How to choose a lip filler provider: what to check and what to ask

Before you book lip filler, find out who will inject, what is in the syringe and what happens if something goes wrong. The FDA regulates dermal fillers as medical devices, and it advises you to work with a licensed health care provider who is experienced in injecting them and knows anatomy and how to manage complications.¹

Who may inject depends on your state. This guide covers what to check and what to ask. Whether to have filler at all is for you and a clinician.

Who will inject

The FDA's advice is a licensed provider who has experience in dermatology or plastic surgery and is trained to inject dermal fillers.¹ The plastic surgeons' society says an ideal med spa is run by a physician with specialized training, and to check the credentials of the medical director, the supervising physician and whoever treats you.³ That society prefers plastic surgeons, facial plastic surgeons and dermatologists, so weigh it accordingly.

It also says to make sure the person doing your procedure is named in advance, and that you aren't switched to someone else on the day.³ Our guide to who may inject shows how to look up a license in your state.

What's in the syringe

The FDA's tips are to use properly labeled, sealed vials or pre-filled syringes of FDA-approved filler, to request and read the patient labeling, and to know the type of product and where it will be injected.¹ FDA-approved fillers are for prescription use and are supplied for injection by a licensed professional.¹²

The FDA warns against buying lip or facial fillers sold directly to the public, which it says are not FDA-approved and may be contaminated with chemicals and infectious organisms.¹ It also warns against needle-free devices for injecting filler, which it says have caused serious injuries and, in some cases, permanent harm to the skin, lips or eyes.¹

The risks to ask about

Swelling and bruising are the most common, and they usually appear shortly after injection and many resolve in days to weeks. Sometimes side effects emerge weeks, months or years later.¹

The most serious risk is accidental injection into a blood vessel. The FDA says that can cause skin necrosis (death of tissue), stroke or blindness, and that while the chance is low, the complications can be serious and may be permanent.¹ Ask the clinic what it would do, and who you would call.

Filler can also be hard to take back. The FDA says you may need further injections, surgery or other procedures to reduce or remove it, that these have their own risks, and that for some materials it may be difficult or impossible.¹ Ask which filler would be used, and what the plan is if you don't like the result.

The visit and the price

A quality med spa offers a thorough consultation before treatment, covering your medical history, your goals and a plan, with the risks, expected results and costs set out. You should be asked to sign an informed consent form first.³ The society also says extremely low prices may mean lower-quality products or less experienced providers, and that a reputable med spa avoids hidden fees.³ See our lip filler cost guide for what clinics list per syringe. Before you leave, ask what to watch for and who to contact if something goes wrong, especially after hours.³

Lip filler isn't permanent. Some fillers are naturally absorbed over time, so you may need to repeat the procedure to keep the effect, and how long it lasts depends on the material and the area.²

At the med spas we list

1,617 of the 7,475 med spas we list offer lip filler, and 416 of them name their medical director. Here is what else they state.⁴

Three in four don't name one. Ask who supervises the injectors and how to reach them.⁴

Here is what to bring to a consultation.

Common questions

Not sure where to start?

Look at clinics in your state, or read what to ask first.

• Find a clinic near you
• Questions to ask before you book