The Best Options For Lip Enhancement
Fuller lips are becoming more and more popular, and it’s never been easier to achieve this look. There are myriad lip enhancement treatments currently available, all of which come with unique benefits and drawbacks.
Surgical options like lip lifts and fat and tissue grafting can yield more permanent results, but do come with a longer recovery time and a higher risk for complications. Lip fillers provide a non-invasive alternative that carries the benefit of a shorter recovery period and less risk of side effects.
Having this many options can be overwhelming and undergoing any cosmetic procedure requires careful consideration. If you are considering lip enhancement, take some time to evaluate your options to decide what is right for you and your aesthetic goals.
Below, we will break down some of the most popular types of lip enhancements to help you make an informed decision.
Lip Lifts
Lip lifts come in a variety of techniques, all of which require incisions. The three basic lifts are: 1.) lifting from the base of the nose, 2.) lifting from the edge of the lip, 3.) plumping from incisions inside the mouth.
The biggest downside of lip lifts is a potentially visible scar. The greatest benefit of lip lifts is that they are permanent and can correct not just the lack of volume in one’s lip, but also change the ratio of the face creating a more pleasant or youthful appearance.
Fat And Tissue Grafting
For those seeking a more permanent option that does not involve facial incisions, fat and tissue grafting, using parts of your own body for lip enhancement, may be a better option.
During fat transfer, a surgeon harvests fat from another part of your body before it is purified and injected into the lips. During tissue grafting, a surgeon grafts a piece of your own skin – sometimes removed in a related cosmetic procedure, like a face lift – and inserts it into your lips.
Both procedures entail a three to five day recovery period. You may experience side effects like pain, bruising, and asymmetry.
While results with fat or tissue grafting last longer than fillers, they are less predictable, though the results can often be permanent.
Lip Injections
Dermal fillers have become a highly popular form of lip enhancement in recent years – and for good reason. They are a completely non-invasive, cheaper alternative to options like implants and grafting. While results do not last as long, lip fillers come with a significantly lower risk of complications and a shorter recovery time.
There are multiple types of injectables on the market used for lip enhancement, Juvederm and Restylane among the most popular. Both use hyaluronic acid, a sugar found naturally in the skin, that adds volume to the lips.
Juvederm
There are multiple types of Juvederm on the market. Juvederm Ultra XC and Juvederm Ultra Plus XC are both frequently used for lip enhancement, with Ultra Plus XC being slightly thicker. A practitioner can help you select the right type of Juvederm for your aesthetic goals. Other Juvederm products include Volbella, Vollure, and Voluma, all of which can be used in the lips in the right circumstance.
During Juvederm injections, your practitioner may apply a numbing agent to your lips, depending on your preferences, and then administer injections to the treatment area. This should take no more than 30 minutes and you can immediately return to your daily activities.
While some patients experience mild bruising and swelling, there are usually no side effects. Results generally last nine months to a year.
Restylane
Like Juvederm, there are multiple types of Restylane on the market, such as Restylane Silk and Restylane Kysse. Your practitioner should be able to help you pick the right type of Restylane to meet your goals. Other forms of Restylane include Refyne, Defyne, as well as Lyft. They all have their ideal, differing clinical applications.
Getting Restylane is more or less the same as getting Juvederm injections. It takes no more than 30 minutes and entails no recovery time. While you may experience bruising or swelling, this should clear up within a few days.
Both practitioners and patients have preferences of which products to use for their lip enhancements, often trying several different products can help elucidate which is best for you.
Lip Enhancement: The Bottom Line
There have never been more treatment options for those seeking fuller, plumper lips – especially for those seeking simple, non-invasive treatments.
While options like fat grafting and lip implants can last a long time, lip fillers can have dramatic results without a lengthy recovery period and carry a low risk for complications. Dermal fillers are a large reason lip enhancement is becoming so popular – they make treatment incredibly quick and easy.
Ready to get started? BLUSH Beverly Hills is run by a skilled team of practitioners with years of experience in a wide array of cosmetic procedures. We treat every client like an individual and help them build a treatment plan to meet their goals. Reach out here to schedule a consultation.