The New and Improved *smooch*

Thought I would share the results of my final top up of what I now affectionately :)) call- 'Juve'. I am very pleased... the top lip looks completely different and much bigger without the need to be called Mrs Donald Duck. If I had injected even a tad more, than i think that would have been just too much...so it's perfect; large enough to be noticeable but not too large to be 'Quack'.

I was getting bored of my images in colour so i did a bit of black and white photography.

And although they may feel slightly different in size, there have been no lumps, bumps, redness or adverse reactions (inclusive of the male kind!). Giggle, giggle.

Ta-Da!

So, the 'juvederm+lidocaine' lip injection experience wasn't too bad. I was sequentially ice packed in the area that was about to be injected and felt a bit of a sting. But otherwise no real pain, and when it stung a little too much I would softly sing to distract me. Unfortunately, when she did the cushion (that's the top lip, middle part just underneath cupid's bow), I got a bit of a bruise. It's still there 5 days on but has sufficiently faded to now be easily covered with a bit of pink lippie. Other than that I had no itching, surrounding lip redness/bruising, lumps etc. and I am very pleased with the result.

So here are some pics....

before

Straight after injection

5 days post-injection

But......and there is always a but. It's very subtle (I only used 0.3ml of 0.8ml syringe) and I am glad about that, but i think the top lip needs just a teensy-weensy more. So my top-up is booked for this coming Thursday.

Aaahhhhhh....what us women have to go through to achieve beauty. Oh well, fingers crossed. i'll update as soon as I can.

Picture-perfect pout!

Pouty perfect lips can be achieved using injectable dermal fillers. These can be applied to upper and lower lip to enhance lip definition and volume. And as I near the age of 31, a tweak here and there is soon in order. I have never liked my lips - too thin an upper lip border and that tiny bit asymmetrical. Certainly not luscious, generous or even near 'Jolie-like'. I have spent 2 years in ugly braces dealing with pain, followed by major orthognathic surgery coupled with regular bleaching nasher sessions...that I have since, convinced myself that I deserve this. My teeth do - that is. Yes, I know - secretly, in an ideal world I would improve my nose profile (as I have a bit of a Roman -esque bump), or lipo would be nice, or even BA (otherwise known as breast augmentation). But- quite frankly-I am not that brave and I have to simply embrace what I've been given.

However, lip injections are only temporary, so if I don't like it - it'll be gone in 6-9 months.

So here goes my research....(my appointment is wednesday next week BTW eeeeeek :))

Temporary dermal fillers are injectable hyaluronic acid gels. Because they are naturally-occurring complex sugar molecules they reduce the chances of foreign body reactions and allergies. Thus, no pre-procedure patch testing is required. They act like a sponge, binding to water creating volume. They can be used to diminish wrinkles, nasolabial folds as well as creating fuller lips.

There are many injectable gels available but commonly Juvederm and Restylane are used. From what I have read, Juvederm is much smoother and finer in consistency providing a very smooth natural feel. Both products however, can be injected with lidocaine ( a local anaethetic) obliterating the need for dental blocks.

Treatment varies from 30 -45 minutes. The philosophy is 'less is more here' and there will be no 'trout pout'. So if I want a bit more of a touch-up, a second appointment can be made (included in the price of the vial).

Lasting effects 6-12 months.

Side effects include redness, pain/tenderness, firmness, swelling, lumps/bumps, bruising, itching and discolouration. There is also the risk of infection.

No alcohol before, off NSAIDs, avoid exercise and sunlight post-procedure.

The perfect lip proportions have been extensively analysed.

1. Using the concept of the divine Fibonnaci proportion. The ideal ratio of upper to lower lip is 1:1.6, my ratio has been calculated as 1:1.2.

2. The lower lip contour should be symmetrical on both sides with slightly less volume in the midline.

3. Elevate the lateral edges to give the appearance of plumpness

4. The philtrum columns above the cupid's bow should be straight and prominent

5. Correction of marionette lines to give upturned appearance rather than a sad-looking downturned lip.

Anwho, I will be posting before and after pics soon....wish me luck :)

A New Me

Ok, i know, I know....I should be happy with what i've got :)

I feel like I have been on a lifetime mission for continual 'Fiffi' improvement. I wish I was thinner, I wish my face was less oval, I wish my forehead was smaller, I wish I had a better nose profile, and so on,....the list is endless. Maybe it comes from being bullied a lot at school - who knows?

The most dramatic change in appearance required major OMF surgery called BSO or bilateral sagittal osteotomy for lower jaw protrusion. I fully admit this was a complicated and painful procedure (attached with procedural/anaesthetic risk) and was performed for purely cosmetic reasons. I really didn't look that bad pre-operatively, but my god - the 'before and after' was quite a transformation (even my mother didn't recognise me). One day, when I am a little less vulnerable about the experience, i will post you pictures of my healing journey in all its gory detail. But right now, I am not quite ready yet. And although my 'after' pictures are AMAZING, the 'before' pictures of me (without makeup, in all my swelling and glory) are not so lovely. One day i'll show you and perhaps it might help someone else who might have to go

through what i went through, see the 'potential light at the end of the tunnel'!

Despite all this negative drama-of the school playground variety- it is all well and truly behind me. I am much happier with who i am and what i look like than I have ever been before. But- I guess, one can always benefit with some minor tweaks of improvement here and there.

I am totally in love with Miss Natty and Holly Annaeree (links below- pls check them out because they are both beautiful and amazing). I feel a funny affinity with Miss Natty- as we both totally love makeup and both have wonderful greek men in our lives.

So, because I am completely in love with their innate sense of style, I have booked an appointment with my hairdresser tomorrow to dye my hair Miss Natty's colour and have also just ordered Holly's gorgeous contact lenses from Lenscircle.com in blue, grey, brown and green. I wonder what the transformation is going to be like? I'll post the 'after' pics as soon as i can.....

The beautiful Miss Natty, visit her blog on..http://nattyngeorge.blogspot.com/

And the similarly gorgeous Holly (YTer and blog), http://hollyannaeree.blogspot.com/

:) Signing out.... with a mixture of trepidation and excitement.