New Lips, Same Hilary

The first time I got lip filler was in December 2022.

I had been thinking about it for a long time—but between the cost and the courage it takes to actually go through with it, it stayed in the “maybe someday” category.

I’m lucky to have a friend in town who’s a Nurse Practitioner and now works in medical aesthetics. So not only do I trust her… I also know where she lives if anything goes wrong. 😉

But truly—trust matters.

For me, that’s the whole thing.

There are too many horror stories and rushed decisions when it comes to cosmetic treatments. When it’s your face, your skin, your body—“too good to be true” usually is. I needed to feel completely safe before I even considered it.

I talked to Caroline (said friend and Nurse Practitioner) for weeks—maybe even months—before I ever booked an appointment. She was patient, informative, and never once pushed me. By the time I finally said yes, I felt calm and confident in her hands.

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And then there’s the process itself.

You can explain it—numbing cream, small injections, shaping as you go—but until you see it (or do it), you don’t fully grasp how both clinical and artful it is at the same time. It’s precise. It’s intentional. It’s not as casual as people sometimes make it seem.

But really, this isn’t about the process. It’s about the why.

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My Why:

I’ve always been a little self-conscious about my upper lip. It was thinner than my bottom lip—just slightly off in a way that only I probably noticed, but still… I noticed.

I wasn’t looking for dramatic change or a completely different face.

No grand transformation.

No following some trend.

I just wanted my top lip to match my bottom one. And now, it does.

Since 2022, I’ve had three treatments—spaced out over time. This most recent one came after almost two years, and honestly, I didn’t need it. Caroline even tried to talk me out of it. No one else would have noticed the subtle change in shape.

But I did.

And that’s kind of the point.

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Things like lip filler, Botox, or any kind of cosmetic treatment—they’re personal. They’re not for public approval or debate. They don’t need to be justified or defended.

For me, it’s not about perfection.

And it’s not entirely about vanity either, although yes, I do care about how I look.

It’s about having the option to soften something that’s always made me feel a little self-conscious.

And no, it didn’t give me some newly found confidence.

That part doesn’t come in a syringe — that comes with years of therapy!

But it does make me smile a little more when I catch my reflection.

Same me.

Just… with a lip that finally feels like it belongs.

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Disclaimer: Lip fillers should only be injected by a licensed, trained medical professional (doctor, nurse practitioner, physician assistant) to minimize risks like bruising, infection, or vascular occlusion.