Why did my Restylane lip injection settle above my lip liner and not on my actual lip? (Photo)

Hi @tsikis! The filler was injected above the vermillion border. Hyaluronic acid facial filler products that were previously injected into an improper tissue plane can be dissolved by hyaluronidase injections. Best of luck, Dr. Nima!

While I cannot say for sure, it certainly appears to me as though the vermilion/white roll border area of the lip was addressed and overfilled. Lips, like the areas around the eyes, are sites that should be reserved for physician injectors with experience and expertise in the advanced techniques required for successfully treating these areas and producing gratifying results. They are not places for novice injectors who may have learned how to fill smile lines at a four hour didactic seminar. As to treatment, a tincture of time to allow nature to break down the material is certainly one option. However, this may take several more months. Since two months of aesthetic discomfort have already passed, it is reasonable, therefore, to consider the injection of a tiny amount of hyaluronidase to dissolve the unwanted filler. Going forward, be sure to check to make sure that your treating physician is a board certified aesthetic core physician with expertise in the nonsurgical rejuvenation and augmentation of the lips and its environs, And, of course, make sure to ask to see his/her before and after photos. 

Thanks for your question and the photos – and it appears that the injections were given in the vermillion border of the upper lip and more was given in that area than normally one would see. These injections need to be given in the offices of board-certified dermatologists or plastic surgeons that understand the products injected into the area and the anatomy of the lips so understand placement of fillers here. At this point I would recommend that you go back to your provider and have hyaluronidase injected into the area to dissolve the excess product. Also know that there is now a new product available, called Restylane Silk, and is FDA approved for the lips and mouth area – and with proper injection techniques, is wonderful for this area.

The result posted is one in the vermillion white line NOT in the red mucosa of the lip. COMMUNICATION is paramount. Obviously the injector placed the Restylane in the area not desired. Options are allow time to dissolve or hyalurondiase injections....

It looks like poor placement of the Restylane. Too much, too high. They were trying to place on vermillion but too much was done.  It might settle down, but after 2 weeks, that's what you will get.  Restylane Silk is my preference now. 

Technique and experience are key to providing nice results.  Massage at the time of injection can often help minimize this occurrence.

Restylane is a hylauronic acid filler. Being a HA
filler, if you are unhappy with the result the product can be dissolved with
hyaluronidase injections