Can lip fillers be saved for touch ups later? (photos)

Saving fillers varies from practice to practice. It is always best to use the product once it is opened as it comes sterile. You do not want to take a risk of getting an infection when the product is being stored. I occasionally offer that option to my patients of stories the unused product they purchased for their follow up visit only. If they don't come in with in 10-14 days, the product gets discarded into garbage. Looks like your provider listened to your concern and suggested the best option without using a full syringe and also saving you money. You only wanted bottom lip enhanced, which is what they listened to, but in my opinion, your top lip is not virtually not noticeable compared to a huge bottom lip.  There  is no such thing as touch ups with fillers as each time you want additional product a new box has to be opened. Hope this helps, Best, Dr.Avaliani

Volbella only comes filled to .55ml as compared to 1.0ml with most other fillers, so one syringe of Volbella is easily used for lip augmentation in one session.  That being said, while I will some practices will use a splitter to save a partial syringe for future use on the same patient, I wouldn't recommend it.

It's best not to save
syringes once opened since there's always a risk of infection once the seal has
been broken and product is stored. Many practices use splitters and will split
syringes so you only have to purchase 0.5 of a syringe at a time

Some practices will save fillers and some will not and that's individual policy.   I suggest you see an expert.  Best, Dr. Emer.

Thank you for sharing your question and photographs.  Each practice will have their own policies regarding touch-ups, with some storing left over filler for 1-3 months, while others will not.  I would recommend researching and seeing a series of ASPS board certified plastic surgeons in your area, asking for their touch-up policies.  Then go with the one that you feel can best deliver your goal results.  Hope this helps.

Hello - thank you for your question and photos. Saving fillers for later use is completely up to the practice. If you would like to find one that will save your syringe for a later date, I suggest calling around to see who will. We personally do not and do not recommend saving your filler... But it is a possibility.
Best of luck!

No. Leftover filler should not be "saved". There is no way to ensure that the product will remain sterile. Volbella comes in half syringes so this might be the best place for you to start. Hope this helps. 

Hi there,
It is generally not good practice to save fillers for future visits.  This is why for the initial treatment a 1ml product syringe may be used, and on touch up appointments additional syringes may be opened, which may contain less product (such as 0.55ml).  The reason for this is patient safety: saving a bunch of half-used syringes, some of which will have been contaminated by blood products from their respective patients, is absolutely not acceptable.  There are huge risks of accidental exchanges between patients if stored on the premises of the practice.  In any case, once the syringe has been contaminated either by touch or by body fluids (which happens during their use in any case), there will be a high risk of biofilm formation in the product in the time that it is sitting waiting for its second use on the shelf - this means that you could be injecting a rampant bacterial colony into your lovely face next time it is used, which could result in serious infections and potentially long term consequences.
In the UK, this is not permitted.  I am not sure about the regulation un the US, but I would imagine no respectable clinician would accept this kind of risk for their patients.  It's not about charging you more (although a touch up syringe may be at an extra charge depending on your aesthetics practice), but about your safety.
Hope this helps!
Best,
MJ x

Hello. Many practices do not save filler once they are opened. For sterility purposes, I do not store filler after it is opened and used. That is why you do have the option to purchase a half syringe of Juvederm or Volbella, which comes in just over a half syringe (0.55cc). I agree with your provider in suggesting Volbella, as this gives a beautiful, natural enhancement to the lips. As you can see, you can easily fill just an upper or lower lip with a syringe of Volbella. Unfortunately, any further product placement requires opening a new syringe. 

With all of the different injectables on the market today, it can be very confusing to understand the various options.  Volbella is excellent for softening fine lines on and around the lips and providing definition.  It only comes in a syringe with .55 ccs of product.  At our office, we don't recommend saving product for follow up visits.  Once a syringe of filler is open, it is no longer sterile.  It is best practice to use the entire syringe in one setting.