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Aesthetic medicine · London

Lip fillers, by a Save Face registered injector.

Hyaluronic acid lip filler in London, placed by a doctor, dentist or advanced nurse prescriber on the Save Face and JCCP registers. Hyaluronidase on site, a written vascular occlusion protocol, and a direct number for 72 hours.

A stethoscope on a clinical desk

Indicative pricing

What lip filler costs in London.

In short

£280 to £650, results the same hour.

Treatment Indicative range
Consultation and full-face assessment £100 to £200 (often redeemable)
Lip filler, 0.5 mL (subtle definition) £280 to £450
Lip filler, 1.0 mL (volume and shape) £380 to £650
Combined lip and perioral filler £480 to £950
Hyaluronidase (Hyalase) dissolving or reversal £150 to £350
Vascular occlusion emergency reversal Included by most injectors

Prices vary by injector seniority, by clinic location, by product brand and by the volume you need. Consultation fees are often redeemable against your first appointment.

The problem

Most complications come from the wrong injector, not the wrong product.

The overfilled lip, the shelf above the vermillion border, the blue tinge and the rare but serious vascular occlusion, we see them all, and almost always from unregulated injectors.

  • How do I check my injector is safe?

    Save Face register, JCCP practitioner list, CQC-registered clinic, hyaluronidase on site, direct contact after the appointment. All non-negotiable.

  • What if I do not like the result?

    Hyaluronic acid filler can be dissolved with Hyalase in 24 to 48 hours. A good injector welcomes the conversation, and often includes it.

  • Which product suits my lip?

    Volbella, Kysse, Belotero Balance and RHA Kiss all behave differently. The choice is made after the assessment, not from a Google search.

Assessment

What a good lip filler consultation actually covers.

The brief you bring, the anatomy you have, and the plan you agree together, before any product is chosen.

  • Natural augmentation, not volume

    The commonest brief: a slightly fuller, better-defined lip that still looks like yours. Typically 0.5 to 0.7 mL, layered over two sessions.

  • Volumising and shape change

    A fuller, more sculpted look with visible projection. Usually 1 mL per session and a firmer product such as Juvederm Volift or Teoxane RHA 3.

  • Existing volume and asymmetry

    Baseline volume, upper-to-lower ratio and left-to-right symmetry are photographed and mapped before a single unit is injected.

  • Cupid's bow and philtrum definition

    Restoring a crisp cupid's bow and philtral columns often changes the face more than adding volume. A softer product like Belotero Balance sits well here.

  • Age-related lip changes

    Loss of vermillion, perioral lines, downturned corners and a lengthening upper lip are treated with a combined plan, not lip filler alone.

  • Previous filler or migration

    Old product, filler outside the vermillion border or a shelf on the upper lip is assessed carefully. Dissolving with Hyalase is often the first step before rebuilding.

  • Legal age and consent

    It is unlawful to inject dermal filler into anyone under 18 in England. Photo ID is checked at the consultation, without exception.

  • Red flags: active cold sore, pregnancy

    Active herpes simplex, pregnancy, breastfeeding, current infection or a history of anaphylaxis to lidocaine defer the treatment.

Products and technique

The premium hyaluronic acid brands, and how they are placed.

Every filler behaves a little differently. The right choice depends on the plane, the movement of your lip and the brief you agreed at consultation.

  • Juvederm Volbella, Volift and Vollure

    Vycross HA range. Volbella for subtle hydration and fine lines, Volift for balanced volume, Vollure for structured shape. Long-lasting, low swelling profile.

  • Restylane Kysse, Refyne and Defyne

    XpresHA and dynamic-support technology. Kysse is the flagship lip product for softness on movement. Refyne and Defyne suit perioral lines and corners.

  • Belotero Balance and Intense

    Cohesive Polydensified Matrix. Balance sits very superficially without Tyndall for lip lines and philtrum. Intense adds gentle volume with a natural feel.

  • Teoxane RHA Kiss and RHA 2 to 4

    Resilient hyaluronic acid designed for dynamic areas. RHA Kiss is a purpose-built lip product; RHA 2 to 4 step up in firmness for perioral and structural work.

  • Needle technique

    A 30G fine needle allows precise placement in the vermillion border, cupid's bow and philtral columns. Small aliquots, slow injection, minimal trauma.

  • Cannula technique

    A 25G or 27G blunt cannula through a single needle entry reduces the number of skin passes and, in trained hands, lowers the risk of intra-arterial injection.

  • Combination and layering

    A softer product in the body of the lip, a firmer product in the vermillion border, and a structural product in the philtrum. Layered over 2 to 4 sessions.

  • Hyaluronidase (Hyalase) reversal

    Enzyme injection that dissolves hyaluronic acid filler within 24 to 48 hours. Used for overfilled lips, migration, Tyndall effect and, urgently, for vascular occlusion.

Safety and adverse events

What can go wrong, honestly.

Bruising is common. Vascular occlusion is rare but serious, and time-critical. A medically trained injector with Hyalase on site is the single most important safety decision you make.

  • Bruising and swelling

    The commonest side effects. Swelling peaks at 24 to 48 hours and settles over 7 to 14 days. Bruising can last up to two weeks. Arnica, ice and avoiding alcohol help.

  • Vascular occlusion, rare but serious

    If filler enters the labial or superior labial artery, the tissue blanches and then becomes painful and mottled. Without prompt hyaluronidase within 24 to 48 hours it can progress to tissue necrosis.

  • Emergency protocol, in writing

    This is not optional.

  • Tyndall effect (blue tinge)

    A blue-grey discolouration if hyaluronic acid is placed too superficially. It is reversible with a small dose of hyaluronidase into the affected area.

  • Nodules and granuloma

    Small palpable lumps are common in the first two weeks and usually settle with massage. Persistent nodules, late inflammatory reactions and rare granulomas are treated with Hyalase and, occasionally, steroids.

  • Migration

    Product creeping above the vermillion border ("filler moustache") reflects overfilling, poor plane choice or repeated top-ups. Dissolving with Hyalase resets the anatomy before rebuilding.

  • Cold sore reactivation

    Injection can trigger herpes simplex in patients with a history of cold sores. Prophylactic aciclovir from 24 hours before the appointment is offered.

  • Untrained injectors are the biggest risk

    Most serious complications we see come from beauticians, unregulated pop-up clinics and social-media injectors with no medical training. Check the register before you book.

  • Red flags after the appointment

    Severe or delayed pain, blanching, mottled or dusky skin, blistering, or vision changes need a same-day call to your injector or attendance at an A&E with a clear account of what was injected.

Reading your treatment record

Your record in four parts. Keep it for the batch number.

Every appointment produces a written record. It is what any other clinician, including an emergency team, will need if they ever see you.

A London aesthetic doctor reviewing a lip filler treatment record

A quiet reminder

Keep a copy of the product and batch number in your phone.

If you ever need urgent care, this information matters more than the clinic\'s brand name.

  1. 01 Assessment

    Baseline photographs, symmetry and volume

    Your consultation record shows the pre-treatment photographs, upper-to-lower ratio, symmetry notes and the aesthetic brief you agreed together.

  2. 02 Product

    Brand, batch and volume injected

    The exact product used (for example, Juvederm Volbella, batch number, 0.5 mL), the plane of injection and whether needle or cannula was used.

  3. 03 Technique

    Sites, aliquots and technique

    A schematic of injection points, the amounts placed in the body, vermillion border, cupid's bow and philtrum, and any complications during the session.

  4. 04 Aftercare

    Aftercare, review and reversal plan

    Aftercare instructions, the two-week review date, when to consider a top-up, and the emergency plan if you notice pain, blanching or discolouration.

London providers

Cadogan ClinicCranley ClinicWaterhouse YoungEF MEDISPASarah CheneyDr Rita RakusCadogan ClinicCranley ClinicWaterhouse YoungEF MEDISPASarah CheneyDr Rita RakusCadogan ClinicCranley ClinicWaterhouse YoungEF MEDISPASarah CheneyDr Rita Rakus

Lip filler is a cosmetic treatment and is not covered by private medical insurance. Payment is direct to the clinic.

Frequently asked

Everything patients ask about lip fillers.

Quick answers on cost, safety, pain, longevity, vascular occlusion and dissolving.

  • How much does lip filler cost in London?

    Roughly £280 to £450 for 0.5 mL of a premium hyaluronic acid product, and £380 to £650 for 1.0 mL. Combined lip and perioral treatments run £480 to £950. Hyaluronidase to dissolve or reverse filler is £150 to £350.

  • How do I know my injector is safe?

    In the UK, look for a doctor, dentist or advanced nurse prescriber listed on the Save Face register and the JCCP practitioner list, working from a CQC-registered clinic. They should carry hyaluronidase on site, hold a written vascular occlusion protocol, and be reachable directly for at least 72 hours after your appointment.

  • Does it hurt?

    A strong topical anaesthetic is applied for 20 minutes before the injection, and modern hyaluronic acid fillers contain lidocaine. For fuller volume or work along the vermillion border, most injectors will also offer a dental block, which numbs the lip completely.

  • How long does lip filler last?

    Most premium hyaluronic acid lip fillers last 6 to 12 months. Kysse, Volbella and RHA Kiss tend to sit at the longer end. Metabolism, lip movement, exercise and sun exposure all shorten how long the result is visible. A top-up at 6 to 9 months is common.

  • What is vascular occlusion and why does it matter?

    Vascular occlusion is when filler enters or compresses the labial artery, cutting off blood supply to the lip. The tissue blanches, then develops delayed pain and a mottled dusky appearance. Without urgent injection of hyaluronidase within 24 to 48 hours it can progress to tissue necrosis and scarring. It is the reason your injector must be medically trained and carry Hyalase on site.

  • Can lip filler be dissolved if I do not like it?

    Yes. Hyaluronidase (Hyalase) is an enzyme that breaks down hyaluronic acid filler within 24 to 48 hours. It is used for overfilled lips, migration above the vermillion border, Tyndall effect and, urgently, for vascular occlusion. It costs £150 to £350 for elective dissolving and is included by most reputable injectors when reversal is needed for a complication.

Ready when you are

Introduced to a Save Face registered lip filler injector, within a working day.

No pressure, no upsell.

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