Do you want a fuller pair of luscious lips? These days, men and women alike want fuller lips that appear voluminous and supple. Unfortunately, as we age, our lips are the first to lose their luster and suppleness, caving into the pressures of age, sun exposure, and pollutants to become chapped, thin, and lifeless. However, thanks to advancements in cosmetic treatments, you now have more options than ever to achieve a perfect pair of luscious lips, including lip fillers, lip implants, fat grafting, and tissue grafting (with skin removal surgery).
Lip Fillers: Nonsurgical Lip Augmentation
Lip fillers are the least invasive methods of achieving fuller lips — the doctor injects these fillers into the upper or lower lips to produce the desired results. Lip filler treatments are in-office and outpatient procedures that conclude within 10 to 20 minutes, and you can resume your daily activities immediately.
During the consultation, the cosmetic doctor examines your lips, discusses your expectations, and takes pictures of your lips to curate the ideal treatment plan for your specific needs. During the procedure, the doctor creates a treatment map on your face, i.e., they mark out injection spots with a pen. Finally, the doctor injects the fillers into the strategically-chosen spots to ensure optimal results.
There are several lip filler options to choose from, including Juvederm, Restylane, Voluma, and Perlane. Your cosmetic doctor will discuss the pros and cons of all these lip fillers and recommend the ideal lip filler for you. All lip fillers are temporary, and their results usually wear off within six months, so you need to schedule regular lip fillers to maintain the results.
Lip Implants
Lip implants are a more permanent lip augmentation option for those who want to maintain voluminous lips without regular trips to the doctor’s office. During your consultation, the cosmetic doctor will examine your lips, discuss your lip implant options, and consider your cosmetic goals to curate the ideal lip implants treatment plan.
During the procedure, your lips will be sterilized, anesthetized, and then incisions will be made around your mouth's corners. The doctor will use a curved alligator clamp to create a tunnel within the lips. The implant material will then be inserted into the tunnel, placed between the lip muscles and lip fat. Finally, the doctor will suture the incisions.
Lip implant is a surgical outpatient procedure conducted under local anesthesia. While you don't feel any pain during the procedure, you may feel some discomfort later. However, you can resume most of your daily activities immediately, though you'll need to practice caution for a few days. The best part is that lip implants are permanent, and you won't need to return for "touch-ups."
Autologous Lip Augmentation with Fat Transfer (Fat Grafting)
Autologous lip augmentation is another brilliant surgical procedure to permanently enhance your lips. Unlike lip implants, this procedure relies on fat tissues harvested from your own body (autologous) and planted into your lips. During the consultation, the cosmetic doctor will examine your lips, discuss your expectations, and determine if sufficient fat can be harvested from your abdomen.
During the procedure, the doctor harvests fat tissues from your abdomen, usually from around the belly button. Next, the fat tissues are purified and injected into strategically-chosen locations in your lips. The entire procedure concludes within 90 minutes, and you can resume most of your daily activities immediately, though you may experience some post-procedural discomfort. The results last for at least 5 years.
Autologous Lip Augmentation with Skin Removal Surgery (Tissue Grafting)
Autologous lip augmentation doesn’t have to rely on your body’s fat tissues, it can also be done through skin tissue grafting, i.e., a piece of your dermis is extracted, rolled into a cigar-like shape, and inserted within your lips for an enhanced appearance. This an in-office procedure conducted under local anesthesia.
During the tissue grafting procedure, the cosmetic doctor extracts skin tissues from the stomach region. Alternatively, the doctor can also use some of the excess skin tissues extracted during a facelift. The skin is removed, leaving behind a piece of dermis, which is then rolled and inserted into your lips. The procedure concludes within 90 minutes, and you retain the results for at least 5 years.
Why choose Richmond Plastic Surgeons for lip augmentation?
Richmond Plastic Surgeons is home to some of the best board-certified plastic surgeons in the Richmond area. Our plastic surgeons carefully examine your lips and discuss your cosmetic goals to recommend the ideal lip augmentation procedures for your specific needs. At Richmond, each treatment is specifically tailored to the patient’s individual needs — no two treatments are alike. This considered and highly-curated approach to lip augmentation ensures you achieve natural-looking results.