For patients whose lips are relatively thin and lack volume or definition, lip augmentation is the perfect solution. Performed using a mild local or topical anesthetic, lip enhancement is most commonly performed in an office setting using injectable fillers such as Juvederm®, Restylane® or Collagen (see Non-Surgical Cosmetic Procedures). Alternatively, if performed in conjunction with other procedures such as liposuction, lip augmentation may be done by replacing lost volume with a patient’s own fat, known as ‘autologous fat’ injection.
Lip augmentation can also be combined with a lip lift in situations in which there is a coexisting lip positional abnormality or size imbalance between the upper and lower lip (see ‘lip lift’ under Facial Cosmetic Procedures). Dr. Kimmel and his expert staff of Keystone Cosmetic will guide you through the process and are happy answer any questions you may have regarding lip augmentation.
No matter what technique is selected, lip augmentation represents a simple solution for enhancement of lip appearance, reversing early signs of aging and improving self-confidence.
When considering lip augmentation, or indeed any cosmetic procedure, be sure to select a qualified, experienced plastic surgeon, certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery (ABPS). As a board-certified plastic surgeon with over 15 years of clinical practice experience and member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) and American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (The Mark of Distinction in Cosmetic Plastic Surgery® ASAPS), Dr. Robert Kimmel welcomes the opportunity to help you achieve your goals for cosmetic enhancement and enjoy a happier, more confident lifestyle.
If you feel as if your lips have thinned, lip augmentation with Dr. Kimmel can be a great option. After all, plump lips are a tenet of youth. Or, if you’ve never been satisfied with your lips — their symmetry, their volume, even their overall shape — now you can improve them.
Just as your facial skin seems to sag and looks less firm as the years pass, the same happens to your lips. The culprit is decreasing collagen production. Every year after you turn 20 your body produces one additional percentage point less collagen. If you’re 50, your body is producing 30 percent less collagen than when you were young. And because collagen is responsible for the skin’s underlying structural support, this decrease creates sagging and volume loss.
Your lips are not immune. It’s not your imagination — they have thinned noticeably with age. Also, vertical lip lines form as volume decreases.
Dr. Kimmel’s goal with lip augmentation is unique to each patient. You may want to erase some vertical lip lines. Or you may want to make your lips more symmetrical. Or maybe you simply want plumper, more kissable lips!
These are some specific areas Dr. Kimmel considers with lip augmentation:
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Dr. Kimmel uses mainly hyaluronic acid dermal fillers for lip augmentation. But he also uses collagen or the patient’s own fat, if desired. He likes hyaluronic acid because it is a naturally occurring substance in the human body whose job is to firm and plump the skin. It does so by combining with water molecules at the injection sites. These fillers are easy to work with and results can be finely tuned.
These are the hyaluronic acid fillers Dr. Kimmel uses for lip augmentation:
Juvederm® Ultra XC is intended to visibly plump the lips. Ultra can fill in fine lines and add definition to the borders and fill volume throughout.
Restylane® Silk is specifically formulated for lip augmentation and for filling vertical lip lines. Compared with the other Restylane® fillers, Silk is formulated with smaller hyaluronic acid particles, making it perfect for plumping and adding volume to the lips, but not in an overly showy way.
Belotero Balance® is formulated from smaller hyaluronic acid molecules. This “light weight” filler is perfect for treating fine lines and more shallow corrections.
The great thing about opting for injected fillers for augmentation is that you can demo new lips, without committing to surgery. If you want to see what your lips look like with more volume, you can do that. If you don’t like them, you can reverse the hyaluronic acid or just wait for six months to a year for the hyaluronic acid to eventually become absorbed. With surgical augmentation, once in place, you’re not likely to be adjusting the lip implants. However, if you’re happy with the results of lips injections, then placement of a lip implant can provide a permanent volume enhancement.
What Our Patients Are Saying:
“The staff is so friendly and welcoming. Dr. Kimmel takes the time to explain everything to you before any cosmetic procedure!” -Michele
Juvederm® Ultra will add volume and shape to your lips for up to one year. At that point, the body will fully absorb the hyaluronic acid and your results will begin to flag. Restylane® Silk lasts around six months. Collagen lasts from six weeks to six months, as different people absorb it at different rates. Injected fat can last longer in some patients, but in others its duration seems to be about equal to Juvederm®.
To keep you comfortable during your lip augmentation, Dr. Kimmel first applies a mild local to “block” or “numb” each region of the lip to be treated. Plus, the needles used are very small. This ensures your session will be comfortable. There isn’t any recovery time after your session.
Juvederm® and Restylane® are fillers that have been used hundreds of thousands of times around the world for over a decade. Their lip augmentation offerings are no different. They are made from hyaluronic acid, which occurs naturally in the body, so reactions are almost unheard of. There can be some slight swelling or bruising, but if you gently ice your lips after your session that minimizes this.
Schedule an appointment with a Lip Augmentation specialist who will review all the details about this procedure and answer any questions or concerns you may have before proceeding. Call our offices in Pottsville at 570-622-2900 or in Hazleton at 570-455-4252 or complete an online contact form and our office will be in touch with you shortly thereafter. Thank you for choosing Keystone Cosmetic Surgery Center, we look forward to seeing you!
For more details on this procedure or to schedule a consultation, please call Robert M. Kimmel, MD, FACS, PC or contact us via email