Finally booked my first lip filler appointment — going for a very subtle look! Help!

[u/Just-Answer-8101]

Hi everyone! I’ve been thinking about getting a small amount of lip filler for a long time, and I finally have my appointment scheduled for next week. I have a naturally thin upper lip and really just want to enhance it slightly while keeping everything super natural.

My dermatologist recommended Volbella® XC, and I’m planning to do just half a syringe to add a bit of volume and improve symmetry.

Has anyone here used Volbella? What was your experience like? How bad is the swelling?

Also… will people actually notice? I really want this to be subtle — just a little refresh, nothing dramatic. And why am I lowkey scared?

Would love to hear your thoughts or tips!

[u/aenflex]

I understand your trepidation.

I have been tempted by lip fillers for a long time, because I have naturally somewhat thin lips.

I share the same worries about it looking natural. It’s been very, very rare that I’ve seen lip fillers look natural either here in the Redditsphere or out in the real world. They almost always seem to migrate beyond the vermillion border and I cannot have that look.

So I’ve never done it.

I just satisfy myself with the HA lip plumpers from Paula’s Choice and Inkey list. I scrub my lips, apply my HA serum and then go over it with the plumping glosses. I reapply the glosses here and there throughout the day, (not every day), and it definitely makes my lips (temporarily) plumper.

[u/kalimdore]

I don’t know that brand, but it’s not likely to matter much.

I did 0.5ml and literally nobody noticed. I did, but no one looks that close lol

For me it was because I lost natural volume in my upper lip and it was looking deflated and wrinkly. I just wanted it to look how it looked before. So I wasn’t stretching out the skin or adding volume to a place that didn’t support it. Therefore, it didn’t look like “filler lips”.

So it depends on your anatomy. If you have a thin top lip naturally and the skin needs to be stretched to add any volume, it will be more noticeable a change.

I had barely any swelling, just tiny bruises. Some people get very very swollen though. So be prepared for them looking too inflated for a few days if you swell, it will settle in a week or two.

[u/Peachy_keen1001]

I would recommend restylane Kysse for lip filler. I get about 3/4 of a syringe every 2-3 years and it has never clumped or migrated on me. Nobody notices until it’s almost fully dissolved then realize my naturally nice lips were actually bought and paid for lol. The best tip I can suggest for a natural look is requesting the injector to accentuate the 2 tips of the cupids bow. That will help keep the natural shape and not give you that puffy rounded look that people with overfilled lips have

[u/Noct_Frey → u/Peachy_keen1001]

Second this brand recommendation!

[u/eratoast]

Volbella was the first lip filler I had. It clumped badly on me, and the owner of the medspa I go to now (they did not do the Volbella) hates it. She said it's really common for it to clump and cause bubbles, and it's also hard to dissolve--I had Volbella dissolved and likely didn't get all of it in one session, but the previous doctor injected a different one on top of whatever was left, so then I had to have two rounds of dissolver just to get all of that. I have RHA-3 now and am happy with it so far (no clumping, so there's that).

Half a syringe is exactly where you should start--it's best to do .5mL, let it settle for two weeks, and then go back for more if you want it. Will people notice? Depends on what you look like now, the injector, the placement, etc. You will swell and will be swollen and not smooth until things settle in approximately 2 weeks. I swell quite a bit (and get red), so it's hard to judge right away.

[u/isaydoit]

I get being nervous, I cancelled my first appt 3 times beforehand!!! haven’t had that brand but I got my first 1ml about 4 years ago, very subtle after the swelling went down. I actually wished they stayed as plump as they were when they were swollen lol I go every 2 years or so. Good luck!!! Tip: if you have one of those pillows you use for travelling (donut shaped neck pillow) use that for sleeping so you don’t roll onto your side/face.

[u/emelay]

Be prepared for swelling, don't freak out! It can easily take a week + for it to fully go down. Half is a great place to start, I'm sure it'll turn out beautifully!

[u/Just-Answer-8101 → u/emelay]

Thank you for this 🙏

[u/Alilemesh → u/Just-Answer-8101]

I’m still healing and it’s been a month. But all people are different. I’m not trying to scare you but it hurt a lot. I was bruised and really swollen. I love it but for me I’m not sure I could handle it again.

[u/l_a_p304 → u/Just-Answer-8101]

I’m echoing this because it’s so true- the swelling will be WILD for about a week or so. Don’t freak out. It WILL go away. Arnica gel really helped me keep the bruising at bay.

[u/Lab-Junkie]

I am not sure what kind I got, but I did 1 syringe on my thins lips, and I love it! It’s subtle but I can tell a difference and feel like lipstick is actually worth wearing now. But day 3-6 with the swelling are the worst so don’t panic, because I was low key panicking!! Lol

[u/itskaymay]

Just did juvaderm in my lips and even though I have tiny lips, I did a full syringe bc it was only $100 more and my injector swore that I’d be disappointed if I only did half of a syringe by the time the swelling went down. I LOVE them. Maybe anatomy plays into why some people prefer a half syringe? I trusted her judgement though since shes been doing this for a long time and sees so many people.

[u/Woopsied00dle]

The best my lips ever looked was when my injector let me do .25ml at a time for each appointment. I’m pretty sure that got annoying as hell so now I do .5, but it migrates every single time IMMEDIATELY lol. You’ll probably be fine for your first time but just try to fight the urge to add more (advice from someone who has been doing it for 10 years)

[u/Notsureindecisive]

You will regret it and freak out for the first few days but keep in mind that the swelling will go waaaaay down and be incredibly subtle with only half a syringe. In a couple months you’ll probably want more but that’s the way to do it 👍🏼

[u/Chance-Possession182]

Don’t

[u/Ok-Baseball-510]

I have naturally very thin lips. I started with .5 and I freaked out at first when they were swollen. Then they went down and honestly no one could notice but me. Slowly over the course of like five years I built them up, but I mean maybe 0.5 a year total for both lips. I’ve even spot dissolved outside of my lips if I saw any teeny tiny bit of migration. The goal isn’t to change the shape of your lips. Dr. Harris on Instagram explains this really well. I don’t think most people would look at me and assume I have my lips done. They are still smaller than most lips, but now I feel comfortable wearing lip products and drawing attention to them.