Lip Augmentation
Lip enhancement is the process of enlarging or reshaping the lips to achieve a desired effect, usually for cosmetic reasons. Society often associates youth and beauty with full well defined lips. Lips that are not well defined can often achieve a greater sense of facial balance with lip enhancement. Sometimes called lip augmentation, several procedures and techniques are available to enhance lips making them fuller, smoother and more youthful. 2006 reported more than 25,000 lip enhancing treatments were done in the US alone. Procedures range from noninvasive techniques (for example lipstick or creams cosmetics) to invasive procedures (surgery) to achieve a cosmetic goal. Common lip problems are thin flat lips, minimal upper or lower lips, irregular lip borders or lips that are too large.
Lips can be surgically enhanced to be made larger or smaller depending on the patient’s goal. Larger lips can be reduced by making an incision within the inside of the mouth and a slice is taken out, thinning out the upper or lower lip. To augment, or make the lip larger, several surgical approaches can be done. Implants, either synthetic (Goretex) or biological (Alloderm made from cadavers) can be surgically inserted through the lips to make them appear larger and more full. A surgical lip lift will turn up the center of the lip, making it appear fuller, if an implant is not indicated. Dermal fillers are most commonly used to augment or enlarge the lips. Several dermal fillers on the market are made of various materials for this purpose. Some of the most common names are Cosmoderm/Cosmoplast, Restylane, Juvederm, and Radiesse to name a few. The gel is injected into the meat of the lip or the border of the lips to give a fuller look. The result is immediate with minimal to no downtime. Side effects can include swelling, bruising, scabbing and pain at the injection site, which generally will resolve within a few days.
Another procedure to augment the lip is the fat transfer, where fat is removed from one area of the body and replaced in another, in this case the lips. This procedure is effective and safe, however several treatments may be required to achieve the desired result. Finally, biocatalysts can also be used to augment the lips. These are materials injected into the lips that are reported to be able to increase collagen formation within the lip. Newfill or Reviderm Intra are some brand names of biocatalysts.
With most dermal fillers, the lifespan is not more than 6 - 12 months. Retreatment is necessary to keep the desired effect. A cosmetic specialty physician will be able to examine your face to determine which treatment type will benefit you to achieve the desired cosmetic goals. |
