For many, full lips convey a sense of youth and vitality. As people age, they tend to lose volume in their face, which begins to look shallow and hollow. One particular area that demonstrates this loss in the early years of aging is the lips, which begin to lose their volume in the person’s late 40’s or early 50’s. Lip augmentation is a relatively simple procedure which can restore much needed volume in the aging face, or in anyone who has naturally thin lips.
Lip augmentation can be achieved with a wide variety of natural or synthetic products. Some examples would be a patient’s own fat or fascia, alloderm, silicone implants, or injectable fillers such as Restylane or Juvederm. Most doctors will have a preference on which method works best for them and their patients.
My personal preference is to use either a hyaluronic acid filler (such as Restylane or Juvederm) or a permanent lip implant. In terms of fillers, the hyaluronic acid fillers are safe with virtually no side effects. Hyaluronic acids are essentially a naturally-occurring gel-like substance which surrounds the cells of our body. This product feels natural to the touch and is easily injected with minimal bruising. The result is naturally appearing full lips without hardness, overcorrection, or lumpiness. The drawback is that the constant motion of the lips makes these fillers absorb and lose their effect relatively quickly.
For those desiring a more permanent correction, my preference is to use a permanent lip implant called SurgiSil (www.surgisil.com). This lip implant has an elegant and simple design and has a very low reported side effect profile. The implant can be placed in a brief office procedure through a tiny incision at the corner of the mouth. The very natural outcome is permanent, and does not require additional procedures.
Whether you are looking to enhance naturally thin lips or want to obtain a more youthful, vivacious appearance, the various methods of lip augmentation outlined above provide a safe, simple, and effective way to get there.
Click here to learn more about lip augmentation and see before & after photos. If you would like to schedule a consultation with Dr. John Burns, just call his office at 214-515-0002 or send an email to: info@DrJohnBurns.com. Dr. Burns and his staff look forward to helping you.