Ask the Woman who just had Lip Augmentation

[BottledBlondJeanie]

I just got back from the doctor's office. I had Juvederm injected into mostly my upper lip, but some in my lower lip. As I understand it, Juvederm is a form of sugar acid similar to Restylane, but it is supposed to last longer. This is the third time I have had it done.

My lips have a great shape, but my top lip has always been thin. It gets thinner when I'm stressed or mad. It's passed down genetically from dad's side.

I have duck lips right now, but no one will be able to specifically tell in 2 days. It just looks nicely normal--no Angelina here. I get less than a syringeful which is the average amount. My SO loves it, but hates plastic surgery. This is different for him.

I do it to simply have normal but full lips. My job involves selling my appearance so it helps there, too. With the procedure I can get away with just pale gloss.

Despite my screenname and a short time overly focused on my appearance I'm not very fake. I'm even a real blonde--just have highlights. No botox and other than the lips everything is still real.

Effects will last about 6 to 8 months. Anyone considering it? Have a general question, or tell me how horrible it is? Shoot.

[nikonikosuru]

If it wears off in 6 to 8 months, where does all that injected sugar and stuff go? Is it just absorbed into your body or what?

[BottledBlondJeanie]

As I understand it the hyaluronic acid binds to water and then just degrades with time. It's already present in your body hence the lowered need for tests to determine allergic reactions. When it's gone my lips are exactly before the augmentation. Also, I loathe duck lips.

[Gruntled]

How much did this cost?

[congodwarf]

What do you do for work?

[Freudian Slit]

Does it hurt really bad? And do they give you an anesthetic beforehand?

[BottledBlondJeanie]

About $300 from a board certified dermatologist and plastic surgeon. But he cuts me a deal since he posts my before and after pics on his site. They just show my lips.

Typically it costs about $450 to $750 depending on the filler and amount used. There are spas that do this sort of thing, but they only require a license. Go to a real doctor specializing in plastic/cosmetic surgery with no state board actions.

[BottledBlondJeanie]

Originally Posted by congodwarf

What do you do for work?

. Lawwyer-specifically litigation. I bring many clients to the firm so I have to.look good for all that BS.

Freudian Slit local anesthetic injections just like at the dentist so no pain. It is sore now since the.numbness is gone, but it'll be fine by morning.

[Hunter Hawk]

Originally Posted by BottledBlondJeanie

he posts my before and after pics on his site. They just show my lips.

Can you post a link?

[Hunter Hawk]

Originally Posted by BottledBlondJeanie

Lawwyer-specifically litigation. I bring many clients to the firm so I have to.look good for all that BS.

(a) So can you count it as a business expense?
(b) How horrified should I be that appearance counts that much?

[moejoe]

Have you thought about doing other things now or in the future? Like maybe getting filler in other areas of your face?

Also do people every ask why your lips get smaller every 6-8 months?

[BottledBlondJeanie]

Originally Posted by Hunter Hawk

9
UCan you post a link?

I don't see my most recent lips, fall of 2009, on his site, but if all goes well then in two weeks he'll take the after shot, then post both. I still might just find some similar pictures though as I don't know how I feel about divulging my doctor. They are technically his pictures now so.I can't just post elsewhere.
I

[needscoffee]

Just take a quick pic and post it somewhere for us.

[toofs]

Have you given a blowjob with your new lips yet?

[BottledBlondJeanie]

I am laughing cause I stepped into this. This angle ends now but simply kissing is a bit beyond me right now due to the soreness not the filler.

I might someday consider botox again, but don't really need it. Fillers elewhere, no. My laugh lines are lovely.

[BigT]

Once your lips are full, is there anything you can't do? Do you stilll have complete feeling? Does stuff you used to do with your lips feel different? Do you talk funny? What do other people who know you think?

And, while I understand that BJs are off-limits, is it okay if you include kissing in those activities mentioned above? I would think that would be an activity that might actually be altered.

[Erdosain]

I'm trying to imagine this thought process:

"Hmm, which law firm should I choose? Balding guy or blond highlight lady? Wait, what are those? Lips so full... must give business... lips so full."

[Chefguy]

Nitpick: Angelina's lips are natural; they just look freakish.

[lindsaybluth]

So are you a lawyer, legal assistant, or an assistant? I'm genuinely curious, when you said what you did you implied the business, but not your role in it specifically.

[CalMeacham]

You wanna fat lip?

[corkboard]

I'm a little curious about the job as well (the career, not the BJ).

My job involves selling my appearance...

In the law firms where I've worked and those that I've engaged as my own counsel, it wouldn't matter to me one iota whether the litigator's lips were thin or full. I really can't see that as being a necessity to bring business to the firm, quite honestly. Come on, admit it- you did it for you, and it has nothing to do with your job, right?

If so, that's OK. Do whatever makes you feel good about yourself. I just find it a little disingenuous to claim it's to bring business to your firm.

[Ellen Cherry]

Moving thread from IMHO to MPSIMS.

[Vinyl Turnip]

Originally Posted by corkboard

In the law firms where I've worked and those that I've engaged as my own counsel, it wouldn't matter to me one iota whether the litigator's lips were thin or full.

One call to Pucker, Smooch & Smackem, and they'll know you mean business!

[DiosaBellissima]

OP, don't feel bad about the selling your appearance point-- I get it. Sure, we are hired for our skills, but it would be foolish to suggest that people don't make value judgments based on the appearance of the people they meet with. Is it fair? No, absolutely not. Does it happen every single time? No-- but it happens. The fact is, we still have to sell ourselves and our services, closing is always part of representation.

I did a little informal test once-- I kept track of how many closes I got with no makeup, medium makeup, and heavy makeup. For me, I would think that if you were hiring a tax representative (somewhere between an accountant and a lawyer), you'd want someone that. . . well, looks like an accountant. You know, less makeup, more serious, blah blah blah.

I don't have the numbers handy, but let me tell you- after a few months, it was abundantly clear that I do much, much, MUCH better closing when I have a shit ton of makeup on. I'm not talking black eye shadow or anything-- but false eyelashes, lip gloss, black eye liner, the works. I closed like, one sale without makeup, a few with a little, and a ton with a lot. This goes against everything I would have believed, but there's my experience. Now, this could be any number of factors- maybe I carry myself better more made up, blah blah blah- but for me there is definitely a correlation. Same thing goes for my hair-- if I have it teased up and done all cute, I have way more closes than if I just have it slicked back in a traditional, more "serious" pony tail.

[BottledBlondJeanie]

Originally Posted by corkboard

I'm a little curious about the job as well (the career, not the BJ).

In the law firms where I've worked and those that I've engaged as my own counsel, it wouldn't matter to me one iota whether the litigator's lips were thin or full. I really can't see that as being a necessity to bring business to the firm, quite honestly. Come on, admit it- you did it for you, and it has nothing to do with your job, right?

If so, that's OK. Do whatever makes you feel good about yourself. I just find it a little disingenuous to claim it's to bring business to your firm.

I don't dislike having it done, but I wouldn't spend my money that way if there wasn't a work benefit. I'm a lawyer, a partner in fact. I doubt I am in Rand's income range. I do insurance defense.

There's a lot of insurance defense lawyers. But I actually litigate and try cases. Even then, there's a lot of us. No one would ever choose me or my firm because of my lips, but to actuallly talk to and meet with important clients there has to be a reason for them to bother to talk to you.

There's also many young women who are stunning and lawyers used to lure clients. The problem is is you're inexperienced or not better than run-of-the-mill then if tghe client is a man there's some droolage and then on to the next real lawyer. If the client is a female and you're Ellie Mae she might gawk, laugh and move on.

But...if you're attractive, put together but not too threatening, all the male clients give you a c,hance to sell your skills, and the women I want to work for will come talk to you, find out if you're sharp and put on your permanent file "vapid" or "shark."

Looking slightly more pleasing to the eye is going to work for me for about another 3 to 4 years and then I'll need another angle. But I have chops, charisma and ability to move a file and that's why clients keep talking to me.

That's the way much of the business world works if it involves marketing.

In about a week my lips will feel just like mine again. The nerve endings all will feel normal. Kissing will be and feel normal. No one not close to me ever can tell or will guess I have done it. Other than my face is evened out it doesn't change anything other than I actually have an upper lip.

[BottledBlondJeanie]

Fork. Lots of editing I didn't get to do. Still not sure if I like this new Epic.

[Cat Fight]

Originally Posted by BottledBlondJeanie

I am laughing cause I stepped into this. This angle ends now but simply kissing is a bit beyond me right now due to the soreness not the filler.

I might someday consider botox again, but don't really need it. Fillers elewhere, no. My laugh lines are lovely.

If you're trying cases, I can't imagine complete facial freezing would work in your favor.

[Alice The Goon]

I'm not a big fan of facial and lip fillers- I find that they can make the face look completely unnatural and immobile. Do you have problems moving your lips when they're augmented? See Joan Rivers- totally immobile. And freaky-looking.

That said, there are studies that show that people think that people with thin upper lips are not trust-worthy. Do you notice any difference in how you are treated?

[lindsaybluth]

I have to say that I am all in favor of people augmenting as they see fit, rock on with your bad self. If it's tastefully done, it helps your appearance and it helps how you feel.

However...this thread definitely gives me the pain heebie jeebies and I don't think I'll ever be able to go through with stuff when I get older. Your face has little sensation for a week, and it's not because you were in an accident or got caught in the middle of an MMA showdown in the street? Sounds crazy to me. I see my mom going through it right now - she has great skin for someone 55, truly incredible, she looks 47ish despite the fact she smoked for a dozen years. But she sure could use that one forehead line filled in, and she has loads of money she just......has the pain heebie jeebies!

[Really Not All That Bright]

Well, that was unexpected. I work for a civil defense firm and I can think of few industries where it matters less what you look like. We're (well this office) in a good looking town, too.

[pbbth]

Originally Posted by BottledBlondJeanie

Looking slightly more pleasing to the eye is going to work for me for about another 3 to 4 years and then I'll need another angle. But I have chops, charisma and ability to move a file and that's why clients keep talking to me.

Have you given any thought to what your new angle will need to be in a few years? And will you still get your lips enhanced once you reach a point where you don't believe it is helping your career any longer?

[Doctor Who]

Originally Posted by Erdosain

I'm trying to imagine this thought process:

"Hmm, which law firm should I choose? Balding guy or blond highlight lady? Wait, what are those? Lips so full... must give business... lips so full."

I'll go on record as saying... yes, I am the target audience. Assuming equal qualifications and similar billable rates, I am going with the blond hot lip lady over the balding guy. Sorry balding guys.

[zoid]

Originally Posted by BottledBlondJeanie

I don't see my most recent lips, fall of 2009, on his site, but if all goes well then in two weeks he'll take the after shot, then post both. I still might just find some similar pictures though as I don't know how I feel about divulging my doctor. They are technically his pictures now so.I can't just post elsewhere.
I

It's been some time BottledBlondJeanie - how did it all turn out?

[Freudian Slit]

After having just seen the first episode of the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, I think the phrase "lip augmentation" is the most nausea inducing one I can think of.

[BigT]

Originally Posted by Doctor Who

I'll go on record as saying... yes, I am the target audience. Assuming equal qualifications and similar billable rates, I am going with the blond hot lip lady over the balding guy. Sorry balding guys.

Why not? She'd likely be more convincing, as she has a little biological help.

[Autolycus]

Forget the lips, I'm curious what you look like in general.

[rhubarbarin]

Originally Posted by Chefguy

Nitpick: Angelina's lips are natural; they just look freakish.

Untrue. No women 'naturally' goes from this (etc, etc, etc) to this after 12 years of aging and a weight loss of at least 20 lbs. As a young woman she had naturally plump but normal-looking lips (fuller on the bottom), then she started to get roles around age 19 and ever since has had various degrees of trout-pout.

[Nzinga, Seated]

Originally Posted by rhubarbarin

Untrue. No women 'naturally' goes from this (etc, etc, etc) to this after 12 years of aging and a weight loss of at least 20 lbs. As a young woman she had naturally plump but normal-looking lips (fuller on the bottom), then she started to get roles around age 19 and ever since has had various degrees of trout-pout.

I'm going to go ahead and disagree with you. I don't know why you point out 'normal lips, fuller on the bottom' first of all. Some lips are fuller on the bottom, some aren't, but in her case, she had some big lips, top and bottom in those younger pics. Now that she is older, I do not notice her with any trout pout. I always notice trout pout. It NEVER looks natural to me (I know, the natch looking ones are the ones I don't know are injections). All of those stars who have it always look like ducks to me and it is hilarious as hell. But Jolie and Scarlette Johanah have always had big and juicey lips that look natural. Jolie's younger pics look like she had full plump lips and her older pics look like her lips have the wrinkles of age, but are still lush. I could be wrong though. What the hell do I know.

[rhubarbarin]

If you can't see a huge difference in the shape of her mouth and size of her lips in the pics of her before she was famous - I sure can't blame you for disagreeing.

Here, she was only in her early 20s. I spend an unhealthy amount of time scrutinizing people's faces, so I stand by my convictions on this subject.

Megan Fox doesn't have really ugly, obviously fake lips either, but they are doubtless augmented as is the entire rest of her face IMO, those two pictures don't look like the same woman to me. It's hard to find any woman, no matter how young, who is having some sort of success in Hollywood and hasn't had surgery and procedures to enhance their looks.

[lisacurl]

I don't see any significant difference in those photos you posted, sorry. If Jolie has had her lips augmented, I want to be referred to her doctor because it looks very natural.

Also, Heather Locklear's plastic surgeon. She looks fantastic.

[luv2draw]

Seriously? You spent money doing this?

[Jenaroph]

Originally Posted by rhubarbarin

If you can't see a huge difference in the shape of her mouth and size of her lips in the pics of her before she was famous - I sure can't blame you for disagreeing.

I agree with you on Megan Fox, but really, the way bigger difference between the newer and older pics of Jolie is the nose job.

[BigT]

If anything, I thought Angelina Jolie's lips looked larger when she was with Billy Bob Thornton than they do now. I always specifically noticed her lips, thinking they made her look a little off, while, now, she looks perfectly normal.

[dukette71]

I have a questions about your lips:
Were they always thin, or did they thin with age? How old are you, if you do not mind telling. I ask because I am nearing 40 and starting to see my lips get thinner, which isn't the end of the world of course, but...you know.

[Really Not All That Bright]

Originally Posted by luv2draw

Seriously? You spent money doing this?

It's her money. Unless you've never spent a dime on anything frivolous, you're not in a position to judge (and for the record, I happen to think lip augmentation is pointless).

[Vinyl Turnip]

Yeah, not a fan. My wife ultimately finagled my acceptance of her boob job, which I didn't think she needed, but I'd have to put my foot down if it came to duck lips.

[ratatoskK]

What kind of litigation do you specialize in?

[lindsaybluth]

Vinyl Turnip, not to sound crass, but why would she want to augment her body if she's married to you and you're happy the way she was? I can't see.....why. I thought it was done by women to 1) please the man she's with or 2) to attract men in the future because she's single.

[Really Not All That Bright]

I was under the impression that cosmetic surgery was something women did "for themselves".

[lindsaybluth]

But to attract attention of the desired sex, right?