My Personal Lip Filler Nightmare
As an aesthetic doctor myself, you’d probably expect I’d always make the right cosmetic choices, wouldn’t you? Yet, I’ve personally experienced a disastrous lip filler outcome. Yes, even professionals can have their bad days or, in my case, bad decisions! Lip fillers can enhance beauty and reverse ageing, but only when done right.
Like many of you, I felt pressure to match the flawless aesthetic image often portrayed in our industry. Beautiful colleagues seemed effortlessly successful, and subconsciously, I thought fuller lips might boost my confidence, too. But nothing could prepare me for what came next.
Why Did I Even Consider Lip Fillers?
Honestly, my lips had never been an issue. I never obsessed over lipstick or lip liners. Still, as an advocate for preventative ageing treatments, I recognised subtle thinning in my lips over time. Curious about my own services, I decided to experience fillers first-hand.
My husband’s response? Unsupportive. He felt I didn’t need enhancement, and honestly, he was right. But my determination led me down a path I now regret. I attempted to inject my own fillers. Yes, I know! Never try this at home. Although the outcome wasn’t terrible, the experience was painful and difficult and left significant bruising.
Initially, my lips appeared decent enough. Even my husband grudgingly approved. But I knew they weren’t balanced. My top lip was noticeably smaller, and this unevenness bugged me. Determined to correct it professionally, I scheduled an appointment during a training event. A decision I’d later regret deeply.
The Turning Point: When My Lips Became a Nightmare
During a lunchtime session, I explained carefully I only needed 0.5ml for symmetry. Yet moments later, I found myself injected with 2ml of filler – four times the intended volume! Instantly, I knew something was wrong. My lips felt numb, swollen, and heavy. They no longer looked natural or elegant. Instead, I was greeted by the dreaded ‘trout pout’, a tell-tale sign of overfilled lips.
Arriving home, things worsened. My lips had doubled in size, swelling painfully, leaving me self-conscious and ashamed. Even my previously supportive husband was horrified. The discomfort, embarrassment, and regret haunted me. Masks during the pandemic provided temporary relief, but I dreaded facing anyone without one.
The Painful Path to Recovery
Determined to reverse this disaster, once they settled, I enlisted my reluctant husband’s help to dissolve the excess filler. Painstakingly and carefully, we addressed the unnatural spread, particularly at the lip borders. I didn’t want to completely reverse the filler but get to the result I had hoped for initially. Over several days, strategic injections helped return my lips to a shape that felt natural again. Slowly, my confidence returned, and with it came the freedom to wear lipstick proudly once more.
What I Learned from My Botched Lip Filler Experience
This personal catastrophe transformed how I approach aesthetic procedures. The techniques previously taught to me were contributing directly to unnatural results, focusing on volume over subtle enhancement. My experience led me to embrace Dr Steven Harris’ Non-Surgical Lip Lift Technique, which emphasises natural beauty rather than volume alone.
More than anything, this ordeal reinforced the value of truly listening to patients. Empathy, understanding, and professional integrity are non-negotiable elements in aesthetic medicine.
When I show my patients my before and afters, the photos don’t do my distress justice. They say ‘it doesn’t look bad’ or ‘they look ok’. This reinforces to me how photos are deceiving and not a true reflection of reality. The smaller the change visible in photos, the more natural the change will be in reality. The bigger the difference in the photos, the more likely they will experience migration and unnatural results in real life.
Why Fountain of Youth Prioritises Safety and Natural Beauty
At Fountain of Youth in Salisbury, Wiltshire, patient safety and natural aesthetics are my core values. Unlike my painful personal journey, I always prioritise comprehensive consultations and realistic, beautiful results. The practice is built around medically precise techniques, thorough training, and FDA-approved fillers.
I understand the pressures women face. My primary goal is always your comfort, confidence, and satisfaction, and never the exaggerated, unnatural look that once left me embarrassed and hiding behind masks.
Essential Lip Filler Safety Tips at Fountain of Youth
To ensure a positive outcome from lip fillers, here’s what I recommend:
Choose Experience Over Price
Always trust an experienced, medically trained injector over cheaper alternatives. Quality always outweighs cost when it comes to your health and appearance.
Choose the Right Practitioner
Choose a practitioner whose results align with what you want to achieve. Look through their before and afters (both fresh and healed results). Even then, a photo can be deceiving.
Insist on Clear Communication
Clarify exactly how much filler will be used, discuss your aesthetic goals thoroughly, and never hesitate to ask questions.
Know When to Stop
Less truly is more. Aim for subtle enhancement rather than dramatic change. I believe you should never start with more than 0.5ml to the lips in one session.
Your Beauty, Our Responsibility
My traumatic experience taught me invaluable lessons, making me deeply committed to your safety and confidence. At Fountain of Youth, I refuse to let you endure what I did. I offer gentle, expert guidance, prioritising natural beauty over exaggerated enhancements.Choose Fountain of Youth for compassionate care, medical expertise, and results that make you feel genuinely beautiful – because you deserve nothing less.