Lip augmentation creates fuller, plumper lips and reduces fine wrinkles around the mouth. Patients who request lip augmentation either want fuller lips than they were born with or want to restore the fullness they had when younger. Augmentation can enhance the red part of the lips (vermillion) and accentuate the thin white roll of tissue surrounding the lips.
Injected Materials
Most BodyAesthetic patients choose injected tissue fillers for lip augmentation. The most popular include natural materials such as collagen, or synthetic biocompatible materials such as HylaForm and Restylane. A patient’s own fat from another site in the body is also a good choice. One injection is usually sufficient to produce the desired result, but the amount of augmentation diminishes over time. (Time varies with different injectable materials.)
Tissue filler injections are done in the office and typically have little downtime, though there may be some redness, mild swelling, or itching. Most patients leave the office and go about their business. Injections with Restylane and fat are more likely to cause lip swelling, which should mostly disappear after 1 or 2 days with Restylane and within a week after fat injection.
