Injectables

Your Guide To Lip Injections, Fillers And Augmentation

We’ve all heard about lip augmentation. Yet have you ever wondered why it’s so popular? Let’s just say that having full, plump lips is often considered a sign of good health, beauty, and, most importantly, youth. Whether you were born with thin lips or your lips are thinning due to the natural aging process, there are many ways to enhance them. The best way, however, is by using dermal fillers.

Want a traffic-stopping pout? There are a few things you should know before undergoing a lip augmentation procedure. Before considering lip augmentation, it’s crucial to understand the shape of the lips, how the process works, what is used and if there are any alternatives. You should especially consider lip augmentation if:

Your lips have always been thin and disappear when you smile
Your lips have become thinner and less full
You feel self-conscious about how your lips look
Having fuller lips will help balance your face

Lip Augmentation with Dermal Fillers

It’s important that you take a subtle approach to lip augmentation. You don’t want your lips looking disproportionately big. Knowing that subtlety is key is one thing, but it’s also important to realize that shape is just as important as size and is essential for achieving a natural look. The most common lip augmentation procedure is to use injectable dermal fillers, such as Juvéderm.

The real art of lip augmentation, however, is knowing where to inject dermal fillers, and how much to use. Using dermal fillers for lip augmentation allow physicians to shape the lips, making the borders more defined, and your pout more pronounced. But it’s crucial that physicians enhance your beauty rather than trying to create something different. We’ve all seen the results of botched lip augmentations – just look at Laura Summers, Meg Ryan or Lisa Rinna. So picking out an experienced physician is crucial.

How do you pick out a suitable physician for lip enhancement? You first have to go to someone who is educated in more than just the tissue. Your doctor should know about the skeleton underneath. If you have buck teeth, for example, your physician should capitalize on your original shape. By being able to evaluate it, you can enhance it. Your doctor has to understand the jaw and dental work. Luckily, there are only about six different types of lip shapes, and they are all influenced by orthodontia. Look for a physician with a background in oral surgery or cosmetic dentistry – it will let them better enhance your natural lip shape.

The Ins and Outs of Plumping Up Those Lips

These days, an injectable dermal filler is the most commonly used method of lip augmentation. There are many types of dermal fillers that can be injected in your lips and around your mouth. But the most common fillers today are products that contain substances similar to hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is a natural substance found in the body, and it helps increase volume in the lips. Collagen, fat injections and implants are other methods to plump lips, but they aren’t used very often anymore because the results vary too much and there is a greater risk of side effects.

What can you expect from your first procedure? Injectable lip augmentation techniques can be performed quickly in a doctor’s office with little to no downtime. Fat injection is the exception since the procedure requires a small area of liposuction to remove fat from another part of the body before the injection can take place. Before the injections, a topical or local numbing agent may be applied to ease discomfort. Sometimes injections can be given before the treatment to completely numb the lips. This is similar to the anesthetic injections that you get at the dentist to numb your mouth. Occasionally a dental block is used instead to ease discomfort. Then filler – usually one featuring hyaluronic acid – is injected evenly along the natural lines of your upper and lower lips.

There are different areas of the lips that may need attention. Your lips consist of skin and mucosa, with the space between them creating what is called the vermillion border. The natural arches of the upper lip are known as the Cupid’s bow. A successful lip enhancement procedure will augment the lips while preserving a natural appearance in these areas. Your doctor will carefully inject the filler in each area and then massage the material to ensure a proper contour. The entire lip augmentation procedure should only take less than half an hour to complete.

It may take some time for the effects of your anesthesia to wear off, so you might not want to return to your normal routine immediately. You’ll need to minimize the movement of the treated area for a while after treatment. Some additional aftercare tips include:

Avoid touching your lips and mouth for at least six to eight hours.
If you’re experiencing swelling and tenderness, apply ice packs on your lips.
For the first two days, wash the area with lukewarm water – don’t use soaps or facial cleansers.
Use a straw to drink any liquid and stick to soft foods for a few of days.
It is normal for your lips to feel itchy. Resist the temptation to scratch, peel, or rub them since this can cause irritation and scarring.
Don’t use ibuprofen or aspirin as this can increase bruising and bleeding.

During the months that follow your lip augmentation, your body will metabolize the injected product and naturally clear it away. If you’re using a hyaluronic acid-based filler such as Juvéderm, your results will last roughly six months.

Plump It Up with LaserAway

Want to learn more about lip augmentation? Then contact LaserAway today for a free, no-obligation consultation. We’re proud to offer the most medical spa service options of any national skincare provider. We hire only the most highly trained staff experienced and certified in administering laser and other dermatological procedures. What’s more, we use only the most innovative techniques and cutting-edge laser technology. We aim to make your medical spa experience comfortable, enjoyable and satisfying. Schedule a free, no-obligation consultation today by emailing LaserAway.com or calling the staff at LaserAway at (888) 965-2737. We look forward to helping you plump up your lips.