LIP FILLERS
Medically led lip filler in Cardiff. Bespoke results, advanced techniques, premium products — however you want to shape them, love them.
LIP FILLER - YOU, BUT BETTER
Lip fillers are one of the most requested treatments at Sebastian Rose Medical Aesthetics Cardiff — and in 2025 and 2026, everything has changed. The overfilled, obvious pout is finished. Today it is about precision, proportion and personalisation. Natural results that complement your face, restore what time has taken, or create the lips you have always wanted — in a way nobody can tell isn't yours.
30 min
From 140 British pounds
WHAT IS LIP FILLER?
Lip filler is a hyaluronic acid dermal filler — a sugar protein found naturally in the skin. When injected, each molecule attracts up to 1000 times its own weight in water, providing immediate plumping, hydration and definition. The filler integrates with your lip tissue, moving naturally with your expressions and feeling completely soft to the touch.
All lip fillers used at Sebastian Rose contain lidocaine, a numbing agent, for a comfortable treatment experience.
Treatment takes approximately 30 minutes including pre-treatment discussion and numbing.
The actual injection time is 5–10 minutes.
Results are immediate, with full final results visible once any initial swelling has settled — typically within 10–14 days.
TECHNIQUES & STYLES - WHAT'S TRENDING IN 2026
And what should never be trending at all
A Complete Guide to Lip Filler Technique Names — And What to Ignore
If you have spent any time on TikTok or Instagram researching lip fillers, you will have encountered a bewildering list of named techniques — and at least one that should come with a health warning. Here is an honest, medically informed breakdown of what these names actually mean, which are legitimate approaches to great results, and which ones are dangerous social media trends dressed up as innovation.
The technique used depends entirely on your lips, your anatomy and what you want to achieve. No single technique is right for everyone, and a skilled practitioner will assess which approach — or combination of approaches — is right for you.
Russian Lips
The most requested technique of recent years. Filler is injected vertically rather than horizontally, lifting the lip upward rather than outward and enhancing the cupid's bow for a heart-shaped, doll-like pout with height rather than projection. Refined variations of this technique now prioritise natural lift over dramatic volume.
Natural Enhancement
The dominant trend in 2025 and 2026. Subtle, precise placement that adds hydration, definition and gentle volume while looking completely undetectable. The goal is lips that look like yours, only better.
Lip Contouring
Strategic filler placement to define the cupid's bow, sharpen lip borders and add sculpted definition without adding significant volume. Perfect for those who want shape rather than size.
Cherry Lips
Inspired by Korean aesthetics, this technique creates soft central volume that tapers gently toward the corners, giving a delicate, youthful pout with a naturally upturned appearance.
Microdosing — aka 'Building' the Lips
Gradual, session-based enhancement using smaller amounts of filler across multiple visits. Ideal for first-timers, those who want to build slowly, or anyone who prefers full control over their result.
Lip Flip
Not a filler technique, but worth mentioning. A small amount of Botox is placed in the upper lip muscle to cause the lip to roll slightly outward, giving the appearance of more volume without adding filler. A good option for those wanting a subtle result or who aren't ready for filler. We also offer this service.
Swedish Lips
One of the most searched techniques of 2025. Originating from Scandinavian injectors, the Swedish approach prioritises a completely flat vermillion border with no visible ridge or shelf, using microdroplet placement to blend filler seamlessly into the surrounding tissue. The result is soft, natural and utterly undetectable — and exactly right for where lip trends are in 2025 and 2026.
Sweetheart Lips
Gently rounded edges with a slight upward curve at the corners and soft central volume. A sweet, youthful result for patients who want subtle enhancement without structure or drama.
Keyhole Lips
Creates a small natural gap between the lips in a resting position, giving an open, playful effect. Works best for those who already have natural fullness to work with.
Pillowy Lips
Smooth, cushiony volume concentrated in the body of the lip for a glossy, hydrated look — the aesthetic associated with the understated fullness seen on Sofia Richie and Sydney Sweeney.
M-Shaped / Cupid's Bow Lips
Precise filler placement that defines and lifts the peaks of the cupid's bow for a structured, feminine upper lip. Sometimes called Mazda Lips when a subtle central dip is incorporated for additional definition.
Barbie Lips
Symmetrically full volume distributed evenly across the entire lip for a bold, glamorous pout. Less in demand in 2025 as natural-first aesthetics dominate — but still requested, and still something we can do beautifully when it suits your anatomy and your goals.
A Note on Technique Names
None of the above are proprietary techniques with fixed medical definitions. They are descriptive terms that help practitioners and patients discuss shape goals. In practice, most great lip results use a combination of approaches tailored to your individual anatomy — and any experienced medical injector can achieve any of these outcomes using standard hyaluronic acid filler and the right technique for your lips.
Butterfly Lips — And Why You Should Walk Away
The Butterfly Lips trend has spread rapidly on social media, with influencers and unregulated practitioners claiming it delivers uniquely dramatic results by dissolving existing filler and refilling the lips in the same appointment, held in shape afterwards with butterfly stitches or surgical tape. Both claims are medically incorrect, and the technique as promoted online carries serious, documented risks.
The dissolve-and-refill-in-one-session claim This is not how hyaluronidase works. Hyaluronidase is an enzyme that breaks down hyaluronic acid filler — but once injected, the tissue is acutely inflamed and entirely unsettled. Clinical guidance across the medical aesthetics profession is consistent: a minimum of two weeks must pass after dissolution before new filler is safely placed. Injecting filler into freshly dissolved tissue produces unpredictable results, increases the risk of vascular complications, and means the practitioner is working without any reliable anatomical baseline. The claim that dissolving and refilling in one sitting produces superior results is not supported by evidence. It is a marketing statement.
More critically, hyaluronidase is a prescription-only medicine in the UK. It is illegal for non-medically qualified practitioners to obtain or administer it. Many of those promoting the Butterfly Lips technique are not medically qualified. In those hands, patients may be receiving fake or unregulated product, administered without the clinical knowledge required to manage what can go wrong — and what can go wrong is serious. Hyaluronidase carries a real risk of anaphylactic reaction, a potentially life-threatening emergency requiring immediate medical management. Standard clinical protocol requires a patch test 24 to 48 hours before treatment. A same-session dissolve-and-refill makes even this basic precaution impossible.
The butterfly stitches and tape claim Applying steri-strips or surgical tape to the lips after filler with the claim that it prevents migration or holds the shape in place has no clinical basis whatsoever. Filler cannot be moulded, shaped or constrained by anything applied to the surface of the skin. Migration risk is determined by product choice, injection depth, technique and volume — not by tape. What taping can do is cause pressure sores, dry out the oral mucosa, and — critically — mask the early warning signs of vascular occlusion, where pallor, pain or skin changes at the lip would otherwise prompt immediate intervention.
The wider picture
The Butterfly Lips trend is a product of an unregulated industry and an algorithm that rewards dramatic content over clinical accuracy. From 1 July 2023, botulinum toxin became prescription-only in the UK. Hyaluronic acid filler has not yet followed, meaning anyone in England can legally inject filler with no training, no qualifications and no emergency protocols in place. Until that changes, patients carry the responsibility of checking credentials — and the aesthetics industry carries the responsibility of calling out dangerous trends plainly.
This is us doing exactly that.
Lip filler isn't bad — you just don't notice the good work.
You can read more about our take on the 'Wild West' of Aesthetics on our blog, which can be found here.
At Sebastian Rose Medical Aesthetics Cardiff, every lip filler treatment is carried out by a qualified medical professional, using premium licensed products, with reversal agents on site and full emergency protocols in place. We do not offer Butterfly Lips. We do offer exceptional ones.
HOW MUCH LIP FILLER DO YOU NEED?
It's not what you think.
0.5ml is almost exclusively for minor asymmetry correction, turning up the corners, or those who have recently had filler. On its own it mostly hydrates the lips rather than changes their shape or volume significantly.
0.7ml to 1.0ml is almost always needed for a noticeable difference in shape or volume, particularly for first-time clients. Having 1.0ml doesn't mean we use it all — we will often inject 0.7ml or 0.8ml and assess, to prevent any unwanted aesthetic results.
Some lips are simply not buildable, and we will always tell you this honestly before treatment. There is no absolute answer without seeing your lips and discussing what you want to achieve — but you will never leave without a full, honest conversation first.
LIP FILLER FAQ'S
What is lip filler?
Lip filler is a hyaluronic acid dermal filler — a sugar protein found naturally in the skin. Injected into the lips, it attracts water to provide volume, hydration and definition. It is temporary and fully reversible.
What product do you use?
We use premium, FDA-licensed hyaluronic acid fillers. We will discuss product selection at your consultation based on your desired outcome and lip anatomy.
Will it look obvious?
Not if done well. The biggest shift in lip aesthetics in 2025 and 2026 is away from the overfilled look and toward natural results that complement your face. We will never give you lips that don't suit you — and we will tell you honestly if we feel a requested look won't work for your anatomy.
Are the results instant?
Yes — results are immediate. However, allow 10–14 days for any swelling to settle and for the filler to fully integrate with your lip tissue. During this time swelling may go up before it settles down, so avoid booking in the week before an important event.
How long do lip fillers last?
On average, 6–9 months. This varies depending on your metabolism, lifestyle, the product used and how much was injected.
How long does the treatment take? Allow an hour for your appointment. Pre-treatment discussion, numbing and consultation take at least 30 minutes. The actual injection process is 5–10 minutes.
Is it painful?
It's probably not as bad as you think. We apply topical numbing cream prior to treatment, and the filler itself contains lidocaine. The vast majority of clients find the treatment comfortable.
What techniques do you use?
We use multiple techniques depending on your lips and your goals — including the Russian Lips technique, natural enhancement, lip contouring, cherry lips, microdosing and more. The technique is always chosen based on your individual anatomy and desired outcome, never a one-size-fits-all approach.
What should I do before my treatment?
Bring images of lips you like — this helps enormously in the pre-treatment discussion. Avoid alcohol and Ibuprofen for 24 hours before your appointment as both increase the risk of bruising. Arrive without makeup.
What can I expect after treatment?
Swelling and bruising are possible — lips are highly vascular and this is completely normal. Swelling is typically at its peak in the first 24–48 hours and fully resolved within 5–7 days. Bruising, if it occurs, resolves within a week. Do not massage the lips unless specifically advised by us to do so, do not take Ibuprofen, and do use the complimentary gel pack we provide — keep it in the fridge or freezer to help reduce swelling.
What if I don't like the result?
All of our treatments are fully customised following an in-depth discussion, making this very unlikely. However, all hyaluronic acid dermal fillers can be safely dissolved with hyaluronidase if needed.
Can lip filler be dissolved?
Yes. Hyaluronic acid filler can be dissolved at any time using an enzyme called hyaluronidase. We offer this service at the clinic.
Who cannot have lip filler? You cannot have lip filler if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, under the age of 18, have an active infection or cold sore in the area, are currently undergoing dental treatment, or have a known allergy to any of the product components.
What are the risks?
Lip filler is very safe when performed by experienced medical professionals using premium products — we have performed hundreds of lip treatments and actively train other medical professionals. The main risks are pinprick redness and bruising at injection sites, both of which resolve during or shortly after treatment. As with any dermal filler treatment, there is an extremely rare risk of vascular occlusion. We are fully trained to recognise and treat this rare complication, and we carry the appropriate reversal agents at all times.
Do I need a consultation first?
No. Your lip filler consultation forms part of the appointment itself.
Where is the treatment performed?
At Sebastian Rose Medical Aesthetics, 39 Charles Street, Cardiff, CF10 2GB.
