What about lip fillers? Are they really that good? No, don't get fillers. Absolutely do not. The reason these kinds of videos come out is that, hello, I am Dr. Seong, a plastic surgeon and the director of Atilli Plastic Surgery. 

When you search for lip fillers on the internet, you see various types of lips, like du lips or kyu lips. However, in reality, it doesn’t always turn out that way. To achieve that look, you would need to inject a considerable amount, and not every face is suitable for that style. Generally, it’s better for people with a larger jawline to get fillers, or for those whose lips are a bit thin, making their lips appear to take up a smaller proportion of their face. For such individuals, getting lip fillers can be quite attractive, as it makes them look much more vibrant than before, even when they are wearing makeup.

Lastly, when you draw the lips, it can enhance the overall appearance. However, for some individuals, particularly those with smaller jaws, adding lip fillers may cause the lips to stand out too much against the face, which might not be aesthetically pleasing. The reason for this can often be that some people wish to excessively enhance their lip fillers or request a Dew or Q lip style. While these styles can look lovely and charming when viewed in isolation, they may not harmonize well with the overall balance of the face. Typically, to create a fuller appearance for the upper and lower lips, we need to slightly lift the corners of the mouth and make the upper or lower lip plumper. This process requires injecting fillers at multiple sites, as the structure of the lips is quite complex.

When you ignore it a bit and put in an excessive amount of volume, you can end up with lips that appear somewhat flat and connected, like the lower lip or the ear lip. Some people need a lot of volume, especially as they age and the natural volume they had decreases, causing the lips to curl inward. In such cases, just filling with a lot of volume won't result in the ideal lip shape. So, it's not just about the quantity; the shape of the lips can change completely based on how well we understand and create according to the anatomical structure of the lips. Patients often ask, Doctor, which is better: domestic fillers or imported fillers, domestic Botox or imported Botox? There are actually many types of domestic and imported products available. And when it comes to the lips, we can use...

There are many types of fillers that can be divided within that category. Basically, rather than just the difference between imported fillers and domestic fillers, the types of fillers vary depending on how they are cross-linked. To put it simply, there are fillers that are somewhat fluid. These fluid fillers tend to clump together well, but they cannot provide a solid support, so they tend to flow and flatten easily. On the other hand, fillers with higher elasticity maintain their shape well and stay in place, but there is a slight chance that they may shift. Therefore, various characteristics are combined, and each company creates multiple lines of fillers. Even if a company has a filler with a specific name, they often differentiate them with numbers or categories such as soft, tight, volume, balance, and intense.

As the names are divided, they become more detailed. Depending on that, even within the same company, the type of filler used for the chin, the nose, and the lips, as well as fillers for fine wrinkles, can vary significantly. Many doctors combine their experiences with fillers in various ways. When we lift the nasolabial folds, we often use a firmer filler to support the deeper parts, while for shallower wrinkles, we might use a softer filler. In my case, for deeper nasolabial folds, I mix two types of fillers with different properties. Sometimes we use imported fillers, and sometimes we use domestic ones. When we touch the face, we can feel that some people have a firm texture while others are very soft. Even in the same area, the type of filler that can be used depends on the elasticity of the individual's skin.

The type of filler that can be injected into someone without elasticity or who has never had fillers before varies significantly. When comparing imported and domestic fillers, many people tend to think that domestic ones are cheaper. However, even among domestic fillers, the price range can be extremely diverse. So, just because it’s a domestic filler doesn’t mean it’s inexpensive. It is true that imported fillers are generally more expensive due to the import distribution process and the company's brand value, but domestic fillers can range from very cheap to very high-end. What I want to tell my patients is that whether you use imported or domestic fillers, you should avoid using fillers that are too cheap. This is because, when manufacturing pharmaceuticals and substances that enter the body, a clean process is essential. You may have seen many videos on YouTube advising against getting fillers altogether.

The reason why videos like this come out is that sometimes the practitioners do not have a good understanding of anatomical structures, or it could be that there is an exaggerated anxiety regarding the potential complications that can accompany any procedure. However, fundamentally, it often occurs when the filler itself is of poor quality. Therefore, if you haven't heard of a particular filler or if the price is too cheap, there is a high possibility that it contains impurities. These impurities can potentially lead to delayed immune responses, which can cause inflammation. For this reason, it is advisable to avoid using low-cost fillers. Well, depending on which area you want to treat, what your concerns are, what shape you desire, and how much you want to inject, as well as the level of improvement you are looking for, it varies.

During a consultation, the specialist can help determine the type and amount of filler that is right for you. Fillers are very delicate procedures, yet they provide immediate results. The changes can be seen right away, which is why I emphasize to my patients that we need to consider whether the desired amount of filler will harmonize with the overall balance of the face. Even if it looks good on the face, we must assess whether it is in a risky area and whether using filler is the best option or if another type of surgery would be better. Therefore, we should not underestimate the filler procedure. In the past, we often used fillers that did not dissolve well, but nowadays, we have access to fillers that dissolve cleanly. However, when injecting foreign substances into the body, it is crucial to have a lot of experience and a deep understanding of my own face.

After having a deep conversation with a director who can sufficiently understand the situation, it is important to receive counseling. This is crucial when it comes to fillers. All fillers are similar in that, once injected, there will be a small hole at the injection site. If that area is touched or manipulated, there is a possibility of inflammation or infection occurring within a day or two. 

Another point is that when we inject fillers, if there is external pressure applied before the shape settles, it can get compressed and lead to deformation. Therefore, it’s important to avoid excessive pressure or habits like frequently biting the lips. This is especially common among those who want filler treatments, as many of them have had lips that lacked volume and may have developed a habit of applying excessive force to their lips.

If you have any concerns about your lips after the filler procedure, it's common to feel a bit awkward or to notice your lips moving more than usual. Additionally, if you eat very spicy or irritating foods, your lips may swell. Therefore, it's best to avoid such foods after the filler treatment. In the early stages, if there is swelling or bruising, eating ice cream or something cold can help improve your condition more easily. 

Have your questions about lip fillers been answered? This has been Dr. Ko Ju-hyung from Atelier Surgery.

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