REVIEW: Lip Filler at Ciao Bella

I have always loved wearing a bold lip for as long as I can remember. I used to watch my nan put lipstick on before she would even answer the door as a child. Lipstick, for me, instantly elevates an outfit, a look and for me, puts a strut in my stride.

Annoyingly, I haven’t always had the right lip shape or fullness to be able to achieve the look I always desired and, as much as I have attempted to perfect the “overlining” technique when applying lip pencil, I just don’t feel it looks right on me and would end up rubbing it off. I dabbled in my first ever bout of lip fillers pre lockdown having thought about it for years but, like many others, was unsure where to start, what to look for or who to trust. There are a plethora of Instagram accounts with dubious looking portfolios of what may or may not be stock images as “examples of their work” and at the end of the day, this is a mild medical procedure and in this instance, would be on my face so it was imperative I got it right.

Enter the multi award winning Ciao Bella Aesthetics, based in both Wrington and Downend in Bristol and home to highly experienced, ethical and registered Nurse practitioners in cosmetic enhancement. Each staff member are not only independent prescribers but also NMC registered. I met the Clinical Director and founder, Alex Henderson, for a lip filler consultation and procedure in November 2022. Not only is she a Harley Street Cosmetic Injectable trainer and an Award winning Nurse, Ciao Bella is the only nurse lead clinic in the South West of the UK to hold a Care Quality Commission registration.

All of this aside (although it was VERY reassuring), I wanted to share my 4 week lip journey with you and my thoughts on the results afterwards (along with the up’s and downs along the way).

Upon arrival, the clinic is beautiful, professional and a lovely environment to be in.

Sitting down with Alex, we went through what I would ideally like to achieve throughout this process, talked about medical history, filled out forms and then we talked about the kind of lip shape I was wanting to achieve. I am very into a full, shapely, old fashioned style pout with a prominent cupids bow and a full shape without going into what I like to call “sausage lip territory”. With my background being in Burlesque, I wanted to achieve that 1950’s style red lip effortlessly but without LOOKING like I have had anything done. Alex put on some of the strongest numbing cream I have ever come across (again, one of the perks when dealing with fully prescribing nurses, you get the good stuff…..) After about 20 minutes, I felt like I was dribbling without realizing and struggled to talk. I was a good numb… fantastic!

Over those 20 or so minutes, we talked about how she could achieve a basic shape with a handful of injection sites or she could really create the shape I wanted but it would involve a lot more injections and have a longer downtime. I decided to go for the latter as I wanted them to be as perfect as can be or else, what’s the point?!? I remembered from when I had my lips filled 2 years previously that, the bruising was real BUT can easily be covered by some lipstick for a few days.

We spent about 20 or so minutes injecting. It didn’t “hurt” but it was kind of uncomfortable and a very strange, unique sensation. Having laser hair removal sessions hurt more, but this still wasn’t a walk in the park, luckily though, Alex was talking me through the whole thing and was not only very reassuring but asked if I needed breathers etc throughout the entire session.

I was handed the mirror several times throughout injecting too and was talked through how she was creating the shape we were aiming for and then we went through some aftercare bits and bobs and what to expect over the next couple of weeks. After having in in the clinic for around 45 minutes and having had Alex check with me several times if I was happy or not, I was on my merry way.

I was swollen and tender and luckily, I was off out with my daughter trick or treating straight after so my slightly bee-stunk pouty look fit right into a Halloween style costume that wouldn’t even get a second glance! I took some painkillers just to soothe the slight throbbing feeling that crept in later that evening and then I was fine.

The immediate next day, I was VERY swollen. I looked like a reject from a b-grade reality TV show (joke but still… that’s how I felt) and I was in the office so… around people. I owned up straight away and said “look, I had my lips done last night and I’m somewhat swollen” and spent the rest of the day with a convenient scarf around the lower half of my face. I don’t think it was that noticeable but I did feel a little conscious, I’ll admit.

The next few days, I was still pretty swollen but I was getting used to it and I knew that the swelling and the bruising would be longer than normal this time due to the 20 or so injection sites in such a small surface area on my face. Again, this was easily covered with a bit of lipstick and with every day that went by, I could see what the finished results were starting to look like and I was ecstatic.

The swelling was mostly gone after about a week or so and the bruising went after about 10-14 days but again, I didn’t mind too much as during the day, I tend to wear a pink lip stain and this pretty much disguised the bruising entirely.

After 4 weeks, I had a check up with Alex in the clinic to see how I was getting on, my thoughts on the final results and if I had any questions. I was over the moon with the results, she had achieved exactly what I was after, managed my expectations with what to expect after the procedure entirely and I was nothing short of delighted with not just the results but the whole experience entirely.

Minor cosmetic procedures, or as I like to call them, tweak-ments, aren’t everyone’s cup of tea but that’s the beauty of choice isn’t it. Some people like it, some people don’t and everyone’s opinions are valid and respected. Cosmetic procedures are something that I am not adverse to exploring to achieve natural, enhanced results. If your motivation for seeking to get them done come from a good place and you go to a safe, reputable clinic to get them done then, I see no problem with it.

Ciao Bella Aesthetics more than exceeded my expectations and I can see exactly why they have such a stella reputation not only within the South West of the UK but within the cosmetic industry as a whole.

I for one am now a loyal customer and will be back time and time again. I am over the moon with my lip shape and intend on maintaining it along with exploring the world of botox to help relieve my constant locked jaw and teeth grinding due to stress.

For anyone thinking about getting something done, my firm advice would be to seek out Ciao Bella as they have the trust, reputation, skills and portfolio that reassures you that you will always be in safe, talented and highly trained hands.

Find out more about Ciao Bella Aesthetics HERE!

Written by Laura Sophia Rose Bennett - @mamma.massive