I Almost Got Lip Filler: Here’s What Changed My Mind

October 01, 2026 Hannah Hunt

I Almost Got Lip Filler: Here’s What Changed My Mind

Hi, my name is Hannah, and I’m a 21-year-old college student. Right after my birthday, I was seriously considering lip filler. I’ve always had pretty thin lips, and filler felt like the obvious fix.

Then I started researching it, and the more I learned, the less sure I was.

One of the first things that surprised me was learning that FDA-approved dermal fillers are only approved for adults 22 and older. I had no idea when I first started looking into it.

I also learned about possible side effects, including filler migration. Migration is a reported complication in which filler moves away from where it was originally injected. It’s considered a rare reported risk, but once I knew it was possible, I needed to understand what I was actually signing up for.

Most conversations about lip filler stop at the before-and-after photos. What rarely gets talked about is what filler actually does, what it doesn’t do, and what happens after the appointment is over.

Plenty of people love their results, and that’s great. But filler isn’t the only option. Topical lip care is another approach, although the two aren't really competing on the same terms. So it's worth seeing the full picture before you choose.

Lip Filler and Skincare Are Not The Same Thing

This was one of the biggest surprises for me.

Many lip fillers are made with hyaluronic acid, which I associated with skincare and hydration, so I assumed filler was basically a supercharged version of lip care.

It isn’t.

Dermal filler is injected into the tissue of the lips to physically add fullness and shape. Topical lip care is applied externally, but that doesn’t mean its benefits stop at the surface. Depending on the ingredients and formulation, skincare ingredients can penetrate into the skin and work in completely different ways.

I realized I wasn't really comparing two versions of the same thing. Filler basically adds physical volume to your lips. Skincare is actually taking care of your skin. The right topical products can actually do both.

Topical plumping can work through completely different mechanisms, and that was something I didn't understand until I started working at ABATURE, a natural skincare brand in Colorado where I currently have an internship.

Your lips have no oil glands. Most of your skin produces sebum that helps seal moisture in, but your lips don’t do that in the same way. The skin on your lips is only about 3 to 5 cell layers thick, compared with around 16 on the rest of your face. That's one reason lips can become dry and chapped so easily.

It's also why lip care is ongoing maintenance, not a one-time fix. Volume can be added in an afternoon with filler, but softness, smoothness, and healthy, hydrated lips are built gradually and have to be kept up because your lips don’t produce their own protective sebum like the rest of your face.

Understanding how lip dermatology works changed the whole comparison for me. Filler adds structure. Skincare takes care of the lip skin itself.

A perfectly shaped lip that's dry and peeling isn't a look anyone is going for. If you choose filler, adding good lip care shouldn’t just be a consideration.

What Filler Can Actually Involve

Filler is a cosmetic medical procedure, and like any procedure, it comes with possible side effects.

According to the FDA, common risks include swelling, bruising, redness, pain, tenderness, itching, and rash. Most side effects such as swelling and bruising happen shortly after injection and many resolve within days to weeks. Honestly, not so bad of a trade-off. Most cosmetic procedures come with a little downtime.

Less common risks can include infection, allergic reactions, inflammation, and nodules or granulomas that may require treatment. Some reactions can also appear weeks, months, or even years after an injection. Ugh, years later… I don’t know about that. Even though the risk is small, it’s something to consider carefully.

Then there are some of the risks I knew much less about.

Migration: The FDA lists movement of filler material away from the injection site as a rare reported risk.

Delayed inflammation or nodules: Swelling or redness near a filler site can sometimes develop following illnesses, infections, vaccinations, or dental procedures. Nodules or granulomas can also occur and may require treatment.

Accidental injection into a blood vessel: This is the most serious risk associated with dermal fillers, according to the FDA. Although the chances are low, filler entering a blood vessel can cause tissue death, vision problems including blindness, or stroke.

That last one also made me realize how important the provider is. The FDA recommends working with a licensed healthcare provider who is trained and experienced in injecting dermal fillers, understands facial anatomy, and knows how to recognize and manage complications.

Another thing I hadn't really considered was maintenance. Dermal fillers are temporary because their materials are absorbed by the body over time. That means you may need repeat procedures if you want to maintain the effect. How long the results last depends on the filler, where it is injected, and the individual.

And then there's the cost. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons lists the average cost of lip filler at $743. That's not necessarily a one-time expense if you want to maintain your results, so it was another part of the decision worth considering, especially for a college student!

Then there's the cumulative effect. Filler is easy to get and easy to keep getting. One thing I kept thinking about was how gradually your idea of “normal” can change. If I got filler now, would I still think that amount looked like enough a year from now? Would I want a little more the next time?

Maybe I wouldn't. But at 21, I wasn't sure that’s something I wanted to start.

Another thing I hadn't really thought about was what happens to your lip tissue after years of repeated injections. There’s research showing that scar-like tissue and other changes can develop after hyaluronic acid filler injections. That doesn't mean it happens to everyone, but it definitely gave me something else to think about. I was also surprised to learn that the FDA says the safety of repeatedly using dermal fillers over a long period of time hasn't been evaluated in a controlled clinical study.

What I Learned About Topical Plumping

This is where my internship completely changed the way I thought about lip plumpers.

Before working here, when I thought of a topical lip plumper, I thought of those products that sting or tingle and make your lips temporarily swell. They contain ingredients like cinnamon oil, capsaicin, cayenne pepper, and even bee venom to create that reaction. The tingling isn't proof that some amazing skincare process is happening. With these types of lip plumpers, the plumping effect comes from intentionally irritating the lips and creating an inflammatory response.

That's not good for you, or your skin.

When I use a good skincare product on my face, I don't expect it to burn so I know it's working. I simply want it to feel good on my skin. I might notice some benefits right away, like hydration and softness, while other things are happening over time that I can't actually “see” immediately. I just start to notice that my skin looks and feels healthier when I’m taking care of it.

That's the long game of skincare. Once I understood that, I realized that it doesn’t have to burn or sting to work.

ABATURE applied the same idea to lips and created their natural lip plumping serum. Instead of creating temporary swelling through irritation, the formula uses different skincare plumping mechanisms that work both immediately and over time.

When I started looking at the ingredients and the science behind it, I was surprised at how complex it was. There are really cool plant and marine ingredients with actives that can stimulate collagen fibers, increase your lip’s ability to store fat (lipid storage), encourage collagen synthesis, and add natural oils that mimic the skin's natural sebum.

Beta-glucan was especially interesting because I got to look at the clinical research behind it. The research showed that it can penetrate deeper into the skin, help prevent moisture loss, and provide immediate and long-term hydration. It's also been studied for its role in collagen production.

My Decision

For me, it became pretty simple. Filler could give me a much bigger and faster change, but filler also meant an appointment, needles, swelling, expense, maintenance, and risks that I personally wasn't sure I wanted to take.

A topical plumping serum gives me gradual results, daily hydration, and the freedom to stop anytime. In exchange, it asks for patience and consistency. It won't give you the volume a syringe does, but it also doesn't involve needles!

The more I researched, the more I realized I didn't actually want dramatically different lips.

I wanted my lips, just maybe a little bit fuller ;)

And I was okay with that happening gradually because it meant I didn’t have to take the risk of a serious procedure.

So I realized the question isn't which one is objectively better. It's which trade-off you'd rather make: a more dramatic, immediate result with the risks and maintenance of a cosmetic procedure, or a subtler, gradual result without injections.

Topical plumpers aren’t filler in a bottle, and I don't think they should pretend to be. It's a completely different approach, but for me, that makes a lot more sense right now. After researching for this article I felt like I had all the information I needed to make a decision that’s best for me.

I use ABATURE’s FATLIP plumping lip serum daily, once in the morning and once at night, and I love the results I’m getting. My lips are moisturized, no peeling, and no side effects. I LOVE the marshmallow scent (a little secret: it’s made with real vanilla), and it’s free lol! Well, only for me because I work there, but you can get it at ULTA!

xo
Hannah 💋

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