You booked the appointment. That was the hard part. Now you are on the schedule to get lip fillers in Houston, and the excitement is likely mixing with a tiny bit of nerves. That is totally normal. Everyone feels a little butterfly flutter in their stomach before their first visit. But here is the truth. The process is straightforward, quick, and safe when you know what to do.
At Healthy Beautiful Body, we treat this like a partnership. We handle the medical side, and you handle the prep.
The Stuff We Put in Your Lips
Before we talk about rules, let’s talk about the product. It helps to know what is going inside your skin. We use the JUVÉDERM® collection. You might have heard of it. It is the gold standard for a reason. These fillers are made of hyaluronic acid.
Hyaluronic acid sounds scientific, but it is actually a sugar that your body makes on its own. It lives in your skin and holds water. That is its main job. It keeps things hydrated and plump. Because your body already knows this material, the gel integrates smoothly with your own tissue. It does not feel hard or fake. It feels like you. We use this gel to add volume, fix uneven shapes, or smooth out vertical lines.
How You Help Us Get the Best Result
Preparation is the secret weapon for a great treatment. The main thing we want to avoid is bruising. The lips have a lot of blood vessels. If your blood is thin, you might bruise more easily. You can control this by watching what you eat and drink in the days before your visit.
1. 72 Hours Before You Arrive
Three days out, take a look at your medicine cabinet. You want to avoid things that act as blood thinners. When blood is thin, it does not clot as fast, which means a tiny poke can turn into a bruise. Unless a doctor told you that you have to take them for a health issue, pause these items:
- Aspirin
- Ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin)
- Vitamin E oil or supplements
- Fish Oil pills
- Gingko Biloba
- St. John’s Wort
2. 24 Hours Before You Arrive
This one is important. Do not drink alcohol the day before. A glass of wine might sound like a good way to relax, but it thins your blood just like aspirin does. Alcohol also dries out your skin. We want your body hydrated. Lip fillers treatment works best on healthy, hydrated tissue. Drink a lot of water instead.
3. The Morning Of
Eat a good breakfast or lunch. You do not need to fast. In fact, having food in your system keeps your blood sugar stable, so you do not feel lightheaded. Please wash your face well before you head over. We will clean your skin again, but arriving without heavy makeup on your lower face speeds things up.
Walking into Healthy Beautiful Body
Our clinic is at 2121 Sage Ste 385. When you get here, the vibe is professional but relaxed. You are not just a number to us. You will meet with a medical professional. Our team includes Doctors, Nurse Practitioners, and Registered Nurses who are all trained by Allergan. That is the company that makes the filler. We know these products inside and out.
1. The Chat
We start by talking. We need to hear your goals. Do you want a big Hollywood pout? Or do you just want to hydrate your lips so they look less wrinkled? Tell us. We will look at your face and pick the right JUVÉDERM® product for you. Some are thick for volume. Some are thin for subtle smoothing.
2. The Comfort Factor
Nobody likes pain. We get it. But we have ways to make this easy. The JUVÉDERM® gel has lidocaine mixed into it. Lidocaine is a numbing medicine. As we inject the filler, the area goes numb from the inside. It works fast. We can also put a numbing cream on top of your lips before we start. Most people describe the feeling as a quick pinch or a feeling of pressure. It is very manageable.
3. The Injection
The actual work is fast. We use a tiny needle to place the gel exactly where it needs to go. We might gently massage your lips to mold the shape perfectly. The whole thing usually takes about 30 minutes.
The Aftercare: What Happens Next?
You will look in the mirror and see big lips. They will look great, but they will be swollen. That is the first thing to know. The initial volume is mostly swelling.
1. The First Two Days
The first 48 hours are the healing phase. Your lips might feel tender. You might see some little red spots or bruises.
- Ice is your friend
Put an ice pack on your lips. Do not push down hard. Just let the cold reduce the swelling.
- Keep your head up
When you sleep, use an extra pillow. Keeping your head higher than your heart helps fluid drain away from your face.
- Stay cool
No saunas. No hot tubs. No hot yoga. Heat makes blood vessels get bigger, which makes swelling worse.
- Skip the gym
Take a rest day. Heavy exercise gets your heart pumping and raises your blood pressure. That can lead to more bruising.
2. Long Term
You need to be patient. It takes about two weeks for the filler to fully settle and soften. If you have a big event like a wedding, do not book your appointment for the day before. Give yourself two weeks of cushion time just in case you bruise.
The Full Face Approach
Lips are great, but they are just one part of your face. Sometimes, fixing just the lips can make other areas look different. We look at the whole picture.
We often suggest cheek and jawline fillers to balance things out. As we get older, our cheeks lose volume. They flatten out. By adding a little JUVÉDERM® Voluma to the cheeks, we can lift the skin. This lifts the lower face too. It is like a liquid facelift. We also do a lot of non-surgical facial contouring in Houston. This means using filler to shape the jaw or chin. A strong jawline makes the neck look better and frames your new lips.
And do not forget the wrinkles. A popular choice is the Botox and fillers treatment combo. We can do both in one visit. Filler adds volume where you lost it. Botox relaxes the muscles that make lines on your forehead or around your eyes. Doing both gives you a completely refreshed look.
Quick Summary
Here is the cheat sheet for your appointment:
- 3 Days Before
Stop taking aspirin, ibuprofen, and fish oil.
- 1 Day Before
Put down the wine glass. No alcohol.
- Arrival
Eat a meal and come with a clean face.
- The Procedure
It takes 30 mins. We use numbing cream.
- Recovery
Expect swelling. Ice gently. Sleep with head elevated.
- The No-No List
No gym and no extreme heat for 24 hours.
Your Next Step
You have the information. You know what to expect. The final thing to do is to make the call. Healthy Beautiful Body is prepared to assist you in achieving your objectives. Our products are safe and FDA approved, and our staff is very competent. We wish that you admire the reflection that you see in the mirror. Do not let nerves stop you. We are here to answer any other questions you have in your head.
Ready to get started? Call us at 713-993-6388 or come see us at 2121 Sage Ste 385, Houston, TX 77056. Let’s make it happen.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Will it look natural?
Yes. We are trained to enhance your features, not hide them. We start with a conservative amount. We can always add more later, but we want you to look like you.
2. How long do the results last?
It varies by person. Generally, JUVÉDERM® in the lips lasts about 9 to 12 months. Your body slowly breaks down the sugar gel over time.
3. Can I kiss my partner after?
You should wait 24 hours. Your lips will be tender and swollen. You want to avoid putting pressure on them while the filler settles into place.
4. What if I hate it?
This is rare, but good to know. Hyaluronic acid fillers are reversible. If there is a problem, we can use an enzyme eraser to dissolve the gel and bring your lips back to normal.