Facial Contouring

lip enhancement

Due to the social emphasis on having a perfect body and facial appearance, many individuals turn to modern cosmetic surgery to achieve their aesthetic goals. Having full, plump lips is generally associated with youth and beauty, so many women turn to lip augmentation in order to attain a more desirable look to the face. Women looking to restore volume to the lips lost to the aging process turn to lip enhancement for lips that are fuller and more youthful. Men and women alike may be good candidates for lip augmentation.

Depending on the wants or needs of the patient, the intended results may vary. Typically, the intention is to give patients the fuller lips they desire. Other results of this operation include defined lip edges or a younger looking pout.

At The Freeman Center for Plastic Surgery in The Woodlands we have spent the last 25 years studying the aging process on the face. Under the direction of experienced board certified plastic surgeon Dr. Phillip Freeman we can help you select the right lip enhancement procedure such as Lip Augmentation.

Lip Enhancement Facts

Those who opt to undergo lip augmentation can select one of the following injections that will be inserted into the lips to give the patient a plumper pout:

AUTOLOGOUS FAT

• With this injection, fat is harvested through mini-liposuction and re-injected into the lips on a routine basis. Alternatively, a large quantity of fat can be injected in a single sitting. In addition to the implantation of some fat cells, new collagen and fibroblasts are stimulated. Over the year, about 40% will become permanent.

ALLODERM®

• Alloderm® is donor tissue with all of the viable cells removed. Under local anesthesia, it can be placed into both the body of the lip to create more volume and into the vermilion to add definition. Occasionally, it may be combined with Softform®. The implant is very soft and relatively long lasting. Studies have shown that your own cells will grow into the implant, making it permanent. After several years, however, some of the product may be absorbed and the procedure may need to be performed again.

SOFTFORM®

• Softform® is an updated version of Gortex. A hollow tube of Gortex is inserted into the lips under local anesthesia. This procedure will enhance the vermilion border but it unfortunately does not provide large volume correction. The results are permanent as long as the implant is in place. On rare occasion, the ends of the implant can come out, thus necessitating a "touch-up" procedure.

BOVINE COLLAGEN

• This is the traditional Collagen that has been inserted into patients' lips for years. Because the collagen is derived from animal sources, a patient must have a skin test before the surgery to determine whether or not they are allergic to it. During the procedure, collagen can be injected into the edges of the lips to crisp the line, into the body of the lip to increase the red lip, or both. Collagen will need to be re-injected every few months.

DERMALOGEN®

• Dermalogen® is the newest product on the market for lip enhancement. Donor skin is used to make a high concentration collagen that can be injected into the lips. Preliminary studies indicate that it is non-allergenic and may last longer than Bovine Collagen.

RESTYLENE®

• Restylene® is made of hyaluronic acid, another ground substance in the skin. The acid is cross-linked so that when it is injected it will have a longer lasting result. While Restylene® will last longer than Bovine Collagen, some patients have reported intermittent lip swelling while the Restylene® is in place. It is not currently FDA approved.

All surgical procedures carry certain risks with them. The specific risks you face with lip augmentation, however, cannot be fully known until a consultation takes place. While major complications are rare with these procedures, minor complications occasionally arise. These do not affect the outcome of the procedure.

Lip Enhancement Recuperation and Healing

Lip augmentation is typically performed on an outpatient basis. Depending on the procedure used, the doctor will use general anesthesia, local anesthesia, or topical anesthesia on the patient.

Patients should expect to experience bruising and swelling for up to a week after the operation. They are recommended to avoid work and exercise for a few days following the procedure. Pain should last for a couple of days, but it should be easily controlled through oral medication.

Lip Enhancement and Other Cosmetic Options

Aside from injections, those wishing to attain fuller lips may choose to undergo local flap grafting. Patients desiring more dramatic results may want to consider: face lift, rhinoplasty, and facial laser resurfacing.

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