Lip Augmentation Complete Guide for 2024
Posted on Sep 20, 2023
Many people turn to lip augmentation for pouty lips. Some people hope to achieve the fuller lips they’ve always wanted, and others want to restore the volume that the aging process took away.
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What is Lip Augmentation?
Lip augmentation is a general term for multiple processes in beauty salons, med spas and estheticians, used to boost lip volume and give you the appearance of full, plump lips. These include lip implants, dermal filler, fat injections and even aesthetic plastic surgery like lip lifts.
We’ll look at the different lip enhancement options in more detail, since surgical and nonsurgical options are available.
One of the most common types are lip injections, which are less invasive overall than plastic surgery. These can either be injectable fillers like fat injections or hyaluronic acid fillers. Many plastic surgeons as well as med spas offer dermal filler lip injections.
Lip Augmentation vs Lip Filler
There are many different lip augmentation techniques offered by both board certified plastic surgeons and dermatologists, depending on the results you’re looking for. The two main categories are lip augmentation procedures and lip fillers.
Most lip augmentation procedures are designed to last a long time. Lip implants or a lip lift are cosmetic surgery that provides permanent lip enhancement, although a lip implant can be surgically removed if necessary. Fat transfer or “fat grafting” procedures last for about five years.
These all require a plastic surgeon to perform them.
You might be a good candidate for lip augmentation options like these if you want to make long-lasting changes to your lip shape and volume.
A less invasive cosmetic procedure involves injecting dermal fillers into the lip area to achieve natural looking results and improve lip volume. This is done at a med spa or by a plastic surgeon as an in-office procedure. They can apply local anesthesia to minimize discomfort.
Lip filler injections are not a permanent solution, as they typically last six months to a year. You’ll have to revisit your plastic surgeon to get more filler injections eventually.
The typical lip filler cost is between $500 and $1500, which is much cheaper than cosmetic surgery.
What are the Types of Lip Augmentation?
There’s no one cosmetic procedure that’s recommended for everyone. Depending on the type of lip enhancement you want, and the size and shape of your lips, your plastic surgeon will recommend different treatments.
Lip Fillers
Lip fillers are a non-permanent lip enhancement that doesn’t require surgery. These can be used to even out asymmetrical lips, improve your lips’ volume, and smooth out fine lines.
Normally, dermal fillers are used in these lip injections, with a popular option being a hyaluronic acid based filler, which is a natural substance found in the body already. Kysse lip filler and Juvederm are examples of hyaluronic acid fillers.
Some medical spas or surgeons offer needleless lip filler, where all the fillers are injected using a handheld device which penetrates the skin using pressurized air.
These types of dermal fillers also contain a local anesthetic, but your plastic surgeon can also apply numbing cream.
Because dermal filler like hyaluronic acid only lasts a year at most, many people need to redo their hyaluronic acid fillers regularly. It’s also important to have realistic expectations, since this type of lip enhancement is meant to compliment your natural look, not change the shape of your lips entirely. Subtle lip filler looks better than too much.
Fat Grafting
Also called autologous fat injections, this procedure injects your own tissue, harvested from another fatty area of the body, into your lips. The injected fat for this type of tissue grafting is usually taken from the stomach. In this sense, it is also a natural lip filler.
This cosmetic surgery is done in two steps, by a board certified plastic surgeon. First, they will need to perform liposuction to remove the fat, separate any impurities, before they finally inject it into your lips. The whole process takes about ninety minutes.
Lip Implants
Lip implant surgery is another procedure that you should only have done by a board certified plastic surgeon, because (while it is a safe procedure), it does involve making a tiny incision into each side of your lips to place the implants. This is done under local anesthetic, and the entire lip implant process takes about half an hour.
You may be a good candidate for lip implants if you want permanent or long-lasting volume added to your lips, and are willing to commit to surgery.
Lip Lift
This is usually done on just your upper lip, and takes approximately an hour to complete. Your plastic surgeon makes two tiny incisions above your mouth, close to your nose, then pulls the upper lip line upwards by removing a bit of skin from the area.
Some surgeons also make incisions at the edges of the lips or the corners of the mouth, instead. Like lip implant surgery, getting your lips lifted is permanent.
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What to Expect During the Lip Augmentation Procedure
Before
Before getting lip implants, filler, or having your lips lifted, you’ll meet with your surgeon or dermatologist to discuss the procedure, your goals for your lips, and your health in general.
They’ll ask you to take some steps for a few weeks before the procedure, like stopping smoking and avoiding alcohol, aspirin, fish oil supplements, and blood thinners. This will help your lip implants or filler to heal properly and minimize swelling or other complications.
If you have an active infection in your mouth, like cold sores, make sure to let your surgeon know, because they may need to reschedule your treatments.
During
Lip fillers are the least invasive procedure, and your provider may numb the injection sites with a topical cream before starting. Typically, they’ll use no more than 1ml of filler in your lips, applying it to each injection site at a gradual pace to get the desired results.
Lip implants are done under local anesthetic. The plastic surgeon makes small incisions on the edges of the lips, then creates a tunnel to insert the implant. Then, they’ll close the incision with small stitches. Your lip implants will be mostly healed within three to four weeks, but may take up to three months to feel completely normal.
Lip Lifts are also done using local anesthetic. Your surgeon will mark your skin to plan the incisions, then remove a small area of skin above the upper lip, near the nose. Then, they’ll pull the edges of the lip upwards and secure everything with small stitches.
Fat grafting requires anesthetic for the liposuction portion of the procedure. This may be local or general, depending on whether you’re having any other procedures done at the same time. After the fat has been collected, it’s quickly purified and then injected into your lips. You should be able to return to work and resume normal activities a few days afterwards.
Afterwards
Your dermatologist or surgeon will give you care instructions and explain everything during your appointment. Generally, you’ll need to sleep with your head elevated, and apply an ice pack throughout the day to reduce swelling. You’ll also have to avoid using makeup or cosmetics in the lip area, and stick to soft foods for a few days while you heal.
Lip filler aftercare is relatively easy, since this is the least invasive option. Lip filler swelling stages will gradually reduce over a few weeks as your filler settles into its final shape. If you notice any new swelling or inflammation, consult with your surgeon right away.
Benefits of Lip Fillers
Lip fillers and lip implants can make a huge difference in your appearance, since thin lips can prematurely age a person.
That said, it’s best to have realistic expectations and clear goals in mind if you’re considering it. Take a look online at lip filler before and after images and save the ones you like to discuss them with your provider.
Unlike lip implants or a lip lift, hyaluronic acid lip filler is reversible. It can be dissolved if you don’t like the results. Also, the procedure ranges from the subtle to the dramatic, so you can experiment with gradual changes.
Potential Side Effects of Lip Augmentations
Lip augmentation is generally a very safe procedure and complications are extremely rare. The most common risks are allergic reactions, infections, and lip filler migration.
It’s rare for people to have an allergic reaction to hyaluronic acid or their own body fat, but tell your provider right away if you experience unusual itching, swelling or discomfort on your lips.
Migrated lip filler is actually a very rare complication, and can usually be avoided by going to an experienced surgeon who knows how much to inject and understands the proper techniques.
Lip Filler Shapes to Enhance Your Natural Beauty
Filler can be injected into your lips using specific techniques to create different shapes to suit your face and match your beauty goals. The most popular lip filler shapes include:
Russian Style Lips
One popular style of lip filler injections is Russian lip filler, where the lip injections are administered vertically to create flatter, heart-shaped lips.
Cupid’s Bow Enhancement
This highlights the cupid’s bow on the upper lip, filling it out subtly. Many people also plump up their lower lip at the same time.
Heart-Shaped Lips
The surgeon adds volume to the center of your lips, tapering it out towards the corners gradually for a youthful look.
“Natural” Lips
This is subtle lip filler that keeps the natural shape of your lips and just works to volumize them and smooth out fine lines.
Corner Lift
Filler is used to volumize and fill out the corners of your lips subtly to give your mouth a less downturned appearance.
Rounded And Full Lips
Filler is injected throughout to create more dramatic volume. These are often the dramatic results that you’ll see with a full 1ml lip filler before and after thin lips are treated.
How to Find the Best Lip Filler Near Me?
The easiest way to find the best lip filler or lip augmentations near you is to use Belliata’s free booking platform for beauty services. Simply type in “lip augmentation near me” and press enter. You’ll be able to compare med spas and aesthetic medicine clinics in your area, see what services they offer, check out their prices, and even read other client’s reviews. When you’re ready to book an appointment, you can also do this online through the app.
Recommendations
Making subtle changes to your lips can have a dramatic effect on your face, and many people are surprised when they see their results.
If you’re considering lip augmentation, your first step should be to figure out exactly what your beauty goals are. This will help you to work with a surgeon or dermatologist to come up with a plan and choose the best options for you.