Types of Lip Fillers: Complete Guide to Natural Results

Looking for fuller, more balanced, or smoother lips? You’ve come to the right place. To achieve the pout of your dreams, you need to understand the types of lip fillers and what makes each one different. With so many different products and brands, it’s easy to get confused.

In this post, we clarify it all: We’ll explain what lip fillers are, how they work, why hyaluronic acid fillers are the gold standard for lip augmentation, and the kinds of results you can expect from the big lip filler brands like Juvéderm and Restylane.

Whether you want subtle plumpness or a lusciously full pout, this guide will point you in the right direction.

What Are Lip Fillers?

Lip fillers are an injectable cosmetic treatment designed to add or bring back volume to the lips. Dermal fillers for the lips typically have a gel texture, which ensures flexibility and natural movement.

People choose to get lip fillers for a variety of reasons, including:

• Enhancing volume & definition: Fillers add fullness to naturally thin lips or lips that have lost some volume with age, also helping to redefine the lip border and the Cupid’s bow
• Correcting shape & balance: Lip fillers can also help correct a lack of balance, such as a thinner upper lip or asymmetry from one side of the lip to the other. 
• Combating signs of aging: As people age, their lips can shrink due to a natural decline in collagen, losing volume and definition. Fillers help restore this lost volume and minimize fine lines and wrinkles around the mouth

Achieving a desired lip shape or proportion can help improve a patient’s self-esteem and body image

There are a few different types of lip fillers on the market, but hyaluronic acid-based fillers are the only ones with broad approval for use in the lips.

Hyaluronic Acid Lip Fillers

Most modern lip fillers are based on cross‑linked hyaluronic acid (HA) gel with small amounts of anesthetic (usually lidocaine).

Hyaluronic Acid (HA) is a soft, gel-like sugar molecule that already occurs naturally in the human body. It plumps and hydrates the lips by attracting and holding onto water.

In fillers, the hyaluronic acid is “cross-linked” to form a gel. The filler’s texture and level of firmness will vary based on the cross-linking technique. This, combined with the different possible injection techniques, means that HA lip fillers are highly customizable.

Thanks to the hyaluronic acid, they also help to nourish the lips and maintain their hydration over time.

Hyaluronic acid lip fillers are reversible using a filler dissolver made of hyaluronidase. This can help remove lip filler completely or make adjustments.

Because the HA used in modern fillers is not made from animals, it is highly compatible with the body and generally does not require allergy testing. There are very few incidences of negative reactions to the HA itself, which is one of the reasons it has surpassed other filler ingredients in popularity.

Fillers range from very soft and pliant to very firm. For the lips, the best types of fillers are ones with either soft or medium-firm textures.

Understanding Lip Filler Brands

All lip filler brands, including Juvéderm, Restylane, RHA, Belotero, and more, can help you achieve results ranging from subtle to dramatic. Choosing a lip filler has less to do with the brand and more to do with the specific products within the brand’s portfolio.

Your provider’s experience with a specific brand or formula is the most important factor. If your injector usually uses certain lip filler brands, they’ve probably perfected their technique based on the specific properties of that filler.

Juvéderm vs. Restylane: Choosing the Right Lip Filler for You

The two main lip filler brands in the US are Juvéderm and Restylane. Both have large portfolios of fillers of varying textures, with multiple options that can suit the lips.

Juvéderm Lip Fillers

Juvéderm is owned by Allergan, the same company that created Botox. It’s considered the #1 filler brand in the USA, so it’s also the option many providers are most familiar with. Juvéderm fillers are known for having a very smooth texture and reliable performance.

• Juvéderm Ultra XC: This is one of the world’s most popular lip fillers, ideal for clients who want soft, pillowy lips. It creates a very full, plush look because it naturally draws in a lot of water to maximize volume.
• Juvéderm Ultra Plus XC: This is a thicker, firmer lip filler best suited for a more dramatic, high-definition look that holds its shape.
• Juvéderm Volbella: This soft, natural-looking lip filler provides subtle volume and silky hydration. It smooths the surface of the lips without significantly changing their size or shape.

You will probably prefer to get treated with Juvéderm if you’re already a member of its Allē rewards program.

Restylane Lip Fillers

Restylane is also an extremely popular dermal filler brand. It’s owned by Galderma, also the creators of Dysport. Galderma’s rewards program is called Aspire.

• Restylane: One of the original Restylane fillers, it provides firm structure and is excellent for adding a defined border to the edges of the lips, though it is known for being slightly less cohesive than newer Restylane fillers.
• Restylane Kysse: Designed for natural movement, this filler provides a soft, structured shape that stretches when you smile or talk without feeling stiff.
• Restylane Silk: A very thin, delicate filler with a low resistance to pressure, making it perfect for smoothing out fine “smoker’s lines” rather than adding bulk.

Other Types of Lip Fillers

Hyaluronic acid is the gold standard for lip fillers because of its safety, versatility, and reversibility. Other types of fillers are rarely used in the lips, and many that were used historically do not have FDA-approval and are no longer on the market at all. Here’s what you should know about them:

• Collagen fillers, made of bovine (cow-derived) collagen, were popular in the ‘80s and ‘90s, but because of a risk of allergic reactions and shorter longevity, they are no longer in use.
• Collagen and PMMA fillers like Bellafill are very long-lasting, but are only FDA-approved for acne scars and facial folds. Doctors caution against it in the lips due to the difficulty of removal and the risk of nodules or lumps.
• Calcium hydroxyapatite filler, like Radiesse, is extremely firm and non-dissolvable, so it should not be used in the lips.
• Poly-lactic acid (PLLA) fillers like Sculptra stimulate collagen production for rejuvenation with minimal volume. Sculptra is not FDA-approved for use in the lips, but some providers use it off-label to address perioral lines.
• Fat grafting is a surgical procedure that involves removing fat from one part of the body through liposuction and injecting it into the lips. The results are very long-lasting, but it is more intensive than non-surgical options like traditional lip filler.
• Silicone or Paraffin fillers are extremely outdated and unsafe. They were used up until the 80s, but negative reactions have made them largely obsolete, and none are approved for use in the United States these days.

Lip Filler vs. Lip Flip: Which Is Right for You?

There’s another option for enhancing the lips that doesn’t include filler: the Botox lip flip. This treatment uses Botox to relax muscles in the upper lip, which pushes it outwards. It adds balance if your lower lip is fuller than the top lip, and prevents the upper lip from stretching out and disappearing when you smile.

If you’re trying to decide between a Botox lip flip vs lip filler, here are the key differences:

• Filler adds volume to the top and bottom, while a lip flip just relaxes the top lip for subtle definition
• Lip filler costs more per treatment compared to a Botox lip flip
• Lip fillers typically last for up to a year (sometimes longer), while a lip flip typically lasts for up to 3 months
• Lip filler is often more customizable than a lip flip

Overall, both are excellent options. A lip flip is a great choice if you’re looking for something more subtle or you’re not ready to commit to long-lasting results, while filler is better if you’re seeking long-term volume and shaping.

Finally, you don’t actually have to choose — you can combine both for comprehensive lip augmentation. If you’ve never had cosmetic injections at SEV before, your first lip flip is free.

What to Expect During Your Lip Filler Procedure

Your lip filler appointment will probably be quicker and simpler than you expect. It’ll start with a consultation, during which your provider will identify the best type of filler and injection pattern for your aesthetic goals. This is your chance to ask your injector any questions you may have about fillers.

If you’re nervous about discomfort from the injection, your provider will offer numbing cream.

Then, after cleaning the area, the provider will begin injecting at the spots marked in advance, using either a needle or cannula. The injection process typically takes about 15 minutes.

Afterwards, your lips will probably be a little more swollen than expected — that’s totally normal, but may take up to 2 weeks to subside completely. At that point, you’ll be able to evaluate your final results.

Book Your Lip Filler Consultation at SEV

Navigating the world of lip fillers doesn’t have to be difficult, and you don’t need to go about it alone.

To recap, most modern lip fillers are made with hyaluronic acid, a safe, nourishing ingredient that offers endless customizability.

Lip fillers brands like industry-leading Juvéderm and Restylane offer many different types of lip fillers, from natural-looking options like Volbella to more robust ones like Ultra XC Plus.

To find the type of lip filler that’ll be best for you, take into account your personal preferences, but don’t forget to also consult with your nurse injector. The best results will come when you work with someone experienced, who takes the time to understand your desired look and your facial anatomy, to recommend the strategy that’s right for you.

Want to get started? Book a consultation at your nearest SEV location.