Lip Augmentation

Lip augmentation is a surgical procedure that increases the fullness of the lips; various forms of lip augmentation use liquid injections or sheets of material threaded through small incisions.

The wide variety of lip augmentation options, both for treatments and the materials used, allows individuals who are investigating lip augmentation to create a custom treatment that will address their specific needs. Impressive results have made lip augmentation one of the most popular cosmetic surgeries, but patients should discuss the potential side effects of lip augmentation with their cosmetic surgeons, and should also have realistic expectations for the results of the lip augmentation surgery. Prior to scheduling surgery, the doctor and patient should discuss the patient’s goals for lip augmentation, and based upon the individual’s lip anatomy and desired outcome, they can choose the ideal lip augmentation strategy for that person. The most common form of implants used in lip augmentation are the sheet materials, such as Gore-Tex, as the liquid forms (most famously collagen) of lip augmentation tend not to last long. The exception this tendency is fat, which provides permanent natural lip augmentation and is accepted by the body, as it is taken from the individual having the lip augmentation performed. Regardless of the materials that are used, most of the patients having lip augmentation do not require general anesthetic, and return to their normal activities the day of their lip augmentation surgery. Patients who were sedated should wait a day. Any bruising or swelling after lip augmentation surgery should subside within a few days, and the post-operative pain resulting from a lip augmentation is minimal; most patients do not require prescription medications.

Patients wishing to learn more about lip augmentation procedures may wish to contact a plastic surgeon who has some familiarity with lip augmentations.