Lip Augmentation surgery
It usually takes about 30 minutes to an hour and 15 minutes, depending upon the technique and the skill of the surgeon. Your surgery may take longer if other procedures are being performed in conjunction with your lip augmentation, such as a lip lift or non-lip procedures.
If you are being put under anesthesia, you may be hooked up to a saline IV drip before going into the operating room. Once you're there, the staff will hook you up to a heart monitor and your vital signs will be checked before going any further. You will possibly be marked up with a permanent surgical marker and scrubbed with Betadine to sterilize your incision area and the surrounding facial area.
The surgeon begins by making the incisions, which will be dictated by the procedure you are having. You should go over the intended technique with him or her prior to surgery so there are no surprises.
In the case of a lip implant, a tunnel is created to accommodate the implant. A proper tunnel is the difference between a poorly-placed and uneven graft and a symmetrical, natural-looking result. The implant is then clamped with an insertion device that usually comes with it, your lip is skewered and the implant is pulled through the lip. The implant(s) are trimmed to size and the incisions stitched closed.
Cosmetic Procedures and Lip Augmentation
You have many options to improve the appearance of your lips. The methods we discuss here also reduce fine lines and wrinkles around your lips. It's important to be realistic, too. Injections or implants can enhance and improve your natural look, but they're not about performing miracles.
Who Are the Best Candidates for Lip Augmentation?
You must be in good general health overall. You are not a good candidate for lip augmentation if you have:
Current cold sores
Certain diseases such as diabetes or lupus
Any scarring of the lips
Blood clotting problems
Like any other cosmetic surgery, lip augmentation requires a lot of responsibility. You can only determine for yourself if you're ready. We've included the most popular injections and implants here. This information should serve as a general overview only and should not replace your doctor's advice. Once you've selected a doctor, you will communicate with him or her and decide together which option best suits your needs.
As with any medical procedure, you should tell your doctor of any allergies or any medications that you are taking and you will be required to discuss your medical history. Certain diseases such as diabetes can increase your chances of complications.
Injections for Lip Augmentation
Your surgeon will most likely use topical anesthesia (painkiller applied directly to the lips) for injections. These are performed on an outpatient basis in your doctor's office or an outpatient center and you will be sent home the same day.
Here are the options:
Artecoll is a synthetic material that plumps up the lips. Because it's synthetic, you are at higher risk of having an allergic reaction to it than if you got an injection of collagen or fat, but it lasts longer than either.
Autologen is an injection of your own collagen, extracted from another place on your body. There's no risk of allergic reaction, however, the results are only temporary. This may be good for people who aren't ready to commit to a permanent result.
Collagen can be extracted from cows and injected into the lips. There's a risk of allergic reaction, so it's best to have your surgeon give you a test dose before proceeding to the full dose. The results are temporary lasting four weeks to three months.
Dermalogen - injectable Human Tissue Matrix (HTM) procured from donor tissue. This is also a temporary fix, but your body should not reject it.
Fascia injections - injectable donor tissue made from the dense white connective tissue that supports body structure. It can be implanted surgically or injected. The main drawback is that within a year of injection, your body will reabsorb the fascia.
Autologen - injectable dermal implant material made from the patient's own skin. There's no risk of allergic reaction and you may achieve permanent results. This can also be implanted surgically.
Radiance - calcium hydroxylapatite
Hylaform - crystal-clear injectable gelis, a material created from a natural body substances known as hyaluronic acid. There's no risk of infection, but you will need repeated treatments to maintain the result as it's only a temporary fix.
Restylane - crystal-clear injectable gel; the hyaluronic acid in Restylane is very close to that naturally found in the body. It's biodegradable, so your body will absorb it within about six months of the injection.
If you are being put under anesthesia, you may be hooked up to a saline IV drip before going into the operating room. Once you're there, the staff will hook you up to a heart monitor and your vital signs will be checked before going any further. You will possibly be marked up with a permanent surgical marker and scrubbed with Betadine to sterilize your incision area and the surrounding facial area.
The surgeon begins by making the incisions, which will be dictated by the procedure you are having. You should go over the intended technique with him or her prior to surgery so there are no surprises.
In the case of a lip implant, a tunnel is created to accommodate the implant. A proper tunnel is the difference between a poorly-placed and uneven graft and a symmetrical, natural-looking result. The implant is then clamped with an insertion device that usually comes with it, your lip is skewered and the implant is pulled through the lip. The implant(s) are trimmed to size and the incisions stitched closed.
Cosmetic Procedures and Lip Augmentation
You have many options to improve the appearance of your lips. The methods we discuss here also reduce fine lines and wrinkles around your lips. It's important to be realistic, too. Injections or implants can enhance and improve your natural look, but they're not about performing miracles.
Who Are the Best Candidates for Lip Augmentation?
You must be in good general health overall. You are not a good candidate for lip augmentation if you have:
Current cold sores
Certain diseases such as diabetes or lupus
Any scarring of the lips
Blood clotting problems
Like any other cosmetic surgery, lip augmentation requires a lot of responsibility. You can only determine for yourself if you're ready. We've included the most popular injections and implants here. This information should serve as a general overview only and should not replace your doctor's advice. Once you've selected a doctor, you will communicate with him or her and decide together which option best suits your needs.
As with any medical procedure, you should tell your doctor of any allergies or any medications that you are taking and you will be required to discuss your medical history. Certain diseases such as diabetes can increase your chances of complications.
Injections for Lip Augmentation
Your surgeon will most likely use topical anesthesia (painkiller applied directly to the lips) for injections. These are performed on an outpatient basis in your doctor's office or an outpatient center and you will be sent home the same day.
Here are the options:
Artecoll is a synthetic material that plumps up the lips. Because it's synthetic, you are at higher risk of having an allergic reaction to it than if you got an injection of collagen or fat, but it lasts longer than either.
Autologen is an injection of your own collagen, extracted from another place on your body. There's no risk of allergic reaction, however, the results are only temporary. This may be good for people who aren't ready to commit to a permanent result.
Collagen can be extracted from cows and injected into the lips. There's a risk of allergic reaction, so it's best to have your surgeon give you a test dose before proceeding to the full dose. The results are temporary lasting four weeks to three months.
Dermalogen - injectable Human Tissue Matrix (HTM) procured from donor tissue. This is also a temporary fix, but your body should not reject it.
Fascia injections - injectable donor tissue made from the dense white connective tissue that supports body structure. It can be implanted surgically or injected. The main drawback is that within a year of injection, your body will reabsorb the fascia.
Autologen - injectable dermal implant material made from the patient's own skin. There's no risk of allergic reaction and you may achieve permanent results. This can also be implanted surgically.
Radiance - calcium hydroxylapatite
Hylaform - crystal-clear injectable gelis, a material created from a natural body substances known as hyaluronic acid. There's no risk of infection, but you will need repeated treatments to maintain the result as it's only a temporary fix.
Restylane - crystal-clear injectable gel; the hyaluronic acid in Restylane is very close to that naturally found in the body. It's biodegradable, so your body will absorb it within about six months of the injection.
