Do your lips keep you from being happy with your appearance? Daniel Man, M.D., a Florida board-certified plastic surgeon, can help you change the fullness or outline of your lips to provide a more aesthetically pleasing appearance, giving you a smile you’ll love. Dr. Man offers lip augmentation to residents in Boca Raton, FL, and the surrounding communities.

What is Lip Augmentation?

Lip enhancement also called lip augmentation or a lip lift includes a variety of processes designed to make your lips look younger, fuller, and less wrinkled or thin. Many patients combine a lip lift with other facial work, to ensure all parts of the face regain their youthful appearance.

Types of Lip Augmentation

There are two main ways to augment the lips to get the fuller lips: fillers and implants. The desired look and amount of maintenance are the two main factors that determine the type of augmentation to be used.

Lip Enhancement with Fillers

Lip augmentation can be achieved in several ways depending on the patient’s goals. Fillers are one of the fastest and least invasive ways to create plump, attractive lips. In the past, collagen injections were the favored way to get the “bee stung” appearance, but today’s hyaluronic dermal fillers are favored over collagen, as they allow more control and have less risk of complications.

Hyaluronic acid is naturally occurring in the body. Hyaluronic fillers can improve the appearance of your lips by adding shape, structure, and volume, and the effects generally last six months or more. The fillers used may contain lidocaine, or a topical anesthetic may be used prior to the injections.

Benefits of Hyaluronic Acid Fillers

Once injected, the gel in the filler will both support and shape the lip tissue, providing a natural, full look that will last for several months and which can be adjusted if desired. Hyaluronic fillers provide:

  • Control over the amount of substance injected, leading to control of lip volume
  • The option of a gradual pace of treatment spread out over several appointments until the desired look is achieved
  • The ability for any unevenness or “bumps” to even out as the filler dissolves
  • A procedure that causes less bruising that traditional lip fillers
  • Results that can last up to six months or longer and can be maintained with regular visits to Dr. Man’s office
  • Low risk of allergic reaction (tell Dr. Man if you are allergic to lidocaine)

Lip Enhancement with an Implant

Dr. Man also offers his patients the PermaLip™ facial implant by SurgiSil™. This implant is made of soft shaped silicone that looks and feels natural, providing a more lip augmentation. These silicone lip implants come in different sizes and shapes for a customized appearance and are smooth and non-porous in surface texture.

Benefits of PermaLip™ Implants

The Permalip™ lip implant is designed to look and feel natural, whether applying makeup, eating or drinking, or kissing. The implants are made from a soft silicone solid that will not rupture, break, or cause scar tissue to form around the implant. Lip implants are safe and comfortable, and provide:

  • An option that can be implemented after a patient has already had injectable lip fillers
  • A comfortable alternative to harder solid implants that look and feel unnatural
  • A variety of diameters and lengths to accommodate your unique lip shape and desires
  • Removability if for any reason you decide you don’t want the implant anymore
  • Extremely low risk of infection or complication

Is Lip Augmentation Right for Me?

If you have thin, narrow lips, want a “cupid’s bow” in the center of your upper lip, or find that your lips noticeably turn down, lip augmentation may be right for you. Additionally, you may be a good candidate for lip enhancement if you want fuller lips or have vertical lines that tend to accentuate lipstick bleeding.

How Involved is Lip Augmentation?

For injectable fillers, the procedure is very quick and virtually painless. Fillers containing hyaluronic acid are injected into the targeted area of the lips and massaged to even out the appearance of the lips. The treatment takes 30-60 minutes and shows visible results immediately.

As for lip implants, PermaLip™ lip enhancement is relatively simple to perform and takes between 30 and 60 minutes as well. The mouth and lips are locally anesthetized, and a small incision is made in each corner of the mouth. The PermaLip™ implant is then passed through a tunnel in the lip and positioned in the center. The process is then repeated for the other lip, and the incisions are closed using absorbable sutures.

How is the Recovery from Lip Augmentation?

There is no definitive recovery or downtime with injectable fillers. Individuals typically return to their normal activities immediately following their appointment. To maintain the appearance of the lips, most fillers last between six and 12 months and require touch-up appointments.

With lip implants, the healing period is usually quick with little or no pain after the first few days in surgical cases. There may be a little tightness or some swelling around the mouth, which diminishes quickly. If there are stitches, they are removed after a week or two. PermaLip™ implants require very little maintenance, although they are removable should a patient decide they no longer want them.

How Much Does Lip Augmentation Cost?

The cost of lip augmentation varies depending on the type of treatment performed and the extent of the treatment. During a consultation, Dr. Man discusses the cost, as well as payment options and financing available.

What Do I Do Next?

If you are interested in lip augmentation, we recommend you schedule a consultation with Dr. Man to evaluate your lips, review your medical history and make a recommendation as to whether lip augmentation, as well as which type of augmentation, is the best option for you.

We ask that you also provide Dr. Man with the following so he can provide you with the best and safest treatments for you:

  • Any past or present medical conditions
  • Medical treatments you have received in the past
  • Past surgeries or hospitalizations
  • Allergies or sensitivities
  • Current medications
  • Any plans for weight loss

Daniel Man, M.D., a Florida board-certified plastic surgeon, performs lip augmentation on people living in and around Boca Raton, FL, to give them fuller lips and a more youthful and glowing smile. Please contact us to set up your consultation today.

*The information about lip augmentation was reviewed by Dr. Daniel Man. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us using our contact form below.