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There are many different types of dermal fillers that can be injected into your lips and around your mouth to give you fuller, plumper looking lips. Here’s a look at some of the lip injection options that are on the market and how they differ from each other.

Human-Derived Collagen Fillers

Human-derived collagen comes from people, such as the excess skin removed during surgeries. The biocompatibility of human-derived collagen means that there is no need for allergy testing before the treatment. This makes this type of dermal filler a great option for those who are allergic to bovine collagen.

Human-derived collagen fillers include:

• Dermalogen
• Cymetra
• Autologen
• Fascian
• Cosmoderm
• Cosmoplast

Bovine-Derived Collagen Fillers

Bovine-derived collagen comes from the tissue of cows that have been raised in constantly monitored, disease-free herds. An allergy test is required before receiving this type of lip filler because there is a 3% chance of an allergic reaction. This type of lip filler was the first type of temporary filler used for cosmetic enhancement.

Injectable lip fillers that are bovine-derived include:

• Zyderm
• Zyplast
• Artecoll

Hyaluronic Acid-Based Lip Fillers

Hyaluronic acid is a clear, biodegradable substance that naturally grows in the body’s joints and skin. Hyaluronic acid binds well with water molecules, which allows hyaluronic acid-based fillers to not only plump the lips and provide a longer-lasting result than collagen fillers, but also to moisturize them.

Hyaluronic acid products can come in different thicknesses or viscosities, making them a versatile choice for treating different areas of the face, including lips. A thinner product would be well suited for fixing fine lines and wrinkles, or for subtly enhancing the lips. A thicker product would be better suited to addressing volume loss and very deep wrinkles. Since hyaluronic acid is naturally found in the human body, there is no need for a pre-treatment allergy test, and the effects can last between six to 12 months.

Some of the hyaluronic acid-based lip fillers on the market are:

• Restylane (L and Silk)
• Perlane
• Radiesse
• Juvederm (Ultra and Ultra Plus)
• Hylaform
• Elevess
• Prevelle Silk
• Captique
• Teosyal
• Belotero

Permanent Fillers

Permanent fillers or non-resorbable fillers are not as commonly used as temporary fillers (such as collagen-based fillers and hyaluronic acid-based fillers) because of their longer-lasting effect. It is often recommended that you first try out a temporary filler so that you can make sure you are happy with the results.

There is no going back once you’ve had a permanent filler injection. If you do decide to go with a permanent filler, it is important that you make sure that your doctor is very experienced with them, because most complications occur as a result of the product not being injected correctly.

The main permanent fillers on the market are:

• Artecoll
• Artefill
• Aquamid

Fat Transfer Injections

Fat transfer injections are a great alternative for patients who don’t want to put foreign substances in their body. While most other lip fillers are derived from an animal or human donor tissue, fat transfer utilizes your own body’s tissue, giving you soft, natural-looking results. Since fat transfers use your own natural tissue, rejection or allergic reactions rarely occur.

One of the downsides to fat transfer injections is that some of the fat cells die during transfer. An experienced doctor will try to prevent this from happening by injecting the fat in intervals, rather than all at once.

Some of the possible side effects that can affect the area from which the fat was taken or the injection site include:

• Infection
• Bleeding
• Swelling
• Minor discomfort

Book an Appointment

Before you set your heart on any of the lip injection options available to you, you should first consult with your doctor. Book a consultation with Dr. Binder so that he can answer any questions or concerns that you might have about the different types of lip injections. With his knowledge and experience, he will help you make the best choice about which lip filler will work best for you.