Lip augmentation

Lip augmentation has become a popular procedure among women who desire a more aesthetic, youthful appearance. In some cases, it can restore fullness to lips that have become narrower with age.

Restylane and Juvederm

There are a number of procedures that utilize different materials to achieve the desired results. The non-surgical techniques for lip augmentation tend to be less long lasting, but are also less extensive and offer an easier and faster recovery. Lip enhancement using injectable fillers are temporary. The injectable Restylane and Juvederm are used most often for this and often give results lasting 6 - 9 months with little downtime. Some bruising and swelling may occur. This is an office procedure performed under local anesthesia and most patients will return to normal activities either the same day or the next day.

Surgical Lip Augmentation

A surgical lip augmentation utilizes fat injections, fat or tissue from other areas of the body or synthetic materials. These techniques may offer a longer lasting enhancement but they do require a longer recovery. There is typically more swelling and bruising associated with these procedures. During "fat grafting," fat is harvested from a discreet site on the patient's body for use as the augmentation material. Because the material is from the patient's own body, there is no chance of rejection. More than one treatment may be necessary in order to achieve the desired permanent fullness.