Everything you need to know to ensure your lip filler stays where you want it.
Lip filler migration is actually a very controversial subject in my industry. Cosmetic injectors across the country (if not the globe) have different theories on why lip filler migration occurs. I believe this is because lip filler migration can take place for a couple reasons: one of which is the fault of the injector and the other because of the actual property of filler and what happens to it over time. Unfortunately, most injectors do not know or aren’t willing to admit the latter risk to their patients. You’ll often hear injectors blaming each other instead of educating their patients about why lip filler migration may actually occur. Well, it’s time to clear up these misunderstandings.
What is lip filler migration?
If you are new to cosmetic injections you might not be aware of filler migration yet. So, what is it? Exactly as it sounds, lip filler migration is the process (whether it be slow or quick) of filler migrating away (usually north) of where it is meant to sit—think the dreaded “duck lips” or the “beak effect” of the upper lip. This triangular appearance from the profile is typically a telltale sign of filler migration. Technically speaking, any lip filler that moves above the vermilion border or filler that unintentionally migrates to another region is considered filler migration.
What causes lip filler migration?
Injection Placement
To understand why injection placement (AKA your injector’s technique) has such a big impact on the likelihood of filler migration, let’s lay down some base lip anatomy. Side note: For those who may not know, this type of subject is my favourite. Before becoming a cosmetic injector, I was a practicing Naturopathic Doctor and I totally geek out over antamony.
There are two areas of concern when it comes to lip filler migration: posterior of the lip that produces over projection (beak shape) or the white lip where you lose the definition of the vermillion border and get a round, shapeless top lip. Different injecting techniques put you more at risk to one over the other. For example, if a cannula is used, it’s more likely for over injection to migrate under the orbicularis oris muscle. If your injector is using a more superficial technique which is above the orbicularis oris muscle, this is close to the white lip and prime location to loose definition of the vermillion border.
Neither technique is wrong but do pose different risks. The harder we try to define a nice lip border that most patients desire, the more product is sitting right up against where the filler can migrate or spill over with time. It’s important to note that the natural movement of the mouth pushes filler away from the pink lip and towards the white lip inferior to the orbicularis oris muscle. Meaning, the older your filler, the more at risk you are for filler migration.
The Brand Matters
Everything has some impact when it comes to lip filler migration, even the type of filler being used. I am of the belief that not all lip filler brands are created equal—some tend to migrate more than others. While I trust more than one filler brand, I always look for similar qualities:
- It integrates into the tissue well and efficiently ( the spherical structure of its formula allows it to be accepted by the body)
- Uniform, spherical particles of cross-linked hyaluronic acid that are highly refined
- In-depth clinical studies that shows the filler brand causes less swelling
Though hard to prove (and though some injectors may disagree with me), after 5+ years of firsthand experience using different fillers and seeing how each product or brand ages, I am confident in my judgment of what makes a stable filler. I encourage you to do your own research and ask cosmetic injectors you are considering what brand they use and why they choose to trust it. Above all else, you need to be confident and comfortable with what is going into your body. Here is my Full Guide To Fillers on Vancouver Island, which outlines in more detail what products I trust and use.
Too Much Lip Filler
This has to be the most common reason I see patients experience lip filler migration. There are two ways you can find yourself with too much lip filler leading to lip filler migration: 1) Too much lip filler was injected too quickly with bad injecting technique or 2) You’ve been having lip filler for a number of years and the filler is slowly migrating due to the degrading properties.
Slow n’ Steady | For those of you who have read any of my content, you have heard me warn about getting too much filler too quickly countless times. I rarely allow any first time patients to receive more than a half syringe (0.6 ml) of lip filler during their first treatment for this season. Building your lip filler is a slower process but provides better, more natural results. When too much filler is injected at once, you risk the product “spilling over” and creating that unnatural, protruded appearance. Read How To Build Your Lip Filler Properly for all the deets.
Time to Dissolve | If you are noticing your lip filler is migrating north, giving a “duck lip” appearance or “filler folds” at the sides of your lips, lip filler reversal is more than likely your best solution. Many people don’t realize that the majority of their lip filler doesn’t dissolve in between treatments (this is the same reason we are able to build lip filler), which means over time you are building more volume that needs to go somewhere. It is more likely that lip filler migration occurs from overfilling the lips too quickly, but it can also happen over time. If you are noticing lip migration and have had more than six treatments in the last two years, it’s probably time to dissolve your old filler. Just because the lifespan of your filler can extend up to 10 years or more, doesn’t mean it is a good idea to leave it.
If you wait too long and continue to add more filler to define your lip’s border, it’s possible that the older filler will continue to push upward and create a cavity in the philtral zone. At that point even once the excess or aged filler is dissolved, new filler may continue to want to fill said cavity.
Whether you are a patient of mine or not, I am always available to help you dissolve your filler and help plan out the best treatment plan for you to get the results you wanted in the first place. This patient came to me upset that her lip filler migrated north of her upper lip. With her filler being quite new, it’s likely that the original injection placement by a previous injector wasn’t quite right; perhaps too much filler was injected too close or above the vermillion border. After dissolving the filler with a hyaluronidase enzyme (approximately a 10 minute treatment), this patient’s unwanted filler completely dissolved within 24 to 48 hours.
After dissolving, patients must wait a minimum of 14 days to get new filler. Any sooner and the enzyme may still be active and actually dissolve the new filler. Though it may be hard, be patient to avoid the unnecessary effort and expense of getting lip filler too soon after your lip filler reversal.
What do I do if my lip filler migrates?
First and foremost, stay calm and know that you have options. When lip filler migration is present, the golden rule is reversal. While a half syringe touch up may temporarily add desired definition, this is a short-term fix that could lead to bigger issues down the road. Speak to your cosmetic injector about options for dissolving the migrated filler. If the migration is minor, patients may choose to wait it out and allow the lip filler to naturally dissolve; however, there is a huge spectrum of how long lip filler lasts. Some individuals break down filler quickly, others hold on to it for years. If you find yourself in the latter category, you may need to expect filler reversal to be a part of your filler management to avoid overfilling or the complications that come with aged filler.
Although lip filler migration is not always the fault of the injector, be aware of cosmetic injector red flags before choosing how you’d like to proceed. Remember emotional and financial drivers will often leave you wanting to tweak instead of fix the issue. My promise as an injector is to always be honest with you on what I believe is best for future you. And sometimes that will mean you don’t like what you hear.
To put it simply, the more augmented the lip, the more likely you are to experience migration. Though I do my best to avoid lip migration through proper injecting techniques, never overfilling and educating my patients, I do not control all the variables (and neither do you). Time, the nature of lip augmentation and your body’s own natural processes, may lead you to need lip filler reversal.
To learn more about lip fillers, check out these related blogs:
How To Build Up Your Lip Filler
6 Things You Need To Know About Lip Filler
Botox & Filler Aftercare Bible
Bruising After Filler Injections
Lip Filler in Nanaimo, BC, Parksville, BC and Langley, BC
Book in your next lip filler treatment at one of my three locations: Elegance Sculpting in Parksville, BC; Xpose Salon in Nanaimo, BC; or if you’re on the mainland, Avenue 42 in Langley, BC. For my full schedule and availability at these locations, click here.
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