One person’s experience of a virtual consultation Experiencing Lip Fillers

Experiencing Lip Fillers

What’s it like to have lip fillers as a 40 year old for the first time? Beyond Beauty speaks to a patient and her practitioner to find out!

Jennifer is a woman who, at 43, had started noticing the signs of ageing. She was bothered by some of these changes and wanted to make subtle improvements to her appearance. “I know I am getting older with every birthday, but over the past couple of years, I have really started noticing changes to my face that I wasn’t expecting!” Jennifer shares. Specifically, she’s referring to her skin quality as well as the region around her mouth – known as the perioral area. “You see youthful celebrities who always just say their ageing secret is to drink loads of water, or perhaps give up dairy or sugar, or take supplements. I tried all of that and the changes continued! I was bothered by some of the small signs of ageing around my mouth such as my smile lines (clearly I smile too much!) and my skin had an uneven tone with discolouration. My main concern was that I felt my top lip was starting to disappear.” So what could be done about it? Jennifer and her aesthetic practitioner Dr Ifeoma Ejikeme, founder and medical director of the award-winning Adonia Medical Clinic, tell all…

An aesthetic consultation

Jennifer contacted Adonia Medical Clinic and arranged a virtual consultation – these are becoming increasingly common due to the coronavirus pandemic. “This was about 30 minutes in total and involved me detailing what my issues were and an explanation of the types of treatments that might be able to help me,” she explains, adding, “I sent lots of pictures of myself, which the clinic reviewed to help Dr Ejikeme create a treatment plan, and then I had another consultation to discuss this together.”

The first step was a skincare regime, which Jennifer received by mail, alongside another consultation on how to use the products. The Obagi New-Derm system was recommended to Jennifer to help her hyperpigmentation, enlarged pores and to strengthen her skin. Jennifer said it was more expensive than other skincare ranges she had tried before but found it to be a good investment because she did see improvements in her skin quality. “There was a lot of work involved and my skin had a bit of flaking around my mouth for a little while, but it was all fine once I got into a routine. After using this and seeing results I thought all of the high street brands I had been using previously were pretty useless,” she says.

Finding the perfect practitioner

Jennifer knew she wanted to do something about her ‘disappearing’ top lip but had no idea if anything could be done to help, or even where to start. She explains, “When I had more time due to the pandemic lockdowns I was able to do some research and, from what I gather, everyone is having treatments like fillers and pretending that they aren’t!” Jennifer’s research started online and on social media, where she discovered that an aesthetic practitioner might be able to help. One of her concerns about going to see a practitioner was that they wouldn’t have the expertise to treat her black skin and lips, so finding someone with experience in treating her darker skin type was a top priority. “After researching aesthetics online, I came across a website called The Black Skin Directory and found Dr Ejikeme. After seeing her social media posts about the types of treatments she offers, looking at her website and learning about her medical qualifications, I knew she was the one!” Although in the UK virtually anyone is legally allowed to inject dermal fillers, Jennifer thought it was best to go to a medical professional. “This medical qualification was really important to me and added a layer of reassurance that they would be able to help if anything did go wrong,” she says.

Before After

“From what I gather, everyone is having treatments like fillers and are all pretending that they aren’t!”

After her skin quality and hyperpigmentation improved over six weeks, the next step was a dermal filler treatment. Dr Ejikeme explained to Jennifer that the lip treatment involved the insertion of a soft hyaluronic acid dermal filler product called Juvéderm Volbella. Jennifer was a good candidate for this treatment because the filler would be able to restore the lips, bring hydration, fill her very fine lip lines, correct any asymmetry, and enhance the top lining of the lip. She also emphasised this was the treatment most suited to her key concerns. Dr Ejikeme said that the results would look natural and could be expected to last eight to 12 months.

After

The results

The treatment

hot foods for four hours, not to wear makeup or do intensive exercise and avoid touching the area for 24 hours to avoid infection. It’s important for those new to dermal filler treatment to know that the procedure can cause swelling. “My lips swelled up quite a lot – but I was told to put ice on, which helped. The next day they were still swollen, and I initially thought I had the awful trout pout and that it looked horrible! But when I got back in touch with the clinic I was reassured that this would go down after a few days and indeed it did,” says Jennifer, joking Like many people who have that there is benefit of mandatory never had dermal fillers, Jennifer face masks at the moment for experienced some anxiety before those getting lip fillers, as no one the procedure. “I had a genuine fear can see the swelling! of looking like a different person Before and after lip filler treatment. View shows overall improved hydration and definition to the border of the lips, while So what were the results like? or having really unnatural and fake the added volume provides a subtle rejuvenated appearance. Jennifer says, “I was really pleased results. We’ve all seen the trout pout – my filler results are very, very and I didn’t want that – I was looking subtle, and I like that – I’m really for something really subtle – I just wanted to roll back the clock, happy with the end result. From the experience I have had, I so my lips looked like they did before.” Dr Ejikeme assured would absolutely consider getting lip fillers again once they wear Jennifer that she has a natural ‘less is more’ approach and that off. Of course, this would involve a continued cost so is a big there was no pressure to even have the treatment. “Dr Ejikeme consideration if I get fillers again.” also talked me through the potential complications,” explains Dr Ejikeme says lip fillers at Adonia Medical Clinic usually cost Jennifer, adding, “It’s always a bit scary to hear the things that around £450, but this varies according to the clinic and the can go wrong, but it allowed me to weigh up whether to go amount of product used. Jennifer says that although she isn’t ahead or not. I decided that I trusted her medical expertise.” yet sure if she will get fillers again, she will continue with her Jennifer was told that dermal filler injection can be a bit skincare routine. “I really found this to be a good investment uncomfortable, so to help with any pain Dr Ejikeme applied because I definitely saw gradual results in my skin quality and anaesthetic to numb the area. Dr Ejikeme used a needle to inject hyperpigmentation.” the filler so that she could add definition to Jennifer’s vermilion border (the boundary between the lip and skin), as well as a blunt Advice to others thinking about lip fillers needle called a cannula, so she could reduce the amount of Jennifer says she would encourage others to try lip fillers if they swelling. “When the filler was injected, it hurt a bit, but it wasn’t are wanting to improve their signs of ageing. “Lip fillers turned out unbearable because I was numbed quite well. The feeling of well for me, so I would recommend treatment! I would also tell filler going in was quite strange, but Dr Ejikeme was very gentle,” other black women that there are black medical professionals Jennifer explains. A total of 0.7ml of dermal filler was injected into out there, and those who have experience treating dark skin, the lips to achieve this result. The procedure lasted 15 minutes who understand your needs, will treat you safely and won’t make and Jennifer was advised not to eat or drink for one hour, avoid you look unnatural!”

Dr Ifeoma Ejikeme,

aesthetic practitioner, London

IG: @dr_ifeoma_ejikeme

Practitioner perspective

This case is a good example of how hyaluronic acid dermal fillers can be used to achieve beautiful, natural results that can restore ageing lips to how they once were. My treatment strategy was to first strengthen Jennifer’s skin and address her skin quality issues for six weeks using high-quality skincare, before injecting hyaluronic acid dermal filler. I have found that this approach can really enhance the overall satisfaction of my patients. I think the treatment achieved all of Jennifer’s goals and the overall result is great. She has improved her asymmetry, refreshed her lips and enhanced her skin quality.