Lip service: all your lip injection questions answered.

My lips 24 hours after my first injection. Full but not too much and no swelling.

There are a lot of false assumptions when it comes to injectables and fillers. I get it. If you’ve never done it, all you can think of is guest starring in another season of Botched. None of us want to be that girl. Myself included.

I’ve been getting preventative injectables since I turned 30. Yes, that’s 12 years of needles. But, you must know there were some large gaps of nothing in between ranging from pregnancies to a pandemic. The key is finding someone you trust. I’ve now gone to four experts and the fourth was the charm. You should know that I’ve never had a bad experience. Ever. The closest thing I’ve ever had is just a tad too much Botox on one eyebrow but, like everything, it fades and there’s nothing wrong with being ultra expressive, right?!

I eventually found my home at Images Med Spa in Wilmette. It’s been three years now! They have five locations total and I’ve bounced around but Wilmette is the closest to my home. 15 minutes to get there, 5 minutes of treatment, 15 minutes to get home. That’s what I call a “lunch self-care express”! The only person I go to for the needle is Laine. You have to ask for her because she is an expert. I never have requests for her when I visit. She just knows what to do.

This is my lips approximately 8 minutes post injection. Numb but 100% manageable and I ran errands after.

This is my lips two weeks post injection. Subtle, a little fuller and less wrinkles.

I love wearing lipstick now!

I received a lot of questions after I posted about my first lip injection experience which was in July 2020 so I thought I would create a permanent post to help you ladies throw the other leg over the fence and finally take the plunge. I 100% guarantee you will love the experience from beginning to end.

Here are the most common questions I received over IG DM…

1. Who do you use for your injections? Laine exclusively and only at Images Med Spa. They are in the city and the burbs and the Medical Director and owner is my childhood dermatologist who has taught Laine everything. She continues her education year-round.

2. Did you use Juvederm on your lips? I sure did or I should say…she did. We used half a syringe.

3. Do your lips feel like you have filler I them? Is it strange? Not one bit! My lips have the same pillow-y texture as before. They are soft and supple; no visible ridges, either. I eat and drink just the same.

4. This looks so painful. Scale of 1-10 pain level? I would say it would rank as a “3”. A UTI or stitches rank at a “9” for me.

5. Do they numb you? If so, with what? Yes, Laine uses lidocaine which is a local anesthetic that numbs the area. It works by blocking nerve signals in your body similar to what the dentist uses. Usually we just gab for a few minutes while I numb.

6. What does post procedure look like? Were you swollen? I was swollen for about an hour and you can definitely use ice to bring the swelling down. They also recommend that you refrain from any acetaminophen a week leading up to the event because it causes bruising. I had minor bruising that I covered with lipstick. That week I was having neck pain so I was popping Advils. The second time I was injected I refrained and I had no bruising. I also recommend that you work out BEFORE your treatment because you need to refrain from heavy physical exertion for a minimum of 24 hours. Finally, stay away from lip products and sodium heavy foods to reduce swelling. All you need is a little Aquaphor on your lips for moisture.

7. How often do you touch them up? Similar to Botox, fillers and lip injectables should be touched up every three months or so. It really depends on your body and how quickly it breaks the product down. You use your lips a lot; some people metabolize the product quicker. So far, I am really happy with the end result!

8. How much does it cost? Everybody has different features, wrinkles and needs. It’s important to call Images and get a consult as I cannot quote individual procedures. Definitely trust a medical expert over any advice I could offer.

Okay, so now that you are ready to book you need a discount code, right? I got you covered! Book with code: JOGRANGE50 for $50 off your first treatment. Boom, done! Don’t forget Images offers a variety of services including hydra facials, virtual consults, BBL, PRP, facials and massage. You can start and end your journey in one spot.

Self care isn’t selfish, ladies. It’s about self love and you should always love the way you feel!