Refine the border or bring fullness to selected parts of the lips.
Consultation-led aesthetic medicine · Brighton & Hove · By appointmentConsultation-led · Brighton
FULLNESS · SHAPE · DEFINITION
Lip FillerShape and balance.
A little fullness, a clearer outline or better proportions.Small changes can bring the lips into balance with the rest of the face.
At a glance
Your lips.
Shape & balance.
Consider the upper and lower lips together with the rest of your face.
Discuss the degree of change you want and what your anatomy allows.
Where useful, build gradually after the first stage has settled.
Quick overviewYour appointment at a glance
- Your appointment
- We agree the intended change, take clinical photographs, prepare your skin and numb the lips before the planned filler injections. Your questions are answered before treatment.
- Comfort
- Your lips are numbed with an injection of local anaesthetic, not a cream. The anaesthetic injection may sting briefly. Once it takes effect, you may feel pressure or movement, but the filler injections should be virtually painless.
- Before treatment
- Suitability and medical history · Previous filler · Same-day consultation and treatment.
- Visible recovery
- Allow around one to two weeks before judging the result. Swelling, bruising, tenderness and temporary unevenness can occur; some swelling or bruising takes longer to settle.
- Aftercare & events
- You receive written instructions for skincare, makeup, exercise and the settling period. Avoid hot food and drinks while your lips are numb. Leave several weeks before an important event, especially for a first treatment.
- Review & further treatment
- Where useful, we start conservatively and reassess once swelling has settled. Later treatment is based on what remains and the change you want, rather than an automatic top-up.
- Fees & booking
- Lip enhancement and refinement costs £275. View current fees. I explain the product, proposed amount and what is included before treatment. What happens at your consultation?
Full clinical guide
Your questions about
lip filler
What lip filler can change, how shape and fullness are planned, and what swelling, recovery and maintenance involve.
odNOVA guide
- 1 You
- 2 Piotr
- 3 Clinical
- 4 In depth
Choose a question
What can lip filler improve? Piotr answers
Piotr
Lip filler uses a hyaluronic-acid gel to add fullness, refine the lip border or restore volume lost over time. You may want a subtle change, better balance between the upper and lower lip, or a fuller shape. The product, amount and placement should serve that particular change.[2]
Your lips need to be considered at rest and when you smile or speak. Dryness, lines around the mouth and differences caused by muscle movement do not all need more filler. The treatment should address what is actually causing the concern.
Can I improve my lips and still look like myself? Piotr answers
Piotr
Yes. The aim is to refine your lips while keeping their character. That may mean a little more fullness, a clearer outline or better balance between the upper and lower lip.
The shape needs to work with your face, both at rest and when you smile or speak. Some asymmetry is normal. Filler can improve selected differences, but perfectly identical sides are not a realistic target.
A fuller result can be built gradually. Once the swelling has settled, it is easier to judge whether more filler would improve the shape or simply add volume.
“I do not want duck lips or a filler moustache.”
At odNOVA, the aim is to refine your own lips, preserving their natural character rather than creating something new.
Filler placed in the wrong area, or too much filler, can create a ridge above the upper lip. This can happen even when the product itself is not faulty: placement and amount matter.
Prospective, open-label observational study · 62 selected participants
Philipp-Dormston et al. · 2014
Before treatment, 77.4% were concerned about an unnatural look, 19.4% about injection discomfort and 27.4% reported other concerns including swelling or bruising. These figures describe concerns, not complications after treatment.
Study details and original results
Concerns before treatment, views afterwards
In one manufacturer-sponsored product-specific study of 62 selected participants, 77.4% were concerned about an unnatural look, 19.4% about injection discomfort and 27.4% reported other concerns including swelling or bruising. These are selected-participant concerns, not population or odNOVA rates.[16]
At four weeks, 40 of 43 participants (93.0%) who had no top-up were satisfied with the improvement. The same number rated the look and feel of their lips as very or extremely natural. Among those who had a top-up, 16 of 17 (94.1%) were satisfied immediately afterwards. These groups were assessed at different stages, so the percentages should not be used to compare the two approaches.
The study used Juvéderm Volbella with lidocaine. It was short, manufacturer-sponsored and had no comparison group.[16]
What people are usually worried about
Wanting a change and worrying about how it will look can coexist. The study above records concerns before treatment; it does not measure how often those problems happened.[16] Migration, “duck lips”, lumps, early asymmetry and dissolving also feature in patient discussions. They are useful questions to bring to the consultation. The answers here explain what needs assessment, what the evidence can tell us and where it has limits.
Will lip filler change my smile?
It can alter how the lips project and move, so the smile is part of the assessment. The exact effect depends on anatomy, placement and amount and cannot be predicted from a still photograph alone.
What results have studies measured? Piotr answers
Piotr
A 2021 review estimated that 74% of patients still had fuller lips at six months and 46% at twelve months. Their lips were assessed against how they looked before treatment. The percentages count people with a lasting improvement; they do not describe how much bigger their lips became.
The six- and twelve-month figures came from different groups of studies. Products, amounts and results varied, and the authors rated the evidence as very low certainty. Some people retain added fullness for a year or longer. Others notice it fading sooner. The research supports that variation, rather than one fixed lifespan for lip filler.[3][19]
What the evidence supports
The evidence supports hyaluronic-acid filler as an effective way to increase lip fullness in selected adults. It also shows that swelling, tenderness, bruising and firmness are frequent early effects.[2]
The evidence is less useful for predicting one person's ideal shape, exact amount, settled appearance or duration. Studies combine different products, techniques, populations and endpoints. Industry involvement is common. Rare complications are difficult to measure accurately, so absence from a small trial cannot be treated as proof of absence.
Research informs the conversation. It does not replace examination, previous-treatment history, consent or clinical judgement.
74% met the fullness threshold
Pooled results from five studies found at least a one-grade increase in lip fullness. [3]
46% met the threshold
Four studies contributed to this estimate. The result can fade at different rates. [3]
Fullness on a scale
A responder percentage is the share meeting the study criterion, not the percentage by which lips became larger.
Very low certainty
Products, methods and results varied substantially. These pooled findings cannot predict your exact response. [3]
Systematic review · 22 studies; 3,965 participants
Stojanovič & Majdič · 2019
The review found support for increased lip fullness with HA fillers. Different products and study designs limit how precisely its findings can predict an individual result.
Study details and original results
22 studies · 3,965 participants
The review included nine randomised trials, one cohort study and twelve lower-level studies. [2]
Meta-analysis · ten records in the quantitative synthesis
Czumbel et al. · 2021
At least a one-grade increase in lip fullness was estimated in 74% at six months and 46% at twelve months. Different subsets of studies contributed at each time point; the evidence was rated very low certainty.
Study details and original results
Lip fullness over time
Ten records contributed to the quantitative synthesis. The six- and twelve-month figures above come from different subsets of studies, not one group followed throughout. The authors rated the evidence very low certainty because of differences between studies, imprecision and possible publication bias. [3]
At six months, 74% met the threshold of at least a one-grade increase in lip fullness; five studies contributed. At twelve months, 46% met the threshold; four studies contributed. These are proportions of participants meeting a fullness score, not percentage increases in lip size.[3]
Research · Lip fullness and satisfaction
Eccleston & Murphy (2012) · 60 women
93.2% met the study’s threshold for fuller lips at three months; 48.3% at twelve months. Improvement meant moving into a fuller category on the assessment scale, not a percentage increase in lip size.
More than 80% remained satisfied at twelve months. Fullness and satisfaction were measured separately.[18]
Study details and original results
- What treatment did they have?
- Participants received Juvéderm Volbella. 15 had an optional top-up after two weeks, and the average total amount was 1.33 ml.
- How should I read these results?
- The number assessed varied between visits. People who needed repeat treatment were counted as no longer meeting the fullness threshold. There was no untreated comparison group, and Allergan designed and funded the study. These results describe one product and treatment protocol.
Research · Ehlinger-David et al. (2023) · 34 people treated in the lips
How long did the improvement last without a top-up?
In a study including 34 people treated with Art Filler Lips, 25 (73.5%) had fuller lips on the study’s assessment scale three weeks after treatment. At 18 months, 33% of those assessed still met that improvement criterion.[19]
Study details and original results
The average amount was 0.9 ml, with a maximum of 1 ml. No top-ups or repeat injections were allowed. This matters: the later results came from the original treatment.
Some improvement can therefore remain beyond a year, although the initial fullness will not necessarily stay unchanged. This was a small, manufacturer-funded study without a comparison group. The later percentage refers to participants assessed at that visit, not necessarily everyone originally treated.
Read the original study ↗Research · Weiss et al. (2021) · 270 people in the main analysis
How much improvement was still visible after 48 weeks?
After Restylane Kysse treatment, 88% of those assessed had fuller upper and lower lips at eight weeks; 60% still met that standard at 48 weeks. An assessor who did not know which filler had been used rated the lips against their appearance before treatment.[20]
Study details and original results
The randomised study compared Restylane Kysse with Juvéderm Volbella XC. Average amounts injected into the lips were 1.82 ml and 2.24 ml, respectively, including any four-week top-up. Follow-up ran from the last injection. These are results from the study protocol, not a forecast for a single 1 ml appointment.
Kysse met the study’s standard for comparable improvement at eight weeks. That does not establish that it lasts longer than every other filler. The later percentages describe participants assessed at each visit; missing results were not filled in.
Treatment-related adverse events were mostly mild and temporary; none were severe. The study was funded by Galderma, the manufacturer of Kysse.
Read the original study ↗Research · Li et al. (2022) · 176 randomised; 163 in the main analysis
What changed compared with having no treatment?
At three months, 84.7% of assessed patients treated with Juvéderm Volbella had fuller lips, compared with 0% in the untreated group, according to an assessor unaware of treatment allocation. Patients also rated their own lip fullness: 65% reported an improvement. That measured fullness, not satisfaction.[21]
Study details and original results
The average total amount was 1.7 ml, including any top-up and treatment to the ridges between the upper lip and nose. 34 of the 136 initially treated participants received a top-up. These results therefore do not describe a single 1 ml session.
The study involved Chinese adults, almost all women, and was funded by Allergan Aesthetics/AbbVie. The percentages describe people whose lips became fuller on the study’s scale; they do not mean an 84.7% increase in lip size.
One participant developed reduced blood supply at the injection site, reported as a serious treatment-related event. It resolved in 16 days. A study of this size cannot establish how often rare complications occur.
Read the original study ↗Cross-sectional ultrasound study · 126 people
Harris et al. · 2026
Ultrasound was used to examine 126 people, including 52 who had previously had lip filler. Filler was found beyond its intended injection site in 27 of those 52 people (52%). This was seen in 22 of 30 people treated with vertical injections (73%), compared with 5 of 21 treated with horizontal injections (24%).[12]
Study details and original results
These were observations of previous treatments, not a trial assigning people to different techniques. Some techniques were identified from patient recall or clinic advertising. The figures therefore describe this study group; they are not your personal risk of migration.
Read the original study ↗What can go wrong, and what do I do about it? Piotr answers
Piotr
Swelling, tenderness and bruising are common after lip filler. Infection, persistent lumps, delayed inflammation, cold-sore reactivation or filler moving beyond its intended position are other possible problems.
Rarely, filler can obstruct a blood vessel and damage skin. Facial injections can also cause a sight-threatening complication. I explain these risks before treatment and give you clear instructions for recognising a problem.
Increasing or unusual pain, pale or dusky skin, or a mottled colour change need immediate assessment. Sudden sight changes or severe eye pain are an emergency. The full action guidance below explains who to contact and when.
Before you choose a practitioner, ask how to get urgent help after treatment →
Risks and urgent symptoms
Common early effects include swelling, tenderness, bruising, redness, firmness and temporary asymmetry.[2] [7]
Less common problems include infection, prolonged swelling, visible or palpable lumps, migration, superficial placement, persistent asymmetry and delayed inflammatory reactions or nodules.[7]
Filler can unintentionally enter or compress a blood vessel. This may reduce blood supply and cause tissue injury or scarring. Rare visual and neurological complications, including visual loss and stroke, are documented. Prompt recognition and action matter.[4]
Contact the treating clinic immediately if the skin remains unusually pale or white after gentle pressure, colour returns much more slowly than on the other side, or the area becomes dusky, mottled, grey, unusually cold or blistered. Severe or increasing pain is also a warning sign, although pain is not always present. Do not wait to see whether it settles.
Any sudden visual change after filler is an emergency: seek immediate emergency assessment and notify the clinic without delaying emergency care. Call 999 for sudden facial or limb weakness, speech difficulty, breathing or swallowing difficulty, collapse, or signs of a severe allergic reaction.[4] [13]
What if I already have filler or want it dissolved? Piotr answers
Piotr
If you remember when you last had lip filler or which product was used, that information is helpful. If you do not remember, that is okay too. We can start with how your lips look and feel now, what you would like to change and whether adding more would improve the shape.
Hyaluronic-acid filler can be treated with hyaluronidase when dissolving is appropriate. It is a separate procedure with its own risks, including allergy, and may need more than one session. It cannot guarantee an exact return to your original appearance.
Planned dissolving because you dislike a result is different from urgent treatment for a blocked blood vessel. New pain or colour changes should not wait for a cosmetic review.
When is no treatment the best decision?
When filler does not match the cause of the concern, existing filler needs further investigation, the likely gain is too small, timing or health makes treatment unsuitable, or added volume would create more imbalance than benefit. An honest “not yet” is a valid outcome.
Is lip filler suitable for me? Piotr answers
Piotr
Your medical history can change both the treatment plan and its timing. Allergies, previous reactions, medicines and supplements need to be reviewed, along with any bleeding or immune conditions, pregnancy or breastfeeding, and recent or planned dental work.
Routine dental treatment should be scheduled at least two weeks before or after lip filler treatment.
An active cold sore, infection or inflamed skin means treatment needs to wait. A history of cold sores also matters, even when your lips are clear on the day. Preventive treatment may be appropriate before injections.
Do not stop prescribed medication to prepare for lip filler without advice from the clinician responsible for it. The treatment plan needs to accommodate your health.
Lip filler at odNOVA is for adults aged 18 and over.
How much filler will I need? Piotr answers
Piotr
You do not need to choose a number of millilitres. The amount depends on the change you want and what suits your lips. Existing fullness, shape and movement all matter, as does any filler already present.
At odNOVA, no more than 1 ml is used per lip treatment session. Naturally thin or tight lips may suit a smaller amount. A fuller shape can be built in stages where appropriate, with further treatment considered once swelling has gone down and the result is clear.
What happens at the appointment? Piotr answers
Piotr
We agree the intended shape and fullness before treatment. Clinical photographs are a required part of your treatment record.
A mirror is available throughout your appointment, so you can follow the changes and discuss the shape and fullness as treatment progresses.
Before you leave, we go through your aftercare and how to contact me.
Can consultation and treatment happen on the same day?
It may be possible if the booking allows time for assessment and treatment. If you would like this, please confirm the appointment arrangements when booking. We still need to review your medical history, discuss the plan and agree that treatment is appropriate before proceeding.
Will lip filler hurt?Piotr answers
Piotr
Your lips are numbed with an injection of local anaesthetic, not a cream. The anaesthetic injection may sting briefly. Once it takes effect, you may feel pressure or movement, but the filler injections should be virtually painless.
What if I am nervous about the injections?
Your lips are numbed before the filler injections. The anaesthetic is also given by injection, so that first step can briefly sting. Read how the local anaesthetic works and what you may feel during treatment.
A small study comparing numbing methods found differences in discomfort and patient preference; it does not predict exactly how you will feel. You can ask for a pause at any point. [14]
What should I expect after lip filler? Piotr answers
Piotr
Your lips should initially look around 20% fuller than the intended result because of swelling. This is a guide from my practice, not an exact prediction.
Most swelling should go down within about 3–4 days, although this varies. Judge the result 7–14 days after treatment; some swelling or bruising may take longer to resolve. [17]
I give you written instructions covering skincare, make-up, exercise and what to avoid while the area settles. Do not massage a lump or try to correct an uneven area yourself unless I have asked you to.
Avoid hot food and drinks while your lips are numb so you do not burn or bite them without noticing.
Avoid make-up on the treated lips for the first 24 hours. Avoid alcohol for at least 24 hours after treatment. A longer alcohol-free period can be agreed as part of your aftercare. Alcohol does not help your body heal. For hygiene immediately after treatment, odNOVA’s advice is to choose freshly cooked meals and avoid unwashed food, kissing and vaping. Do not use previously opened lipstick. If you need a moisturising lip balm, use a freshly opened one.
If you have an important event coming up, leave a few weeks for your lips to recover, especially after your first treatment.
You can message me on WhatsApp if you are unsure about a change or how your lips are healing. If you notice any of the urgent warning signs, get medical help straight away.
How long will the result last? Piotr answers
Piotr
For some people, the visible effect lasts around six months; for others, twelve months or longer. The product, amount used and your individual response all matter. This describes how long the result remains noticeable, not the point at which every trace of filler has disappeared.[3][18][19]
Lips move constantly as you speak and eat. Movement may contribute to a shorter-lasting effect than in less mobile areas, although it is only one of the factors involved.[19]
The timing of another treatment depends on what remains and what you want to achieve. How long it has been since your last appointment matters too. Maintaining the current shape and building more fullness are different goals, so further treatment is planned around your lips rather than a fixed top-up schedule.
How do I book a consultation for lip filler? Piotr answers
Piotr
A consultation gives us time to discuss what you would like to change about your lips and what you want to keep. We can look at their shape together and talk through the options and likely result.
Your assessment and treatment are with me. You can read about my education and clinical training before your appointment.
I want you to be happy with your lips. If the result is not right for you, for any reason, I will dissolve the filler free of charge and refund 100% of your lip treatment fee.
Current prices are on the Fees page.
Question index
All your questions,
by topic.
Open a topic and choose a question to go straight to its answer.
Browse all 17 questions
Shape, fullness and natural expression5 questions
Research and duration2 questions
Suitability and previous filler3 questions
Your appointment and booking3 questions
Comfort and recovery3 questions
Risks and safety1 question
References & sources
These references link to the studies and guidance discussed on this page. They help explain the possible benefits and risks; whether filler is suitable for you is decided at assessment.
View all 21 references
- Department of Health and Social Care (2021). Botulinum toxin and cosmetic fillers for under 18s. Applies to England. Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/botulinum-toxin-and-cosmetic-fillers-for-under-18s/botulinum-toxin-and-cosmetic-fillers-for-under-18s
- Stojanovič, L. and Majdič, N. (2019). Effectiveness and safety of hyaluronic acid fillers used to enhance overall lip fullness: a systematic review of clinical studies. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 18(2), 436–443. doi:10.1111/jocd.12861. PMID 30636365.
- Czumbel, L.M. et al. (2021). Hyaluronic Acid Is an Effective Dermal Filler for Lip Augmentation: A Meta-Analysis. Frontiers in Surgery, 8, 681028. doi:10.3389/fsurg.2021.681028. PMID 34422892.
- Murray, G., Convery, C., Walker, L. and Davies, E. (2021). Guideline for the Management of Hyaluronic Acid Filler-induced Vascular Occlusion. The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 14(5), E61–E69. PMID 34188752. UK expert-committee guidance, not an incidence study.
- Further reading · Kato, J.M. and Matayoshi, S. (2022). Visual loss after aesthetic facial filler injection: a literature review on an ophthalmologic issue. Arquivos Brasileiros de Oftalmologia, 85(3), 309–319. doi:10.5935/0004-2749.20220048. PMID 34852044.
- Vaghela, D. et al. (2021). Guideline for the Management Herpes Simplex 1 and Cosmetic Interventions. The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 14(6 Suppl 1), S11–S14. PMID 34976293. UK expert-committee guidance; reliable incidence data are absent.
- Colon, J. et al. (2023). Adverse Events Reported From Hyaluronic Acid Dermal Filler Injections to the Facial Region: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Cureus, 15(4), e38286. doi:10.7759/cureus.38286. Correction: doi:10.7759/cureus.c125.
- Further reading · Sadeghpour, M. et al. (2019). Delayed-onset Nodules to Differentially Crosslinked Hyaluronic Acids: Comparative Incidence and Risk Assessment. Dermatologic Surgery, 45(8), 1085–1094. doi:10.1097/DSS.0000000000001814. Product-specific retrospective evidence; not a universal lip-filler incidence.
- Borzabadi-Farahani, A., Mosahebi, A. and Zargaran, D. (2024). A Scoping Review of Hyaluronidase Use in Managing the Complications of Aesthetic Interventions. Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 48(6), 1193–1209. doi:10.1007/s00266-022-03207-9. PMID 36536092.
- Fundarò, S.P., Salti, G., Malgapo, D.M.H. and Innocenti, S. (2022). The Rheology and Physicochemical Characteristics of Hyaluronic Acid Fillers: Their Clinical Implications. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 23(18), 10518. doi:10.3390/ijms231810518. Narrative review; declared industry relationships.
- Further reading · Urdiales-Gálvez, F. et al. (2018). Treatment of Soft Tissue Filler Complications: Expert Consensus Recommendations. Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, 42(2), 498–510. doi:10.1007/s00266-017-1063-0. PMID 29305643. Level V expert consensus, not prospective comparative evidence.
- Harris, S. et al. (2026). Ultrasound Evaluation of Lip Anatomy and Filler Placement: A Cross-Sectional Study of Injection Accuracy, Migration, and Demographic Variation. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. doi:10.1097/PRS.0000000000012772. PMID 41494527. Cross-sectional association; it cannot establish a universal outcome for every technique or patient.
- NHS (current online guidance). Anaphylaxis. Available at: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/anaphylaxis/
- Diepenbrock, R.M., May, J.R., Cone, W.R. and Ehland, E.L. (2017). Patient Preference for Preprocedural Anesthetic Prior to Facial Cosmetic Injectable Fillers. The American Journal of Cosmetic Surgery, 34(3). doi:10.1177/0748806817690986. Randomised prospective split-face study; 48 participants, 46 women and two men; lips and nasolabial folds were included.
- Further reading · Buhsem, O. (2024). Comparing the Effects of Different Injection Techniques Used in Lip Augmentation on Filler Migration and Patient Satisfaction. Cureus, 16(7), e64716. doi:10.7759/cureus.64716. PMID 39021739; PMCID PMC11253074. Randomised retrospective technique-comparison study; its block-anaesthesia protocol supports the practical numbness/heat-warning context, not a universal claim of superior outcomes.
- Philipp-Dormston, W.G., Hilton, S. and Nathan, M. (2014). A prospective, open-label, multicenter, observational, postmarket study of the use of a 15 mg/mL hyaluronic acid dermal filler in the lips. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 13(2), 125–134. doi:10.1111/jocd.12085. PMID 24910276; PMCID PMC4141748. Before treatment, 77.4% of the 62 selected participants expressed concern about an unnatural look, 19.4% about injection discomfort and 27.4% reported other concerns including possible swelling or bruising; manufacturer-sponsored product-specific observational evidence, not an odNOVA outcome estimate.
- British Cosmetic Dermatology Group (2025). Dermal Fillers: recovery, final settling and aftercare. View the source
- Eccleston, D. and Murphy, D.K. (2012). Juvéderm Volbella in the perioral area: a 12-month prospective, multicenter, open-label study. Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 5, 167–172. doi:10.2147/CCID.S35800. Read the original study
- Ehlinger-David, A. et al. (2023; published online 2022). A prospective multicenter clinical trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of a hyaluronic acid-based filler with Tri-Hyal technology in the treatment of lips and the perioral area. Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, 22(2), 464–472. doi:10.1111/jocd.15169. Read the original study. Nonrandomised, unblinded, manufacturer-funded; movement is a proposed contributing factor, not an isolated causal finding.
- Weiss, R. et al. (2021). A Randomized, Controlled, Evaluator-Blinded, Multi-Center Study of Hyaluronic Acid Filler Effectiveness and Safety in Lip Fullness Augmentation. Dermatologic Surgery, 47(4), 527–532. doi:10.1097/DSS.0000000000002856. Read the original study.
- Li, D. et al. (2022). Safe and Effective Lip Enhancement with VYC-15L in Chinese Adults. Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, 15, 2427–2436. doi:10.2147/CCID.S382194. Read the original study.
This page is general patient information. It cannot determine whether lip filler is suitable for you and does not replace an individual assessment, consent discussion or treatment-specific aftercare.