What is a Lip Augmentation?
A lip augmentation is an excellent way to achieve fuller, more luscious lips. If you were blessed with full lips in your youth and age has left them thinner; if you naturally have thin lips; or if you have uneven lips—one lip is much fuller than the other—a lip augmentation can even them out.
There are Two Types of Lip Augmentation
- Temporary
- Permanent
Temporary Lip Augmentation
Through the use of fillers, your lips can be made fuller for that youthful, pouty look you’re seeking! The only downside is that you’ll have to return for a “fill-up” every 3-6 months, as the lip fillers, usually Juvéderm or Restylane, will wear off. On the plus side, you can decide, each time, if you’d like to go larger or smaller than your last treatment.
Permanent Lip Augmentation
There are two options for permanent lip augmentation: fat transfer or AlloDerm®. Fat transfer involves removing unwanted fat through liposuction, which is then processed and injected into the lips in the same way that I inject Juvéderm or Restylane. Although not as permanent as AlloDerm®, fat transfer to the lips can be performed as an “add-on” at the same time as a liposuction procedure. It’s important to know that about 80-90% of fat transferred to the lips will remain over time. In other words, there is a 10-20% “loss” of fat from original injection.
Lip Augmentation with AlloDerm® begins by injecting local anesthesia into the corners of the lips, similar to the anesthesia you get at the dentist when you need a filling. I then make small incisions in the lips at the corners, after which I create a thin tunnel into which I insert the AlloDerm® for an even, natural result. After I trim the ends to the proper length, I close the incisions. Recovery is rapid and many of my Portage lip augmentation patients prefer this method to fillers because it’s a one-and-done procedure. It’s permanent, so they never have to come back in for a “refill,” as they would with dermal fillers.
Am I a Good Candidate for a Lip augmentation?
A lip augmentation procedure with our Southwest Michigan plastic surgery practice is an excellent choice if you have thin lips due to aging or Mother Nature, or uneven lip size. If you are otherwise healthy, there’s no reason that this procedure would not be a good choice for you.
At your private consultation with me at our Portage plastic surgery office, I’ll examine your lips and recommend the best option to meet your goals. Remember, when you see me in consultation at one of my two Kalamazoo area plastic surgery locations, I’ll discuss all your options with you. At Southwest Michigan Plastic Surgery, my staff and I are 100% committed to your awareness of all your options, so you can make an informed decision regarding your Lip Augmentation—or any other—procedure.
Where Will My Lip Augmentation Be Performed?
Lip Augmentations are performed in the office unless you’ve chosen fat transfer, in which case it requires liposuction, performed in one of two local accredited ambulatory surgical facilities near my Southwest Michigan plastic surgery office. I work only with board certified anesthesiologists, many of whom, along with the operating room staff at these centers, have worked with me for the past 16+ years. These same-day surgery centers offer you the safety of a hospital operating room without the exposure to hospital-based bacteria, plus the benefit of a friendly, caring, and personalized experience.
Recovery From Lip Augmentation
Recovery from lip injections of Juvéderm® or Restylane® are very rapid, requiring nothing more than ice packs for a short period of time after your injections. Lip Augmentation with fat transfer requires slightly more time but not for lip recovery—for recovery from the liposuction. If your fat transfer involved removing just enough fat for the lips, you’ll likely experience only 1-2 days of soreness in the liposuction site(s). If it’s part of a bigger liposuction procedure in which you “added” lip augmentation, recovery time would depend upon how much liposuction was performed. We’d cover that during your consultation before the procedure. Recovery from lip augmentation with AlloDerm® would be approximately the same as with injections, with the exception that you will have a bit more swelling and possibly bruising, which can both be treated handily with ice packs.
