As someone who comes from a family with tiny lips, I've always wondered what it would be like to have a plumper pout. Over the years I've tried everything; balms, creams, lotions and potions but nothing provided a long-term solution. Could fillers be the answer?
Dr Jasmeet K Baxi Bsc, the director of NaturaSKIN specialises in non-surgical cosmetic procedures including botox and lip fillers. I visited her at Vanity Clinic in Barkingside, Essex to see how she could help my miniscule mouth.
After welcoming me into the treatment room, Dr Baxi assessed the shape and texture of my mouth and the surrounding skin before deciding the amount of filler to inject. For me, this is just 1ml.
"Any more than 1ml would make your lips too big," explained Dr Baxi. "If we make them too large immediately, you may find them uncomfortable. It's better to add a series of small micro-injections of filler over time and gradually build volume."
As fascinated as I am with Kylie Jenner's Insta-ready pout, I'm not sure I'm ready for anything on the same scale, so 1ml sounds ideal. The first step is cleaning the skin of makeup and numbing my mouth with topical cream for an hour in order to make the injections less painful.
As I wait, Dr Baxi explained the possible side effects of the treatment, including infection, swelling, possible bruising and rare but serious reactions such as necrosis and vascular compromise. Dr Baxi believes although dermal fillers are becoming popular, clients should have all the info to make informed choices.
Once sixty minutes are up and my lips are numb, it's time to inject my lipline with filler. The cream has done its job, dulling the sharpness of the needle to a hard pinch. It's uncomfortable, but bearable. The worst part is when Dr Baxi injects my Cupid's Bow and my eyes water involuntarily. She pauses to check I'm okay and I give her the nod to continue, keen to see the results.
In all, the injections along my lipline and into the body of the lip take just over half an hour. Dr Baxi also balances my mouth as there's a slight droop in one corner caused by sleeping on my side. I'm swollen and sore when I leave, which Dr Baxi assures me will settle over the next 24 hours. I'm not to touch my mouth for 6 hours and must be makeup-free for 12 hours after the treatment to cut the risk of infection.
The next day when the swelling subsides, I'm thrilled to see that my lips have developed the plumpness of hotel room pillows. And I don't mean Travelodge, this is Four Seasons standard pillow plumpness.
While I usually wear bright lip colour, today I'm happy to leave my lips bare except for lip salve. I feel celebrity-like as I catch the tube into the office; shades on, lips out. I'm doing my best to be inconspicuous but I'm convinced the entire carriage is admiring my new, bigger lips.
At work, nobody notices, which is a perfect since I wanted a natural-looking result. A couple of days later I meet a friend for dinner who notices my fuller pout, but assures me it's not OTT or Jenner-esque.
A whole week after the treatment, the swelling has disappeared and my lips, particularly the lip line, are defined and 3D-looking. Fillers last between 4-6 months and you can get top-ups if you're after a fuller look, but beware that bigger doesn't always mean better. Dr Baxi's assessment of the amount of filler for my lips was perfect; it always pays to trust a professional who has an objective eye about what will look good and what will be too much.
If you want to balance your features with a pout with punch, fillers could be the beauty must-have you're looking for.
Find out more at:
• www.naturaskin.co.uk