What to Expect From Lip Filler: A First Timer’s Guide
Even a straightforward lip filler treatment follows careful medical protocols. See how Dr. Mark Godley approaches patient care and what happens from consultation to follow up.
You have booked your first lip filler appointment, and now you are wondering what will happen when you arrive, how the injections will feel, and what your lips will look like when you leave.
For your first medical aesthetic treatment, it helps to know what to expect. Dr. Mark Godley and his team will guide you through each stage, from consultation to follow up.
Arriving at Godley Clinic
When you arrive, the first step is a little paperwork about your health, medications, allergies, and any cosmetic treatments you have had before.
After that you will sit down with Dr. Godley and talk about what you would like from your lip filler. He will take a look at your lips and how they fit with the rest of your face, then walk you through what he recommends, how much filler he would use, and where he would place it. You will have time to ask questions and make sure you feel comfortable with the plan before moving ahead.
Planning your arrival: For Vancouver appointments, allow extra time for downtown parking, use buzzer 3012, and take the elevator to Suite 202. In Abbotsford, parking is available near the building; take the elevator to Suite 250.
The Medical Side of Your Appointment
Because Dr. Godley is a medical doctor, your appointment may feel a little more like a medical visit than a typical cosmetic appointment. Dr. Godley and his team will ask detailed questions about your health to make sure treatment is appropriate for you and identify anything that needs to be considered. The team also follows careful safety protocols when preparing the treatment room, handling injectable products, cleaning the skin, and documenting your treatment.
These steps may add a little more time to your appointment, but they are an important part of making sure your treatment is performed safely.
Patient safety comes first! The Godley Clinic team completing CPR and Basic Life Support training as part of our commitment to a higher standard of care.
Which Filler will Dr. Godley use, and how much?
You may have heard of Juvéderm, Restylane, Teosyal, Revanesse, and Belotero. These are brands of hyaluronic acid filler, but each brand offers different formulations. Some are softer and more flexible, while others provide more structure.
Dr. Godley will recommend the product based on your lips and treatment plan, so you do not need to select a brand before arriving.
Lip filler is measured in millilitres rather than by the number of injections. One syringe commonly contains 1 mL, which is only about one fifth of a teaspoon. Many first time treatments use 1 mL or less (about the size of a blueberry), but the right amount varies. Dr. Godley will explain how much he recommends before treatment begins.
Getting Ready for Treatment (2-3 days before appointment)
Bruising and bleeding are possible with any injectable treatment, but Dr. Godley uses an anti bleeding and anti bruising protocol to significantly reduce both. It can never be completely guaranteed, but following the pre treatment guidelines and keeping you properly numb can help.
Dr. Godley prefers to use a nerve block for lip filler. Better pain control helps reduce muscle tensing and movement during the injections, which can lower the chance of bruising. The tradeoff is that a nerve block requires additional injections and can cause more swelling during the first few days.
Godley Clinic recommends the following steps to help minimize bruising and bleeding:
Arnica Tablets: Start taking Arnica tablets (if available, or we have them here). Obtain them from a health food store or pharmacy (call in advance). Take them three times a day for three days before and three days after the procedure.
Pineapple: Consider eating pineapple or taking bromelain supplements, known to decrease bruising.
Medication: Use only Tylenol for pain relief. Avoid nonsteroidal anti inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as Advil, Aspirin, Motrin, Aleve, etc.
Dietary Restrictions: Avoid meals high in garlic or turmeric. Refrain from consuming alcohol one to two days before and one to two days after the appointment.
Supplements and Vitamins: Avoid the following two to three days before and two to three days after the procedure: Vitamin E, Omega 3, multivitamins, St. John’s Wort, krill oil and fish oils, flaxseed oils, ginkgo, glucosamine, and ginseng.
Do not stop prescribed medication without first speaking with your doctor. These guidelines are not mandatory but are recommended to help minimize bruising and bleeding.
Getting Ready for Treatment (day of the appointment)
Try to limit caffeine on the day of your appointment. The nerve block contains a small amount of epinephrine, which can temporarily increase your heart rate and feel uncomfortable when combined with too much caffeine.
Once you are comfortable with the plan, photos will be taken so you and Dr. Godley can compare your results after your lips have healed.
Your lips will be cleaned, and a topical numbing cream is applied. The numbing cream can make your lips feel cold, heavy, or tingly. Many lip fillers also contain lidocaine, a local anesthetic that provides additional numbing during treatment.
It is completely normal to feel a few nerves before your first treatment. Dr. Godley will explain what is happening as he goes and make your comfort a priority. A nurse or patient advisor will also be present to bring you a glass of water, offer you a stress ball, or simply be someone to talk to during the appointment.
When you return for your next appointment, you will know what to expect, making the experience much more relaxed!
What Do Lip Filler Injections Feel Like?
You will feel a quick pinch followed by some pressure. The lips are a sensitive area, so certain injection points may feel sharper than others, but each injection is brief.
Dr. Godley will place the filler gradually, checking the shape and balance of your lips throughout the treatment. He may ask you to turn your head or make a natural expression so he can see your lips from different angles and observe how they move.
The injections take about 15 to 20 minutes. Once Dr. Godley is finished, your lips will be cleaned and you will have your first look in the mirror.
Your First Look in the Mirror
Have you seen the videos and photos of our patients standing in front of the mirror with Dr. Godley after their treatment? Now it’s your turn!
Here is the honest part: your lips can look comically large. This is temporary. Most people can return to work right away, although you might not feel ready to socialize or have photos taken. Many people feel more comfortable with how their lips look after two or three days, while visible swelling or bruising can last for a week. Give yourself at least a week before an important event.
Follow Up Care at Godley Clinic
Before you go home, Dr. Godley and his team will explain how to care for your lips, what is normal during recovery, and when you should contact the clinic.
At home, you will need to avoid strenuous exercise, alcohol, excessive heat, and pressure on your lips for the first 24 to 48 hours. Do not massage the area unless Dr. Godley has instructed you to.
If you have questions, you can text your patient advisor for support. You can also send photos if you are unsure about something, and the team will let you know if Dr. Godley should take a closer look.
About two weeks after your treatment, you will return for a follow up with Dr. Godley. By then, most of the swelling should have settled, giving him a clearer view of your results. He will examine your lips, check their shape and symmetry, and ask how you feel about the result.
When Should You Book Your Next Lip Filler Appointment?
Lip filler generally lasts between six and twelve months, but it fades gradually and may last longer for some people. You do not need to wait until it has completely disappeared before returning.
Your next appointment may require less product than your first, and there is no fixed schedule you need to follow. The right time to return depends on how your filler settles and when you feel ready to refresh the result.
Book your Lip Filler consultation
Trying medical aesthetics or lip filler for the first time is much easier when you know who will be with you before, during, and after treatment. At Godley Clinic, Dr. Godley performs your injections, a nurse or patient advisor is there to help you feel comfortable, and you can text the team if questions come up once you are home.
If you are ready to see what lip filler could look like for you, book a consultation at Godley Clinic in Vancouver or Abbotsford.
