Lip Filler in Birkdale, NC

Lips heal on their own schedule, so plan around the Village

This is where lips and Botox differ. After Botox most people walk to dinner the same night. After lip filler, plan on a few days of swelling, and sometimes a bruise. The FDA lists swelling and bruising as the most common filler side effects and says many clear up within days to weeks.

So if you have plans at the Village on Friday, a birthday dinner, or photos on the lawn, don't book lips for Thursday. Book at least two weeks ahead, so the shape in the pictures is the one we checked together at your follow-up.

Cost

Filler is priced per syringe and quoted at your consult, the same for everyone. The pricing page explains how it works, and you get an exact quote before anything is booked. Financing through Cherry and CareCredit is available for treatment plans.

Does it hurt?

Numbing cream goes on first, and some fillers already contain lidocaine. Lips are sensitive, but most people find it easier than they expected.

When a lip flip makes more sense

Some people who ask for filler really want the top lip to show a little more when they smile, with no added volume. That's a lip flip, a few units of Botox above the lip, and it's on my Birkdale Botox page. If you can't decide, we sort it out at the consult.

How long it lasts

The FDA says how long a filler lasts depends on the filler material and where it's injected, and that absorbable fillers break down over time, so the treatment may need repeating. I find out how your lips respond at the two-week check. HA filler can be dissolved with hyaluronidase, so you're never stuck with a result you don't like.

How the visit goes

We talk first. I look at your lips at rest and when you smile and talk, and we agree on a plan before I pick up a needle. I build slowly and stop at natural, and we add at two weeks if you want more. Northstone and Skybrook neighbors can use this page too.

Tell me about these before we start

The FDA's page on dermal fillers explains the risks in plain language. Bring these up at your consult:

• You're under 22. The FDA approves dermal fillers for adults 22 and older.
• You're pregnant or breastfeeding. The FDA says filler safety is unknown during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
• Your skin is inflamed or infected where we'd treat, including active acne, a rash, or hives.
• You have a bleeding disorder, severe allergies or a history of anaphylaxis, or an allergy to lidocaine.
• You tend to form keloids or raised scars.
• You have a dental visit, a vaccine, or a cold coming up. The FDA notes swelling can flare near filler after those.
• There's a cold sore, swelling, or any sign of infection on or around your lips.

The FDA lists bruising, redness, swelling, pain, tenderness, and itching as common filler side effects, and says many clear up within days to weeks. The most serious risk is filler getting into a blood vessel. The FDA calls that chance low, but it can cause tissue damage, vision problems including blindness, or stroke. Get care right away for unusual pain, any change in your vision, or skin near the injection site that turns white, gray, or blue. You can look up my nursing license on the North Carolina Board of Nursing site. My full menu is on the services page.