Have you got lip filler, but after the procedure, you noticed an unwanted shadow, darkness, or line above your upper lip? This common yet unfortunate problem, which is frequently referred to as a “Lip Filler Mustache,” can make the rest of your lip enhancements that look lovely superficially appear as if they are not your natural lips.
If your lip filler results weren’t as you had anticipated, don’t lose your temper. The positive aspect of this situation is that it is a condition that can be solved and avoided if you are injected by a skilled practitioner.
Find out what causes it, how to fix it quickly, and how to avoid it by reading the article. Aging lips? Why not revive them with subtle, natural enhancement and expert precision at Ethos Spa? Schedule your bespoke lip filler consultation now.
Overview: Lip Filler Mustache
A lip filler mustache is a term for a dusky or dark area above the upper lip that may result from dermal filler injections. Most of the time, this happens when the filler migrates or is placed incorrectly, thus producing a ledge-like effect above the vermillion border (the edge of the lip). The shadow may look like a light mustache, in particular, some lightings, thereby making it both very visible and annoying.
Why Do Lip Fillers Create a Shadow Above the Upper Lip?
Lip fillers may result in a shadow millimeter above the upper lip, due to factors such as injection technique, anatomical, and other causes.
According to our experience, overfilling the upper lip to a level that is more than what is necessary for your desired fullness can result in the excess filler material spreading outside the vermillion border.
As a result, a ledgey effect is formed above the lip that clearly casts a shadow looking like a mustache. Have you ever experienced that after getting too enthusiastic with the filler amounts, you ended up like this?
Moreover, injecting filler too superficially under the thin skin above your lip makes the material visible under the surface, thus contributing to shadowing. Dr. Soni, based on his observations, states that this situation takes place when:
- If the filler is placed too superficially under the thin skin above your lip
- It makes the filler visible under the surface, thus casting a shadow.
Thick or large, particle fillers in volume areas will almost certainly cause unevenness and lumpy textures. These textural irregularities can typify unnatural shadows above the lip, explains Dr. Soni. He adds that visible bumps formed due to dense fillers can cause dark shadows resulting in an evident line or mustache effect. Irregular shaping and shadowing are additionally aggravated by bad injection technique, for instance, if you have too much filler in one area.
What Causes the Migration of Lip Filler into the Mustache Area?
The mustache effect is when filler material moves into the philtral columns, which are the indentations between the upper lip and nose. This creates a shadowy, darker appearance that looks like a mustache.
Dr. Soni explains that the migration occurs when a large amount of filler is placed too high and superficially. The plumping pressure of adding volume where it is not needed pushes the material upwards. The facial muscles also influence the situation. The levator labii superioris muscle is the one that connects the upper lip to the nose.
When these and other muscles around the mouth contract, they can thus forcibly push filler into the mustache zone. Eventually, the filler that has migrated can become lumped together to form a line under the nostrils that is visible. Gravity can make the effect worse. While mild filler migration is usually gone after a few weeks, significant migration is difficult to get back.
Can Lip Filler Change the Color of Your Lips?
When done right and in the correct measure, lip filler should not essentially make the natural color of your lips change. But, Dr. Soni, however, points out that there are some temporary color changes that can occur:
- Bruising around the injections can cause a bluish or purple discoloration that fades within a week or two.
- Swelling immediately after the treatment may give the lips a lighter red color temporarily. Irritation and inflammation resulting from the injections can also make the lips somewhat reddened for the first few days.
Except for these temporary effects, lip filler in itself does not change the color or pigmentation of the lips. Any significant change in color would mean a condition such as vascular occlusion, but this is so rare that it happens to an experienced injector.
Can Lip Filler Change the Shape of My Lips?
Absolutely a dermal filler that is placed correctly can surely alter the shape of your lips. One of the goals of lip filler is to transform the lips to a more visually pleasing, symmetrical appearance.
Dr. Soni states that the extent of the change in shape is influenced by:
- Amount of filler injected
- Injection sites and technique
- Filler type and thickness
- Your initial lip shape and structure
With a limited amount of filler, you might get a faint enhancement and normalization of your natural lip shape. However, a skilled professional can use lip fillers to alter the size and shape of the lips to a great extent.
The accuracy of the provider’s injection and the artistic eye are what lead to lovely, natural-looking results.
Can Lip Fillers Fix Uneven Lips Without Creating a Filler Mustache?
Lip fillers are capable of correcting uneven lips without the creation of a filler mustache, which can be achieved by using precise injection techniques along with correct placement.
Uneven lips occur very frequently and can be a consequence of heredity, aging, muscle activity, trauma, or other factors. While a slight asymmetry may be regarded as normal, a significant one may, however, severely impact a person’s self, confidence and even functions.
Lip fillers that contain hyaluronic acid are generally the solution for adding volume and fullness to the areas that lack them. Thus, uneven lips get balanced.
Precise, strategic injection techniques make it possible to change the shape and proportions of one side to match the other in small increments. If done by a professional, this can result in a fair lip enhancement without a dramatic increase in overall volume or fullness.
Nevertheless, the incorrect placement of a filler is associated with the possibility of having lumps, bumps, migration, and a shadow or line above the lip resembling a mustache. This is usually due to injecting too superficially in the upper lip or overfilling the central part.
To avoid a mustache shadow, specialists such as Dr. Soni suggest:
- Going down deeper into the lip tissue rather than just under the skin.
- Steering clear of the middle upper lip and concentrating on the outer edges/vermillion border
- Employing small doses of filler
- Massaging extensively after injection
- Getting the treatment done by a professional, highly skilled injector
Will It Go Away with Time?
A mustache caused by filler material that has migrated from a lip filler typically will not fully go away on its own and may require some type of corrective treatment, says Dr. Soni.
The filler slowly goes away as your body metabolizes it. You might see a slight improvement in the faint mustache area over several months as the product gradually decreases. However, a completely natural resolution is often too long.
Corrective Treatments: In case of substantial filler migration and mustache shadowing, Dr. Soni generally recommends corrective treatments to speed removal:
- Hyaluronidase injections can actively break down hyaluronic acid fillers such as Juvederm or Restylane, which are common in most procedures. This helps the migrated filler to be eliminated faster.
- Alam et al. clinical trial found that small doses of hyaluronidase (1.5, 9 units) could remove small quantities of hyaluronic acid filler effectively and safely without removing the entire implant.
- Thus, minor asymmetries after filler injection can be easily fixed over multiple sessions.
- Usually, several dissolving sessions are needed to completely get rid of the mustache shadow.
Conclusion
A mustache caused by lip filler is a situation that can be changed and avoided; it is not a problem that lasts forever. A quick assessment and professional intervention can bring back not only the function but also the aesthetics of the lips. Delight your lips with a youth, giving, subtle, and expertly guided treatment. Reserve your lip filler appointment at Ethos Spa now.
FAQs
What is a lip filler mustache?
A lip filler mustache is a dark shadow or line above the upper lip caused by migrated or poorly placed filler.
What causes a shadow above the upper lip after fillers?
It is usually caused by overfilling, superficial injection, filler migration, or incorrect technique near the vermillion border.
Can a lip filler mustache go away on its own?
Mild cases may fade slowly, but most require professional correction as migrated filler rarely resolves completely without treatment.
How can a lip filler mustache be fixed quickly?
Hyaluronidase injections dissolve migrated hyaluronic acid filler safely, helping restore a natural lip appearance faster.
How can I prevent getting a lip filler mustache?
Choose an experienced injector, use small filler amounts, ensure deep placement, and avoid overfilling the upper lip area.
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