Lip fillers- Helen at the Cosmetic Skin Clinic (London) anyone?

[MethodinHerMadness]

Anyone had any experiences? I've had work done in the past with Dr Mountford- cheek fillers and tear troughs. It was great but I did have quite a lot of pain and redness for a week. I really want something done to my lips- I am 60 and they are very thin. Dr Mountford is booked up for months and she seems to be directing people to Helen.

How was your experience? I just want a very slight improvement- no trout pout! Did it hurt and how was the downtime and how long did it last? I can't be doing with going back every 4 months or so. My cheek fillers lasted over a year.

bump for the evening crowd

I get my lip fillers done in London (Harley Street) but not at your clinic.

It is a bit uncomfortable but I wouldn’t say painful. Quite bearable. To be frank, the numbing doesn’t really help so you will feel the needle and the massaging, but I wouldn’t say it hurts.

Downtime the first time I had them done was like a weekend (high bruising and swelling). However virtually no downtime with subsequent appointments - I could get them done on my lunch break and go back to work after if I wanted to. Minimal bruising and swelling. The only precautions you have to take are no makeup for the first day, avoid heavy massaging of the lips and extreme facial expressions soon after you get them done as you could move the filler.

On to the biggest negative - you will have to go for top ups fairly regularly at the start as your body will metabolise the filler. The more you get them done, the longer the filler lasts. When I first had the treatment, you couldn’t really notice and then all product dissolved within 3 months. Felt like it was a waste of money. However now I haven’t been to the clinic since July (!) and although most of the filler has gone, I can still see fillers in my lips. This time around I would say they lasted about 6 months.

I've been to Helen twice. She listened to what I wanted (natural, just to smooth out crinkles, not the blow-up-doll style pout that is fashionable with Kardashians and those on Geordie Shore.) She was lovely and I was very comfortable being treated by her.

They put numbing cream on so the injections do hurt but not terribly. It's more sore than botox but totally manageable.

I was quite swollen the day after (treatment was the evening before) but by 48 hours hence I just looked fresher/younger and the swelling had gone. I followed guidance on applying ice packs and didn't get any bruising.

Prices went up £100 in the 12 months between my treatments (was £350 for my most recent) but worth every penny.

Thank you both!

I guess the pain is not quite so bad as the cheek fillers. That was with Perlane (like Juvaderm) and has to be very deep to avoid lumps.

Yes I was quoted £250 last time I phoned, so it has gone up a lot.

I suppose I am a bit worried about lumps but it's a reputable clinic.

Oh one quick question. If your lips swell, how quickly does that happen? I'm going to be travelling by train and although i can do door to door in just over an hour I don't want to look dreadful!

I had mine done (not by Helen but not far from London by a consultant plastic surgeon who specialises in facial paralysis - mine was done for scar improvement).

Swelling started maybe a few hours later and into the next day or two. It hurt but was bearable. I didn’t have fillers as she prefers not to use them unless a patient is very anxious. I’m very very happy with my results.

Thanks. Did you mean you didn't have numbing - not fillers?

Whoops! Yes no numbing cream.

Swelling started pretty much immediately for me but it didn't look freakish - ever - and was at its peak after 12-14 hours