. Come in for a consultation to discuss the results you’d like to see and we’ll recommend the right dermal filler to produce outstanding results for you. Our clinicians are true artists when it comes to restoring the look of aging lips and faces.