Lip Filler Guide — From Korean-Style Natural Lips to Checking Your Product Is Genuine

Who it suits / who it doesn't

Lip filler is a procedure in which hyaluronic acid gel is injected in small amounts into the lips and the area around the mouth to refine volume, definition and the shape of the lip corners. You see the change right away without surgery, and if you don't like it, it can be dissolved and reversed, so many first-timers choose it.

• People whose lips look thin or whose upper and lower lips are out of balance
• People whose lip border is blurry, so lip makeup doesn't sit well
• People whose lip corners droop and who are told they look angry or sad with a neutral face
• People who have lost lip volume with age and developed vertical lip lines
• People who want a natural change that looks like their own lips rather than a dramatic one

Korean-style lip looks — which shape do you want?

Even with the same lip filler, the result is completely different depending on where and in which direction it is placed. In Korea, there is a tendency to prefer natural volume that suits the whole face rather than very large lips. Showing your doctor a photo of the look you want makes communication much easier at the consultation.

Products used, pain and numbing

Lips move a lot and need to stay soft, so relatively soft, well-spreading hyaluronic acid fillers are mainly used. Many of the lip products used in Korea contain an anesthetic (lidocaine), so the area gradually goes numb while the injection is being done.

• First-timers often start with a small amount (around 0.5–1cc). The exact amount is decided by the doctor according to your lip size and the shape you want.
• Numbing cream is applied for 20–30 minutes before the procedure, and if you are sensitive to pain, a nerve block near the gum may be added.
• The lips are one of the most sensitive areas of the face, so the sting is stronger than in other areas, but most people describe it as tolerable.
• If you have ever been allergic to lidocaine, be sure to tell us beforehand. A product without an anesthetic can be used.

Procedure-day flow

1. 1
   Consultation (about 20–30 minutes)you decide on the style and amount with a mirror and photos. Your manager interprets.
2. 2
   Numbing cream (about 20–30 minutes)your lip makeup is removed and numbing cream is applied.
3. 3
   Genuine product checkthe product to be used is opened in front of you, and you confirm the product name and volume.
4. 4
   Procedure (about 15–20 minutes)the filler is placed little by little with a fine needle or cannula, checking left–right balance in the mirror along the way.
5. 5
   Finishing (about 15 minutes)after a cold compress, the shape and skin color are checked again and you receive aftercare instructions.

Swelling, bruising and longevity

The lips swell the most of all filler areas. Many people are surprised at how large they look for the first 2–3 days, but it is mostly swelling.

• Day of
  Volume is visible right away. Swelling rises from the evening, and injection marks may be visible.
• Days 1–3
  Swelling is at its worst. The upper and lower lips or left and right sides may look different in size. If bruising appears, it darkens during this time.
• Days 4–7
  Swelling goes down a lot and bruising fades enough to cover with a lip product. You may feel small lumps when you touch the lips.
• Weeks 1–2
  Most swelling is gone and the filler settles, getting close to the final shape. This is when we decide whether a touch-up is needed.

If you have a history of cold sores — please tell us beforehand

If you have had cold sores (herpes labialis) on the lips, the irritation of the injection may bring on blisters again within a few days after the procedure.

• If you have ever had lip blisters, be sure to tell us at the consultation. Depending on the doctor's judgment, a preventive antiviral medication may be prescribed before and after the procedure.
• If you have a blister or scab on your lips on the day, the rule is to postpone until it has fully healed. If your schedule is tight, please send photos of your lips before you leave for Korea.
• If a blister appears after the procedure, don't touch it and contact the clinic and your manager right away.

Sample trip schedules and flying

3 days, 2 nights (lips only)

• Day 1
  Arrive → consultation → procedure. In the evening, rest at your accommodation with a cold compress
• Day 2
  Light sightseeing is fine. Swelling may be at its largest, so a mask is comfortable.
• Day 3
  Check the shape and skin at the clinic before leaving, then fly home

5 days or more (if you want a touch-up)

• Day 1
  Consultation and procedure
• Days 2–4
  Sightseeing. Share photos of how the swelling changes with your manager
• Day 5 onwards
  Progress check at the clinic, and a small touch-up if needed

• Most people can fly the next day. Because of cabin pressure changes, your lips may feel slightly more swollen for a while.
• On the flight, drink plenty of water and avoid alcohol and salty food.
• If you have an important event such as a wedding or a photo shoot, it is safest to have the procedure at least 2 weeks before.

How to check it's genuine — see it with your own eyes

Filler is a product that goes inside your body, so seeing for yourself that it is genuine is essential. A proper clinic will not mind these requests.

1. Just before the procedure, ask for the product to be opened in front of you in its sealed packaging.
2. Check that the product name and volume (cc) match what you were told at the consultation.
3. Check the product information sticker (product name, lot number, expiry date) and ask to keep it.
4. For imported products, check that the Korean approval information is printed in Korean.
5. After the procedure, you can ask to see the empty syringe that was used.

Beware of overdoing volume, and how to reverse it

The most common regret with lip filler is having "too much put in." Lips that stick out too far, or filler that appears to spread above the upper lip (the so-called duck lips look), tends to happen when a large amount is injected at once or more is added repeatedly at short intervals.

• Starting with less, and adding more after 2 weeks once the swelling has gone down if it is not enough, is the safer approach.
• Check whether the amount is decided by looking at your whole-face proportions (balance with the nose and chin).
• If you don't like the result, it can be corrected by dissolving it with hyaluronidase (an enzyme that breaks down hyaluronic acid). This is usually decided after the swelling has gone down, and because allergy to the enzyme is rare but possible, it is done under the doctor's judgment.

Symptoms to report immediately

• The lips or surrounding skin turn pale white or blotchy purple
• Pain keeps getting worse
• Blisters or pus appear, or warmth and redness spread

Preparation and aftercare

Before

• If possible, from 1 week before, cut back on medicines and supplements that make you bruise easily, such as aspirin, anti-inflammatory painkillers, omega-3 and vitamin E (don't stop prescription medicine on your own; tell the doctor at the consultation).
• Avoid heavy drinking the day before, and bring a note of any previous lip procedures (product and timing).

After

• Apply a cold compress from time to time for the first 1–2 days, and keep your head slightly raised when sleeping.
• Don't press hard on or bite your lips, and be careful with kissing, using straws and hard or hot food for 2–3 days.
• Avoid alcohol and strenuous exercise for 2–3 days, and saunas, jjimjilbangs and hot baths for 1 week.
• Wait until the next day or later to wear lipstick or other lip makeup, and use a clean product once the injection marks have healed.
• It is best to postpone dental treatment or procedures that require opening your mouth wide for about 2 weeks.

Questions to ask at the consultation

1. Which product will be used, and how many cc? Does it contain an anesthetic?
2. Will the style I want (photo) suit my face?
3. Will the doctor perform the procedure personally?
4. If I need a touch-up after 2 weeks, what happens? Can I be checked before I leave Korea?
5. I have a history of cold sores. Do I need preventive medication?
6. If a problem occurs, can you deal with it right away with the dissolving enzyme?
7. If something is wrong after I go home, can I consult by photo?

What to look for in a clinic

• Whether the doctor personally looks at your whole face and handles the consultation and procedure
• Whether they are willing to suggest starting with less than you want (not recommending a large amount from the start)
• Whether they open the product in front of you and show you the product name, volume and sticker
• Whether they keep the dissolving enzyme on hand and explain how they handle emergencies
• Whether they speak foreign languages and review your progress by photo after you return home

KBEAU connects you with partner clinics in Gangnam and Apgujeong. If you send photos of your lips and of the style you want, we will tell you in advance whether filler suits you and roughly what schedule works best, and on the day a dedicated manager accompanies you to interpret and help check the product is genuine. We can also arrange accommodation near the clinic and an airport pickup car.