Beautiful, full lips are something many women want. Maybe you too? When lipstick won’t "fix" thin, wrinkled or poorly contoured lips, a wonderful solution is lip augmentation with injectable fillers.
How injectable lip dermal fillers work
An injectable dermal filler is the most commonly used method of lip augmentation. Collagen, which at one time was the most common dermal filler, is used less often today because the newer options are safer and the effects last longer.
Helping you create a more beautiful face
There are many types of dermal fillers that can be injected into your lips and around your mouth for a more beautiful face. The most common fillers are products that contain substances similar to hyaluronic acid, a natural substance found in the body that helps increase volume in your lips.
These products are often in gel form for injection, and are marketed under names like Restylane and Juvéderm. Their original purpose was for filling in wrinkles but now they are a great option for lip augmentation. Specifically, they add soft, natural-feeling volume to the lips in a precise manner and can also fill in minor wrinkles and make subtle changes to the contour of the lips.
The results are beautiful and natural-looking lips, with many patients reporting that the procedure helps lips pass the “kiss test," referring to augmented lips that look and feel totally natural when kissed.
Results from injectable fillers typically last around six months. After that, more injections are needed to maintain the volume of the lips.
What to expect during the procedure
Injectable lip augmentation techniques can be performed quickly in your plastic surgeon's office with little or no recovery time. Before the injections, a topical or local numbing agent is applied to ease discomfort. Sometimes, nerve block injections are given before the treatment to completely numb the lips.
After carefully marking the areas to be injected, very fine needles are used to inject the substance into your lips. Following the injections, ice can be applied to the area to ease discomfort and control swelling. Lipstick or other lip products should be avoided immediately after the procedure.
Following treatment, patients usually experience some mild swelling, redness and bruising, but this subsides quickly and very little discomfort is involved overall. At first, the lips may look overly full due to the initial swelling, but should normalize within a few days.
Benefits of hyaluronic acid fillers
The benefits of using hyaluronic acid fillers include:
- Immediate results. You should be able to notice a difference in your lips’ volume and shape immediately.
- Natural-feeling lips. After a brief healing period, your lips look and feel natural, not artificial, rubbery or numb.
- Control over lip volume. The amount of dermal filler injected by your plastic surgeon can be controlled, so he/she has better control over how much lip volume is created.
- Gradual rate of treatment. Injections can be given gradually during different appointments until the desired results are achieved.
- Bumps dissolve easily. Any lumps and bumps created by movement of the lips can be dissolved easily.
- Less bruising. There is less bruising and swelling compared to other dermal fillers.
- Lasting results. The results are reasonably long-lasting but not permanent.
- Allergic reaction unlikely. Because hyaluronic acid fillers are made from substances similar to those found in the body, they are unlikely to cause an allergic reaction.
Side effects
Side effects of hyaluronic acid fillers are temporary and should only last a few days. These may include:
- Bleeding from the injection sites
- Swelling and bruising
- Redness and tenderness at the site of the injection
More serious side effects may include severe and prolonged swelling or bruising lasting one week to 10 days, infection, scarring of the lip and allergic reaction causing redness, swelling or itching around the lips.
How much does lip augmentation cost?
Fillers are usually priced per syringe injected. The cost will depend on how much material is required and also:
- Type of procedure performed
- Plastic surgeon's experience
- Where you live
In my practice, recognizing that every woman’s facial features and skin consistency are unique, I determine the exact cost of lip augmentation after I have met with the patient and together, we have decided what type of procedure will achieve the best possible results. For more pricing details, please contact me.
Is lip augmentation right for you?
To answer this question, you must first ask yourself why you want to modify your lips. You should not undergo this procedure unless you truly want to modify your appearance. If you are considering lip augmentation to make someone else happy or to try to fit an ideal image, you may want to reconsider.
Also, it's important to have realistic expectations about the outcome. Enhanced lips may make your lips plumper and fuller, but you will still be the same person after the procedure.
Before undergoing lip augmentation, you should be in good health and a nonsmoker. You may not be a candidate for lip augmentation if you have:
- An infection such as oral herpes (cold sore)
- Diabetes
- Lupus
- Blood-clotting problems
- Allergic to lidocaine
Be sure to choose a plastic surgeon with expertise in this procedure
Injectable lip augmentation itself is very simple and quick, but the injections themselves require a great deal of artistry and skill to administer properly. Each patient has unique concerns and outcome expectations, and the plastic surgeon performing the procedure must tailor the treatment to help meet these goals. A very fine needle is used to inject the filler where it is needed, and the surgeon must take care to fill in areas adequately and evenly. That’s why when choosing a plastic surgeon for lip augmentation, you should choose one with extensive experience and expertise in this area.
If you are interested in lip augmentation
If you are thinking about having dermal fillers for lip augmentation and would like to schedule a free consultation, please contact me. I will send you additional information prior to your appointment.
More information on lip augmentation
You might find these pages helpful on my website:
Board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS), a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) and the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS), and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS), Samuel J. Beran, MD is a plastic surgeon with offices in Manhattan, Harrison and Mount Kisco, NY. With years of experience and a thorough command of the most advanced techniques and technologies, he consistently provides his patients with the highest level of plastic, cosmetic and reconstructive surgery of the breast, face, skin and body.
