Today’s Best Lip Enhancement Options
Full or plump lips have long been a sought-after “look”. While there are many online articles touting makeup tricks for fuller lips, the results they provide are short-term and can be too subtle. But what if you want to enhance your lips over the long-term?
There are some great options, non-surgical and surgical, that are available today:
Lip Fillers
Dermal fillers are products that are injected to add volume to an area of the face that is lacking volume or that has become hollow, or ‘emptied out’ due to the aging process.
The benefits of lip fillers include the following:
- “In and out” procedure – after patient preparation, the procedure itself takes 15 minutes or fewer.
- Limited downtime – some patients may experience bruising
- Decreased upfront cost compared to alternatives
- Non-permanent – the effect typically last between nine and twelve months.
Though several options exist this article will highlight two of my favorite hyaluronic acid fillers for lip enhancement, Juvederm Ultra XC and Restylane Silk.
Restylane Silk: This hyaluronic acid-based gel dermal filler instantly adds volume to the area where it’s injected. Restylane Silk is formulated using the same volumizing and moisturizing components found naturally in the skin. It’s a soft, cohesive gel that integrates into your tissue to provide subtle and even results. Restylane Silk is ideal for smoothing out the lip lines and lines around the lips.
Juvederm Ultra XC: Previously approved only for other areas of the face, the FDA has recently approved Juvederm Ultra XC for injection into the lips and perioral area for lip augmentation. Created by Allergan (manufacturer of Botox), Juvederm uses the highest concentration of non-animal, cross-linked hyaluronic acid to provide a long-lasting volume boost the lips. Results last up to a year, with 78% of subjects in a clinical trial reporting satisfaction with the look and feel of their lips at the one-year mark (Source).
Fat transfer
Volume can be added to the lips using fat transfer procedure where fat tissue harvested from the patient. A small amount of fat can be harvested from the abdomen or hips in an outpatient procedure, and structurally injected to improve lip aesthetics. Fat transfer to the lips requires greater downtime, and is somewhat less predictable than dermal fillers.
Lip Implants
Lip augmentation surgery is a safe and definitive option for those seeking more permanent lip enhancement. The implant of choice in our practice is the Perma implant distributed by Surgisil. It is a soft, solid silicone FDA-approved implant that is available in a number of sizes, enabling plastic surgeons to achieve customized results.
Lip augmentation surgery is performed by our surgeons under local anesthesia. Although permanent, the implant may be removed or exchanged at a later date if the patient desires. Samples of these implants are available your observation during your consultation.
A united group of skin care specialists from Westlake Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery, Austin's leader in Dermatology and Plastic Surgery. Articles posted under WD staff are authored through combined contributions from our entire team, including Plastic Surgeons, Dermatologists, Aestheticians, Physician Assistants, Aesthetic Nurses, and Patient Coordinators.
Good overview of some of the things available for enhancing the lips. There are a lot of options out there, so it’s good to look at all of them and figure out which is best for you!
Love it! This post is great. I did not know how many lip enhancing treatments were available. Awesome.
Wow, I had no idea that it is possible to have your lips enhanced by using fat from another part of the patient’s body; that’s pretty incredible! It sounds like the fat transfer option would be the best if you also wanted to undergo liposuction, or something like that. That way, you aren’t suffering from greater downtime just for your lips.
Thanks Chuma for sharing the information about these procedures through your article with us! A great resource for perspective patients.
I would like to ask if anyone has had lip enhancement due to denture lip loss?
Hi Christine, thanks for reading out post and submitting your question! There are several lip enhancement techniques that can help address denture lip loss (depending on the exact characteristics of the patient of course).
If you are in the Austin area, please contact us today to schedule a consultation. We can determine the best treatment plan given your specific goals and needs!
Thanks,
WD Staff
Great post, I’ll share with our patients 🙂