Aesthetic treatments: a lip filler worked for 9 in 10, and half held at 48 weeks

If you have ever wondered how long aesthetic treatments like lip filler really last, a new trial gives you real numbers. A hyaluronic acid lip filler with lidocaine worked for about 9 in 10 people who got it. About half of those people still had the improvement 48 weeks later.

That is useful whether you are curious, thinking about it, or just glad to know what the results look like. Lip filler is one of the most common cosmetic procedures, and clear numbers help you set realistic expectations.

How the study worked

Researchers at US centers randomly assigned adults with thin or medium lips, across a range of skin types, to one of two fillers. Three out of four people got the new product, Belotero Intense with lidocaine, and one out of four got Restylane Silk with lidocaine, a filler already approved by the FDA. A touch-up was allowed at week 4, and a blinded evaluator, who didn’t know which filler anyone received, rated lip fullness on a standard scale. Side effects were tracked for up to 60 weeks. The study was designed to show the new filler was not worse than the approved one, participants knew they had been treated, and the durability result came from an analysis done after the fact. It was published Oct. 15, 2026, in Aesthetic Surgery Journal.

What they found

At week 8, about 9 in 10 people who got the new filler had a clear improvement in lip fullness. The exact figure was 91.1% (144 of 158 people). That cleared the 50% success bar the researchers had set before the trial began.

The new filler also did as well as the approved one. The difference in improvement between the two was tiny, and it met the researchers’ standard for “not worse.”

Then came the question many people care about most: how long does it last? Among the people who responded at week 8, about half still showed improvement at week 48. The exact figure was 51.1% (70 of 137 people). So for a good share of people, results are still there close to a year out. For the other half, they had faded by then.

On safety, no severe or serious side effects related to the treatment were reported. No unexpected side effects turned up either.

What is a hyaluronic acid filler?

Hyaluronic acid is a substance your skin already makes. In a filler, it comes as a gel that adds volume to the lips. Your body slowly absorbs it over time, which is why results gradually fade and why people return for touch-ups. These fillers can usually be dissolved if someone is not happy with the result.

What this means for you

If aesthetic treatments are not on your list, you can simply file this away. It is a good example of how a new product gets tested: against an approved one, with a blinded evaluator and a success bar set in advance.

If you are considering lip filler, this trial suggests a realistic picture. Most people see a visible improvement within two months, and roughly half of them still see it close to a year later. Plan on the result being temporary, and on the cost of repeating it.

This was one product, and Mongevity doesn’t recommend specific brands. The numbers are best used as a general guide for what to ask about any filler.

What you can do today

Before any cosmetic procedure, take two minutes and write down three questions for the provider. Ask how long the result usually lasts, what the common side effects are, and what happens if you don’t like the outcome. Also ask whether the product is FDA-approved and what the provider’s license and training are. A good provider will be glad to answer.