Lip embellishment

Based on the injection of a hyaluronic acid gel, a resorbable component used in aesthetic medicine, lip embellishment forms part of an approach which, depending on the case, aims to restore hydration to the tissues, to discreetly redraw their contour or to re-establish the balance between the upper lip and the lower lip. I devise each plan in consultation, on the basis of the morphology and the expectations particular to each person, appraising the proportion sought not for its own sake but with regard to the harmony of the face as a whole.

The session opens with a period of discussion and a marking out of the areas to be treated, then the skin is cleansed and disinfected. An anaesthetic cream may be offered before the procedure, certain products moreover containing a local anaesthetic. The injections are performed with a needle or with a cannula, according to the area and the indication retained, and pain or discomfort may be felt during the procedure. The number of sessions that may be necessary, the quantity of product and the duration of the session are appraised on a case-by-case basis and are specified in consultation, for I favour measure over standardisation.

The procedure may concern the body of the lips, their contour, the commissures or the region of the philtrum. It may be considered when the lips appear dehydrated, when the outline of the contour fades, or in the presence of an asymmetry or an imbalance of proportions; my aim remains to reveal without transforming, with respect for natural expression. Results vary from one person to another and cannot be announced in advance. Depending on the situation, the state of health or the medical history of each person, the procedure may not be indicated: other approaches may then be discussed, or no intervention proposed.

After-effects may occur in the days that follow: swelling, redness, tenderness to the touch, bruising. An asymmetry or irregularities perceptible on palpation may also be observed. Complications of an infectious or vascular nature are possible; they may be serious and are set out in consultation. The instructions to be followed after the session, as well as what to do in the event of anything unusual, are explained during the consultation. A prior consultation is mandatory: it allows for individual assessment, the search for contraindications and the provision of clear, fair and appropriate information before any decision.