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Lip Augmentation
 
Lip augmentation procedures increase the size of the lips to make them fuller and more attractive. The procedure is used to help women and men of all ages. The upper or lower lip may be treated singly, or both upper and lower lips may augmented at the same time.

Lip augmentations have become increasingly popular in recent years. Some types of lip augmentation involve the insertion of natural or synthetic materials. Other surgical techniques bring tissue from the inside of the lip to the outside. Some of these procedures are permanent, while others provide only temporary results.

If you're considering lip augmentation, the following information will provide you with a good introduction to the different lip augmentation procedures. For more detailed information about how this procedure may help you, we recommend that you consult a facial surgeon who is board certified or has completed a residency program that includes instruction in this procedure.

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What are some of the most common benefits of this surgery?
Whether you have always had thin lips, or you want to return your lips to the shape and fullness they had when you were younger, a lip augmentation procedure may provide you with the look you want. If you are dissatisfied or self-conscious about your lips, this surgery can open up new possibilities for you to change your appearance and self-image.
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What will happen at the initial consultation?
During the consultation, you will have the opportunity to talk to your surgeon about the changes that you’d like to make in your appearance. He/she will explain the different options available to you, the procedure itself, and the risks and limitations involved. He/she will also explain the kind of anesthesia required, surgical facility, and costs.

It is important that you explain the results that you would like. Bring photos to show your surgeon what you like and what you don’t like. He/she will be able to tell you if you are a good candidate for lip augmentation.

Be sure to ask all the questions that you have about the surgery. Ask to see photos of the doctor’s recent patients, before and after surgery. Also ask for, and follow up on, patient references. Learning everything you can about your options, risks and benefits is the key to making an informed decision. See Questions to ask your doctor below.
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How is a lip augmentation performed?
There are many different types of lip augmentation procedures, each with particular advantages and limitations.
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Injections:
Injections involve filling the lip with a soft substance to create a fuller appearance. Collagen and fat are the most widely used injectable substances.

Prepared from the collagen found in cow skin, collagen injections are used to temporarily augment the lips. Although it is purified, this collagen may cause allergic reactions in some people. For that reason, a sensitivity test should be performed before the actual lip augmentation procedure.

Collagen is injected into the lip with small needles. Because the body slowly absorbs the collagen, the results generally last between one and three months. The procedure may be repeated as needed.

Fat injections are also placed in the lips with small needles. The fat used is harvested from another area of the body -- most often the abdomen or the thighs -- and is purified before it is injected into the lips. An advantage to this procedure is that there is no possibility of an allergic reaction. As with collagen injections, results are temporary. The procedure is often performed more than once to achieve desired results.

Another injectable material, Artecoll, augments the natural tissue to create long lasting results. It is mainly composed of tiny synthetic “beads” (polymethyl methacrylate) that stay in the lips, and raise them. Only a few doctors in the U.S. have been trained in this procedure.

Another injectable, Autologen, is collagen extracted from the patient’s own skin, often from excess skin removed in a facelift. The results are relatively long lasting, and there is no risk of an allergic reaction.

Dermalogen is extracted from the skin of a human donor, and is inserted in the lip just like collagen. The donor material is screened and processed to avoid the spread of disease. The effects are temporary, and are similar to the effects of collagen injections.
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Grafts:
There are three different substances commonly used in grafting.

AlloDerm is a popular human-donor grafting material that is screened and processed to minimize the spread of disease. The standards by which it is processed are strict. (The risk of infection is only about 2%.)

Under a local anesthesia, the material is inserted through incisions made in the inside corners of the mouth. Stitches are used to close the incisions. The material is often absorbed, so that the results are only temporary, lasting from 6 months to a year.

SoftForm has recently replaced another lip implant material, Gore-Tex, because it has been shown to produce better results with fewer complications. SoftForm does not shrink and is never absorbed into the body. It also remains in place because scar tissue forms on both ends. This allows it to easily be removed if it becomes infected.

To insert SoftForm, a small incision is made in the inside of the lip. The material is then made into the shape of a small tube and it is inserted with an insertion trochar (needle). For the upper lip, this process is repeated three times, to implant three separate pieces in the lip. In the lower lip, two pieces are usually used.

Fat grafting produces lasting results in approximately half of the people who try it. Although it is possible that the body will reabsorb it, many people choose fat grafting because they are most comfortable with using the fat from their own body to enhance their lips. The fat is harvested from another area of the body, often the abdomen. It is then prepared and inserted with a needle into the lip from more than one point.

Local flaps bring material from inside the mouth outside to enhance the lips. Results are temporary. An incision may be made inside the mouth to push the tissue inside the mouth upward, and outward, into the lip, sometimes in conjunction with grafting. Or, an incision may be along the upper lip line. In this case, skin above the lip is removed, and the lip is then stitched along the line of the incision.
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How long does the procedure take?
Most lip augmentations take a half hour to two hours. Some procedures take longer than other. Your doctor will be able to tell you how long your procedure is likely to take.
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Will I need to stay in a hospital?
If you have no medical problems, the procedure can be performed on an outpatient basis under local anesthesia with light sedation, or local anesthesia and deep sedation. You will probably be allowed to return home within a few hours of the surgery, and spend the night in the comfort of your own home.
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How much pain is there?
Whether or not an anesthetic is necessary depends on the lip augmentation procedure. Topical anesthesia is generally used before lip injections, so that the procedure involves no discomfort. Generally, local anesthesia is used in grafting procedures. This makes the procedure painless, although there may be some discomfort afterward.
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What can I expect after surgery?
Immediately following the surgery, the lips may swell and hurt. Cold compresses should be used for 48 hours to control the swelling. During this time, talking and chewing should be avoided as much as possible. Oral pain medications may be used to control the discomfort.

Antibiotics may be given to reduce the possibility of infection. To help avoid infection, it is also important to keep the lips clean.
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What is the recovery period like?
Most people report little discomfort in the days after lip augmentation. However, grafts and flaps usually involve more pain during recovery, and a longer recovery period, than lip injections.

Injections: Most people return to normal, public activities within a couple of days of an injection procedure. Bruising and swelling may last as long as a week.

Grafts: People often wait between one and two weeks after graft procedures before returning to their normal routine. During that recovery time, they may experience some problems with drooling. Grafting also may leave the lips feeling unnaturally stiff for 2 to 3 months after the procedure. Any non-dissolving stitches may be removed about 7-10 days after the procedure.
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What is the long-term outcome like for most people?
Some of the procedures offer permanent results, and some are temporary. If you want to experiment with a new look, you may want to begin with a temporary method. Scars from incisions, if any, are rarely perceptible.
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How long do the results last?
The results of lip augmentation vary according to the procedure used. In addition, some people absorb fat and other temporary fillers more quickly than others.
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Ideal candidate:
In general, the best candidates for lip augmentation are:
  • Men and women of all ages.
  • In good physical health.
  • Psychologically stable.
  • Informed about the healing process.
  • Accepting of any limitations, as discussed with surgeon.
  • Free of allergies to the implant material used.
  • Realistic in their expectations for the outcome.
The above is only a partial list of the criteria that your surgeon will consider in determining whether or not this procedure is appropriate for you. Be sure to ask your surgeon if he / she considers you an ideal candidate for lip augmentation.
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Other Important Information:
Nonsurgical options to consider include enhancing the lips with permanent tattoos to make the lips appear fuller. If the mouth is crooked, or the corners droop, a mouth lift may be an alternative. Or, your dental structure may need to be corrected. Some dentists offer a tooth bonding technique that pushes the lips forward to make them fuller.
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Risks:
Significant complications from aesthetic lip enhancement procedures are rare. As with any surgical procedure, however, there is always a possibility of infection, or reaction to the anesthesia. Other possible complications include: numbing, scarring, swelling, and stiffness in the lip.

To reduce the risk of complications, it is important to follow all the instructions you receive from your surgeon before and after the procedure.
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Costs:
The national average of 2007 surgeon fees for lip augmentation (other than injectable materials) was $1,604 (Source: American Society of Plastic Surgeons). Regional averages: New England states: $1,819 Middle Atlantic states: $1,487 North Central states: $1,633 South Central states: $1,570 and Mountain/Pacific states: $1,603. These fees do not include anesthesia, operating room facility, hospital stay, and other related expenses.
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Choosing a doctor:
It is very important that you select a physician adequately trained and experienced in lip augmentation techniques. We strongly recommend that you consider choosing a surgeon who is board certified or board eligible, as determined by the American Board of Medical Specialties. See our Physician Locator feature to find a surgeon in your area, including detailed profile information on many of the listed doctors. Also read How to Select a Plastic Surgeon for a more detailed discussion on choosing the right doctor.
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Questions to ask your doctor:
  1. Are the desired results I described realistic?
  2. Where is the surgery performed? How long will the procedure take?
  3. Am I good candidate for lip augmentation? Why or why not?
  4. What kind of anesthesia is used?
  5. How much does it cost?
  6. What is your experience in performing this procedure? (How long has he/she performed this procedure, and how many he/she has performed in the past year?)
  7. What percentage of patients have had significant complications? (The physician should disclose this information to you.)
  8. Will you repeat or correct procedures if it does not meet agreed upon goals? And if the procedure must be repeated / corrected, will I be charged again? (The physician should provide you with his/her policy on this issue.)
  9. May I see "before and after" photos of recent patients? The physician should provide many photos of recent patients.
  10. May I have the names and contact information for several recent lip augmentation patients? (Follow up to get first-hand information on the procedure and the surgeon.)
  11. Could I observe the exact procedure I am considering before I decide to have the surgery? (Either on videotape or live.)
  12. What should I expect post-operatively, in terms of soreness, what to watch for, medication, bathing, and level of activity?
  13. Who will be assisting during the surgery? What are their qualifications? (Does the plastic surgeon perform the entire surgery?)
  14. Have you ever had your malpractice insurance coverage denied, revoked, suspended?
  15. Do you offer patient financing?
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Be sure to:
  • Tell your doctor about any allergies you have (to foods, drugs, environmental elements).
  • Tell your doctor if you have a history of bad scarring, such as keloids.
  • Tell your doctor about all medications you are taking (both prescription and non-prescription).
  • Carefully follow any instructions your surgeon gives you regarding eating and drinking, smoking and vitamins.
  • Avoid aspirin and aspirin-containing medicines for two weeks prior to surgery.
  • Arrange for someone to drive you home after surgery if general anesthesia is used during the surgery.
  • Inform your surgeon if you experience any fever-like symptoms or signs of infection after the procedure.
  • Use ice packs to decrease any discomfort and reduce swelling after the procedure.
  • Avoid strenuous physical activity in the first few days following the procedure.
The information on this web site is only intended as an introduction to this procedure and should not be used to determine whether you will have the procedure performed nor as a guarantee of the result. The best method of determining your options is to consult qualified surgeons who are able to answer specific questions related to your situation.
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How do I finance this procedure?
Did you know that 29% of all Americans have considered having an elective procedure? Of those, 60% would schedule a procedure immediately if financing was available. With iEnchance's patient financing options, money no longer has to be the barrier between you and your new image. By filling out our on-line application you can qualify for a loan in as little as 30 seconds.
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*Top 5 Surgical Cosmetic Procedures in 2008:

1. Breast Augmentation: 356,000
2. Liposuction: 341,000
3. Blepharoplasty: 195,000
4. Rhinoplasty: 152,000
5. Abdominoplasty: 147,000

*Top 5 Non-Surgical Cosmetic Procedures in 2008:

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5. Laser Skin Resurfacing: 571,000

* Data collected from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS)
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