Lip hydration: plump, juicy lips without added volume

The result of lip hydration lasts between 4 and 6 months. Lightly cross-linked hyaluronic acid is resorbed faster than the hyaluronic acid used in a filler, which is why the usual schedule includes maintenance sessions. Factors such as smoking, sun exposure, metabolism or the prior degree of dehydration shorten that duration; the most suitable schedule for your case is estimated at the medical consultation.

Lip hydration uses low-density, lightly cross-linked hyaluronic acid in superficial microinjections into the mucosa: it improves plumpness, texture and radiance without increasing volume. Lip filler or augmentation uses highly cross-linked hyaluronic acid, which is denser and more structural, to add volume, projection and shape. They are complementary treatments: one works on the quality of the tissue and the other on its architecture.

Lip hydration is performed in a medical office and takes about 30 minutes. After the consultation and the NESAI® ultrasound analysis, the area is cleansed and disinfected, topical anesthesia is applied and superficial microinjections of hyaluronic acid are distributed across the lip mucosa and, where appropriate, the lip contour. Afterward you can go home and resume your usual activities the same day.

Lip hydration is a well-tolerated treatment. Topical anesthesia is applied before starting and the needles used are very fine, so most patients describe only small pinpricks or a mild stinging sensation. Because the microinjections are superficial, it is usually less uncomfortable than lip filler.

Lip hydration costs from €350 at Instituto de Benito, with the medical consultation and the NESAI® ultrasound included. The final price is adjusted according to the degree of dehydration, the amount and type of product needed, and whether a single session or a maintenance plan is proposed. The quote is finalized and explained before the treatment is carried out.

No, lip hydration does not add volume: that is not its purpose. By retaining water, hyaluronic acid can produce a very subtle improvement in lip turgor, but it does not add structural volume or change the shape. If you are looking for visibly fuller lips, the indicated treatment is lip augmentation.

Lip hydration has a very high safety profile when it is performed by a specialist doctor, after an individual consultation and with approved materials. Hyaluronic acid is a natural component of the body, biocompatible and resorbable. The prior NESAI® ultrasound analysis adds an extra level of control by making it possible to detect previous products before injecting.

The most common side effects of lip hydration are mild and temporary: redness, slight swelling, tenderness or small bruises at the injection points, which resolve within hours or a few days. Significant complications are exceptional; the prior medical consultation, knowledge of the anatomy and subsequent follow-up are the tools for preventing them and treating them early.

You can get back to normal life the same day as your lip hydration. It is recommended to avoid makeup on the lips for a few hours, as well as intense heat, saunas and high-intensity exercise for the first 24 hours.

Lip hydration is repeated every 4 to 6 months in most patients. For very dehydrated lips, the specialist may recommend a couple of sessions close together at the start, to restore the quality of the tissue, and then space them out as maintenance.

Yes, lip hydration is often combined with lip augmentation, with treatments for the perioral contour or with facial skin quality protocols. The combination and the order of the sessions are planned at the medical consultation.

It shouldn't be. The result sought with lip hydration is a better-looking lip, plumper and more radiant, with no change in shape or size. It is precisely the treatment chosen by those who want to improve their lips without any procedure being noticeable.

No. A lip balm acts only on the surface of the lip and its effect disappears when it is removed. Lip hydration is a medical treatment in which hyaluronic acid is injected into the mucosa and works from within for months. The cosmetic maintains the result; the medical treatment rehydrates the tissue.