Lip Augmentation with Dermal Fillers

Full, luscious and well defined lips are features that all women desire. Unfortunately heredity, aging and dental problems cause the lips to thin and flatten. Lip augmentation can restore lips to their youthful, sexy shape or give individuals with naturally thin lips, volume they never had before in one short visit.

Adults of any age respond well to lip augmentation. There are many products used for lip augmentation, the most popular being dermal fillers such as Restylane and Juvederm. This is due to short recovery time and natural appearance achieved with these products.

During your initial consultation at Reflections we will want to understand your treatment goals. The size and shape of the lips is a very personal decision and though we will advise you, first we will want to know your wishes. It is important to realize that your present lips are the foundation we will build on; attempts to dramatically change the size and shape of your lips may result in an unnatural look and should be avoided.  It is important to choose a physician who performs this procedure regularly as it truly is an art. Our philosophy at Reflections is to create more aesthetically pleasing appearance to the lips, but for them to look perfectly natural and NOT overdone!





What happens to the lips as you age?

As women age, lips lose their volume and the lip border becomes blurry. The arch of the upper lip (cupid’s bow) flattens and vertical lines develop above the lips, causing lipstick to bleed into the white lip above.  The corners of the lips begin to curl downward, giving the appearance of being unhappy.
 

Why are fillers like Restylane, Juvederm and Perlane the most popular products used to enhance the lips today?

These fillers are made out of hyaluronic acid. a clear, biodegradable substance that occurs naturally in the skin. Hyaluronic acid binds with water molecules. Once injected into the lips, hyaluronic acid-based fillers moisturize as well as plump the lips and provide more longer-lasting results than collagen which was used previously. These fillers give a natural appearance and feel to the lips and have the advantage of not being permanent, lasting about six months.
 

Do I need to do anything ahead of time?

It is advisable to avoid things that can increase bruising before lip augmentation such as aspirin, ibuprofen, vitamin E, St. Johns wort, etc. For those who are prone to cold sores, the use of oral antiviral medicines such as Famvir or Valtrex is recommended.


What is the treatment like?

Digital photographs are taken before and after the procedure. We usually pre-treat the lips with lidocaine anesthetic like the dentist to make the procedure completely painless. During the treatment, the physician will regularly hand you a mirror to get feedback regarding the appearance and size of your lips. The entire process takes about 30 minutes. Ice is applied after the treatment is done. Strenuous exercise and UV exposure should be avoided for 24-48 hours after the procedure. Smiling should be limited,too,but this is difficult when our patients see their lips in the mirror after treatment.
 

What areas of the lip can be enhanced?




What is the treatment like?

Digital photographs are taken before and after the procedure. We usually pre-treat the lips with lidocaine anesthetic like the dentist to make the procedure completely painless. During the treatment, the physician will regularly hand you a mirror to get feedback regarding the appearance and size of your lips. The entire process takes about 30 minutes. Ice is applied after the treatment is done. Strenuous exercise and UV exposure should be avoided for 24-48 hours after the procedure. Smiling should be limited,too,but this is difficult when our patients see their lips in the mirror after treatment.
 

What areas of the lip can be enhanced?
 
There are many different approaches to enhancing the lips and this is determined by your goals, your anatomy and your age.
The vermilion border, the junction between the white and red part of the lips, is an important area to treat with dermal fillers. By injecting this region, we can define the lip border better, similar to wearing lip liner.  This can also help with lines that cross through this area. To increase the volume we inject the body of the lip (red area). This can create a pouty look and evert the lip outwards so that more of red shows. As a general rule we would like the bottom lip to be one and a half times the size of the upper lip (or 40/60, upper to lower lip).

The oral commissures are located in the corners of the mouth. This area usually increases in size with age. Filling this area turns the corners of the lips horizontally, or even upwards creating a more positive and happy appearance.

The philtrum consists of the two lines in the centre of the upper lip that connects to the nose. By enhancing this double-ridge, it is possible to give the upper lip more shape and curve, enhancing the sensuality of the lips.
 
The cupid’s bow, or the V shaped area in the centre of the upper lip can also be enhanced with dermal fillers. Done in conjunction with the philtrum, it can achieve a pleasant overall shape to the upper lip.
  
 
What are the side effects of lip enhancement?

The main side effects after lip augmentation with dermal fillers are temporary swelling or bruising. This can be minimized with avoidance of medications that can cause bruising and ice application after the procedure.  Lumps that develop in the lips usually suggest poor technique on the part of the practitioner.  Occasionally lip injections can cause cold sores to reappear. This can be avoided or treated with oral antiviral medicines.
 
 
What other options are there for lip enhancement?

The more invasive treatment options for lip enhancement include fat injections and implants. These techniques have become less popular due to the explosion of dermal filler options.