Dermal Fillers treatment
Lips
Enhance lip shape, definition and volume, tailored to your facial proportions.
- Treatment time
- Around 30 minutes
- Results
- Visible immediately; settles over 2 weeks
- Longevity
- Typically 6–12 months
- Downtime
- 2–3 days of swelling
- From
- £190
About Lips
Lip enhancement uses a soft hyaluronic acid filler to restore or add volume, define the border and cupid's bow, balance the top and bottom lip, or correct asymmetry. Hyaluronic acid is a sugar molecule found naturally in the skin, which is why the results look and feel soft.
John's approach is proportion first: the aim is a lip that suits your face and still looks like you, whether that means subtle hydration and definition or a fuller shape built up over more than one session.
Before & after
Key Benefits
- 01Restores volume that thins with age
- 02Defines the lip border and cupid's bow
- 03Balances uneven or asymmetric lips
- 04Softens vertical lines around the mouth
- 05Soft, natural feel with hyaluronic acid
- 06Fully reversible if ever needed
Is this treatment right for me?
Lip filler suits adults who'd like more definition, hydration or volume in the lips, or who have noticed thinning or asymmetry. First-time clients are very welcome — a conservative first treatment is often the best way to see what suits you.
You may be suitable if…
- Your lips have thinned or lost definition
- You'd like a fuller or more balanced shape
- You have asymmetry you'd like corrected
- You're over 18, not pregnant or breastfeeding, and have no active cold sores
Your consultation will consider…
- Lip proportions in relation to your nose, chin and overall face
- Whether you want hydration, definition or added volume — or a mix
- A history of cold sores (John can advise on prevention)
- Previous lip filler and how it has settled
What to expect
Before treatment
Treatment starts with a face-to-face consultation with John. He'll look at the area in the context of your whole face, talk through what you'd like to change and what would look natural for you, and check your medical history. For a week beforehand it helps to avoid alcohol, aspirin, ibuprofen and supplements such as fish oil or vitamin E where safe to do so, as they increase bruising. Please don't book within two weeks of a dental procedure.
During treatment
The skin is cleansed and a numbing cream is applied for around 10–15 minutes; many modern fillers also contain a local anaesthetic. John then places the hyaluronic acid gel using a fine needle or a blunt-tipped cannula, depending on the area, shaping and checking symmetry as he goes. You'll feel pressure and the occasional sting rather than pain. Most appointments take 30–45 minutes. Lips are treated with small, precise placements along the border and body of the lip, checking the shape in a mirror with you as it develops.
After treatment
You'll see the change straight away, although the area will be a little swollen and the final shape settles over the next one to two weeks. John will go through aftercare, and you're welcome to book a review at two weeks if anything needs refining.
Watch
Results & longevity
You'll see the shape immediately, though lips swell more than most areas, so the first two to three days aren't the finished result. The true shape is visible at around two weeks once swelling has fully settled. Lip filler typically lasts six to twelve months; the lips move constantly, so it tends to break down a little faster than in other areas. How long it lasts depends on the product used, how much is placed and your metabolism. Many clients return every nine to twelve months for maintenance, and results often build with repeat treatment.
Recovery, side effects & aftercare
Lips swell more than any other filler area, so expect them to look noticeably fuller than the final result for the first 48–72 hours. This is normal and settles quickly; by day three most of the swelling has gone and by two weeks you'll see the true shape.
Side effects
Swelling, tenderness, redness and bruising are the common, expected effects and settle within days. Small lumps or slight unevenness can be felt in the first couple of weeks as the gel settles and usually resolve; anything persistent can be reviewed. Uncommon risks include infection, an allergic-type reaction, or the filler sitting in an unintended spot. Rarely, filler can affect a blood vessel — John uses techniques that minimise this, checks for warning signs before you leave, and the clinic stocks the enzyme that dissolves hyaluronic acid so it can be treated immediately.
Aftercare
Avoid touching, pressing or massaging the area for 24–48 hours unless John has asked you to. Skip strenuous exercise, saunas, steam rooms, sunbeds and alcohol for 48 hours, and sleep slightly elevated on the first night to limit swelling. A cool (not frozen) compress helps if the area feels tender. Don't have facials, dental work or other treatments on the area for two weeks, and keep make-up off the injection points for the rest of the day.
Please contact the clinic straight away if you notice unusual or increasing pain, skin that looks blotchy, white or dusky, blistering, spreading redness, or any change to your vision. Ordinary swelling and bruising don't need a call, but you're always welcome to check.
- Downtime
- Minimal — usually a day or two
- Redness
- Mild, settles within hours
- Swelling
- Noticeable for 48–72 hours
- Bruising
- Possible, fades within a week
- Normal activities
- Same day; avoid strenuous exercise for 24–48 hours
Frequently Asked Questions
How much filler will I need?
Most first treatments use 0.5–1 ml. If you'd like a fuller result, building up over two sessions usually gives the most natural shape. John will recommend an amount at consultation.
Will my lips look overdone?
Not with a proportion-led approach. John works to your face and starts conservatively — you can always add later, and hyaluronic acid can be dissolved if you ever change your mind.
How long does the swelling last?
The first two to three days are the most swollen. It settles quickly after that, and the final shape is clear at about two weeks.
Can I kiss, use straws or wear lipstick?
Avoid pressure on the lips, straws and lipstick for 24 hours. After that you can carry on as normal.
I get cold sores — can I still have lip filler?
Yes, but please mention it. Treatment can trigger a flare, so John may suggest preventative medication from your GP or pharmacist beforehand.
Does it hurt?
A numbing cream is applied first and most fillers contain a local anaesthetic, so you'll feel pressure and the occasional sting rather than pain. The area may feel tender for a day or two afterwards.
Can it be reversed?
Yes. Hyaluronic acid filler can be dissolved with an enzyme called hyaluronidase if needed, which is one of the reasons we use it. John keeps it in clinic.
Will I need top-ups?
Filler is gradually broken down by the body, so most people return for maintenance once results begin to soften. Regular clients often find they need less product over time.
Your Practitioner
John Dixon
Founder & Aesthetician
John founded Trusted Touch Aesthetics in Fulham and specialises in facial balancing, wrinkle reduction and skin rejuvenation. He is CPD-regulated and fully insured, and is known for taking the time to assess your face properly, explaining every option honestly and never over-treating — the aim is always a natural result that still looks like you. Clients regularly mention his calm manner, attention to detail and the aftercare follow-up that checks in on how you're healing.