In this article we review information from the National Institutes of Health, the Food and Drug Administration, and other sources (see below) to explain how long hyaluronic acid lip fillers last. The main takeaway: needle-injected hyaluronic acid fillers can give you fuller lips that last 6-12 months after the initial treatment. (The needleless lip filler method–which the Food and Drug Administration has warned against–only lasts for approximately 3 months.) Read on to find out which injection methods last longer than others, which common HA fillers brand names last the longest (and why), and what hyaluronic acid is, anyways.

What Is Hyaluronic Acid?

Hyaluronic acid fillers are complex sugars that are naturally occurring in the human body. They play an important role in keeping the skin moisturized, in part because they can hold a lot of water. But the HA fillers injected into fine lines in the face or lips for cosmetic procedures are slightly different. They are chemically altered to keep the hyaluronic acid from breaking down quickly in the skin. (Without this process, the filler would get broken down in just a few days.) This is how the fillers are also different from serums or creams that contain hyaluronic acid.

Scientists believe HA fillers primarily add volume to your skin, which makes it good for filling in hollow lines on your face or plumping the lips. We need more evidence needed to see if HA fillers actually lead to new collagen production in the skin and within blood vessels. Other temporary fillers, like hydroxyapatite and poly-l-lactic acid, actually do lead to additional collagen fibers. (One study did find HA fillers led to more collagen production in the forearm.)

One fun fact? An old form of hyaluronic acid, known as hylaform, was derived from rooster combs. Yes, the floppy things on their heads. But now the majority of HA fillers are lab made and do not come from animals.

Injection Method: It Matters!

How long the lip filler lasts also depends on the injection method. The traditional way to get filler is to have it injected via needle by a medical provider into the treatment area.  Medical professionals can use a few different methods for lip injections, depending on what areas of the face they are treating and your desired final result. There two most common injection methods for lip augmentation are:

• Linear threading: Needle is injected in a linear pattern and filler is inserted as practitioner moves along the line.
  
  
• Depot or serial puncture: Large portion of filler injected in one spot.

There are needle-free devices to get hyaluronic acid into your lips and face, sometimes known as a hyaluronic pen. These devices use high pressure to force fillers into the body without a needle. However, the Food and Drug Administration in 2021 issued a safety warning against the use of needle-free devices for both consumers AND health care professionals. The FDA said the pens caused “serious injuries and in some cases, permanent harm to the skin, lips, or eyes.” In addition to the safety risks associated with these pens, the needle-free methods do not last as long, getting reabsorbed into the body after approximately 3 months.

The FDA went on to say that the pens “do not provide enough control over where the injected product is placed.” They also said dermal fillers like hyaluronic acid should only be obtained with a prescription from a medical professional, as “lip and facial filler products sold directly to consumers online may be contaminated with chemicals or infectious organisms.”

Lastly, the FDA recommends that you get lip fillers (or any dermal filler) from a “licensed health care provider who has experience in the fields of dermatology or plastic surgery and is trained to inject dermal fillers.” They also recommend that you request the “patient labeling information” for any injectable dermal fillers used by your health care provider.

Type of Filler Can Make a Difference Too

The two main brands of fillers used for plumper lips in the United States include Restylane and Juvederm. Generally, these gel-like substance will last at least 6 months, but Juvederm might last a bit longer. That’s because it has a higher concentration of hyaluronic acid, with 24 mg per mL, compared to Restylane’s 20 mg per mL. Each brand also recommends that providers use different amount of their filler.

It’s also possible that some patients break down hyaluronic acid faster than others. According to an interview by Self with Harvard Medical School professor and plastic surgeon Dr. Samuel Lin, metabolism might play a role in how long fillers last. Dr. Lin also noted that fillers with “larger particles” will tend to last longer, but injections in the lips typically require fillers with smaller particles, since the injections aren’t as deep and larger particles could make them look lumpy, giving you less natural-looking results.

If it is your first time getting injections, you will want to keep an eye out for any potential allergic reaction or side effects after your treatment. Your lip volume will be higher immediately after the procedure and your lips may possibly look swollen. Some common recommendations are to…

• Avoid massaging injected areas
  
• Refrain from strenuous physical activity for at least 6 hours after treatment
  
• Sleep with your head elevated for one night

Sources

• How Long Do Lip Fillers Last? Experts Explain the Longevity | SELF
• Do Not Use Needle-Free Devices for Injection of Dermal Fillers – FDA Safety Communication | FDA
• Dermal Filler Do’s and Don’ts for Wrinkles, Lips and More | FDA
• In vivo stimulation of de novo collagen production caused by cross-linked hyaluronic acid dermal filler injections in photodamaged human skin – PubMed (nih.gov)
• A review of dermal fillers in facial plastic surgery – PubMed (nih.gov)
• Injectable hyaluronic acid gel for soft tissue augmentation. A clinical and histological study – PubMed (nih.gov)
• Injection techniques for revolumization of the perioral region with hyaluronic acid – PubMed (nih.gov)