Lumps, sagging lips, and smokers lines well after injection - can I try anything else? (photos)

Question

I’ve had lip fillers a couple of times (volbella). Each time I develop lumps after a few weeks and have had to have them dissolved. I’m wondering if there’s another product I might be able to use that will work but not become lumpy, or if this is just how my body reacts to fillers :( If not, what else can I do to help my smokers lines and sagging lips?

Kenneth D. Steinsapir, MD · Answer

The big problem you are having with fillers are injectors who do not understand what they are injecting. It is not entirely their fault.   Sadly most injectors simply believe marketing hype and do not investigate things for themselves. They uncritically believe marketing when they are told products like Volbella, or Juvederm are good for lip effect treatment. Virtually all fillers that are marketed for the lip edge are runny. That means that once placed, the product will not hold as it was originally place.  Rather it migrates out of the tight lip edge to create a lip shelf or fullness in the mouth corners. The solution is to avoid these runny products. It is actually helpful to use a product with a very high g prime. Restylane is actually a fantastic product for lip edge treatment.

Jonathan Kulbersh, MD · Answer

Hello, and thank you for your question. It isn’t typical for patients to always experience lumps after dermal filler injections. Also, lumps as a side effect should be felt or seen days after treatment and should resolve within 1-2 weeks. Perhaps, you might need another type of filler and a more experienced and skilled injector to perform the treatment. In addition to dermal fillers, treatments for smoker’s lines include lasers, chemical peels, RF microneedling (Profound RF), and other treatments that stimulate collagen production.

The best way to find out the best approach for your lip augmentation and smoker’s lines treatment is to have an in-person consultation with a reputable board-certified facial plastic surgeon, particularly one with extensive experience with injectables and other techniques for skin rejuvenation. Your surgeon can assess your lips and skin quality, recommend and customize the best procedure plan, and ensure the best possible results.

Marc Polacco, MD · Answer

Thank you for your question. While a fine filler like volbella can help somewhat, I find that often the results are underwhelming. For smoker's lines, I prefer either laser resurfacing or a chemical peel. This will help efface the lines and rebuild collagen. Regarding a sagging lip, a lip lift is really the only treatment for that. Fillers add volume, but cannot shorten the lip itself. I hope this information is helpful to you, and all the best.
-Dr. P

Daniel Barrett, MD · Answer

Dear Belli612,
I perform a lot of lip injections with fillers such as juvederm and it works great. Many times I need to put more in one side than the other to attempt to even out the vermillion border (The red line of the lip). This helps provide more symmetry at times.For patients looking for a more long lasting result, I recommend fat grafting. That is, using your own bodies fat to make your lips naturally look more shapely. The bonus is that the results last many many years.
In general, I avoid using permanent prosthesis because I find that the lips are such dynamic and sensitive structures, the end result is not natural.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

Andrew M. Ress, MD · Answer

After trying multiple fillers we found that Restylane Kysse is a great filler that does not cause lumpiness if injected correctly in the lines above the lip.

Lumps, sagging lips, and smokers lines well after injection - can I try anything else? (photos)

Answers (8)

Answer: Lip augmentation

Answer: Lip augmentation

Answer: There are other products

Answer: There are other products

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Lip Fillers

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.

Lumps, sagging lips, and smokers lines well after injection - can I try anything else? (photos)

Answers (8)

Answer: Lip augmentation

Answer: Lip augmentation

Answer: There are other products

Answer: There are other products

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Lip Fillers

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.