Lip Augmentation: Everything you Need to know Types, Side Effects, Risks

Lip Augmentation Treatment is most common in women who want to change the volume and definition of the lip and are usually looking for a  result specially adapted to the face’s morphology to obtain a more natural appearance and avoid the dreaded effect of Lip Augmentation.

How can lips be augmented and what does it cost for getting Lip Augmentation done?

Stuffing is one of the most popular methods. It consists of the infiltration of hyaluronic acid in the lips to obtain greater volume and definition. Hyaluronic acid is a natural constituent of the skin, so it integrates perfectly into the tissue and offers a natural appearance,

However, aesthetic medicine treatment is not the only technique available for those who want to have fuller lips. It is possible to intervene with cosmetic surgery and cosmetic operations, such as the Lip Lift or PermaLip in Lip Augmentation

Therefore, there are different methods to increase the volume of this area that can be adapted according to the patient’s needs and wishes, both to create a more sensual mouth and to define the shape better.

 

What are the objectives?

With lip augmentation, various objectives can be sought, the most common of which are:

• Define the contours for a more sensual mouth and shape the Cupid’s bow.
• Increase the volume and have them meatier.
• Recreate the ratio between the upper and lower lip and restore the correct asymmetry, such as when the upper lip is too thin compared to the lower one,
• Reduce wrinkles in the perioral area, commonly referred to as “barcode,” that often appear in smokers.

 

Who are the candidates for Lip Augmentation ?

Men and women can use this procedure. However, the majority of patients are indeed women. Due to their anatomy or aging, the ideal candidates are people who have thin or asymmetrical lips. There is no age limit to increase; what has been recommended is to wait until 18 years.

Lip augmentation is contraindicated in patients with immune diseases, allergies to anesthetics, pregnant women, or breastfeeding.

 

How to choose your doctor for Lip Augmentation ?

Depending on the method chosen to increase the lips’ volume, you will need a plastic surgeon or an aesthetic doctor.

For a temporary increase, that is, with hyaluronic acid injections (fillers), you can go to a qualified doctor or surgeon for aesthetic medicine treatments. For surgical interventions such as the Permalip or Lip Lift, you will need a surgeon specialized in plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery.

As with any procedure, it is essential to see only recognized and licensed surgeons. We advise you to read other patients’ reviews on the Internet and do some research to see the treatment’s before and after photos.

Feel free to consult different doctors to get other opinions and find the doctor that best suits your needs. According to, the treatment must be exquisite since the patient comes to the consultation with a problem or concern, and the procedure must be explained very well together with its pros and cons so that he can make his assessment.

 

How is the first visit while Lip Augmentation looking like?

 

The anatomy of Lips

 

How does the Lip Augmentation and filling work?

A filling is the most common technique for lip augmentation since it is a simple, fast procedure performed in the clinic by an aesthetic doctor. It is also a method that gives temporary results since the filler’s substance is hyaluronic acid, which is resorbable and therefore not permanent.

Process

The filler procedure consists of a subcutaneous injection or infiltration performed with a skinny needle and lasts between 5 and 30 minutes. The resorbable substances used are mainly two, hyaluronic acid or collagen, both bio-compatible substances. Recovery is immediate, and it is possible to return immediately to all normal daily activities. Moreover, very fine needles are used, and the puncture is virtually unnoticeable.

Before treatment, the area to be treated is cleaned and disinfected, and then an anesthetic ointment is applied to make the injection painless for the patient. Also, there is a small amount of lidocaine in the fillers so that both the filler and the anesthetic are released during the injection time.

Results and duration of Lip Augmentation

The results last between 5 and 6 months, but the effect and duration can be subjective depending on the patient’s characteristics (age, skin type, smoke, sun exposure, etc.). The time of the effect will depend mainly on the brand of hyaluronic acid used.

The first days after the treatment, the lips’ volume may appear larger than desired or even exaggerated due to inflammation after the injection. It may also happen that after the first week, the acquired volume decreases due to the integration of hyaluronic acid with the tissues. Still, the substance will always be present and will serve as the basis for the second vial infiltration.

Complications and side effects of Lip Augmentation

Hyaluronic acid is a natural substance in the body, so the risk of allergies is shallow. However, it is possible that small bumps could compromise the result of that as small balls form in the area after injection of hyaluronic acid, which can be removed with a substance called hyaluronidase.

What are the best brands for Lip Augmentation?

There are many fillers on the market today, and some have been specifically designed for the lips. The most used and certified brands are:

• Allergan (Juvederm)
• Teoxane (Teosyal)
• Merz
• Restylan

It is essential to underline that the central aspect to focus on is not the brand of the product used but the doctor’s selection. or the cosmetic surgeon you can trust: it will be the doctor, a true professional and specialist in the field, to evaluate which product to choose.

According to a study In general, injections with hyaluronic acid is a safe and minimally invasive method that allows the perioral region to be augmented as long as the physician is aware of the many crucial anatomical structures.

 

Lipo – Filling (Lip Augmentation)

It is a surgical operation that must always be performed in an operating room and is performed on an outpatient basis without the need for a postoperative admission. The intervention lasts about 30 minutes and is performed under local anesthesia.

Before surgery, your surgeon will give you all the information you will need to prepare for lipofilling and will indicate when it is more appropriate to stop smoking before and after surgery or what medications you should take or avoid.

Process

In the procedure of lipofilling of the face, the tools used will be much thinner than those used for the body. The surgeon will have to collect the adipose tissue or autologous fat from the patient (usually from the stomach or thighs) with microcannulas to purify it and introduce it into the labial muscle contours of lips to rework the silhouette and increase the volume. The scars are invisible (less than 1mm) but will be hidden at the corners of the mouth. According to research, another benefit of fat is that it improves the skin’s quality due to its high content of stem cells.

The postoperative period of lipofilling does not present any particular discomfort, but your doctor will show you the tricks to follow and the best way to deal with this phase. If sutures are applied, they will be removed after approximately 4-5 days. It is advisable to resume work between 4 and 10 days after surgery and physical activity after three weeks.

Results and duration

The results are immediate, and the percentage of graft of the tissue transferred with lipofilling is between 30% and 60%. Therefore, the result is long-lasting and stable over time, unlike hyaluronic acid, which must be repeated after a few months. The final result can really be appreciated after three months, and in some cases, a second intervention may be necessary to touch up the volume and perfect the final effect.

Complications and side effects

Possible complications or side effects may include swelling, bruising, or bruising in the days following the operation. As with other procedures, there is the potential for cosmetic imperfections, such as excess volume or asymmetry.

 

Permalip (Permanent Lip Augmentation)

Another way to increase the volume of the lips, even if it is more invasive than the previous ones, is the insertion of the mini silicone prosthesis called Permalip.

Process of Permalip AKA Lip Augmentation

The Permalip is done with a cosmetic surgery procedure that lasts about 30-45 minutes. These prostheses are available in different sizes (3 lengths and three widths) and will be chosen according to the volume you want to achieve and the initial characteristics.

Also, the Permalip material is safe and does not spread into the surrounding tissues of the area inserted. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia and involves the incision of two minor cuts in the lip’s corners, which will then be closed with invisible stitches once the procedure is complete.

During the postoperative period, your doctor may recommend applying a soothing cream to facilitate the healing process. The used sutures are generally absorbable, and it will be possible to return to work after approximately 5-10 days, while physical activity can be resumed after three weeks.

Results and duration of Permalip Lip Augmentation

The result is immediately visible, although it will take a few days before it stabilizes. The final result, which will be permanent, can be seen after two months.

Complications and side effects of Permalip Lip Augmentation

The great advantage of this technique is the permanent result and its reversibility: if the patient is not satisfied with the result, they can ask to remove the implant without leaving marks and scars and return to the starting point with another surgical intervention of 30 minutes.

 

Lip lift (Lip Augmentation)

Here’s what we found about the lip lift or lift of the upper lip. It is not a procedure in itself to increase the volume of the lips, but it also affects the upper lip volume. Also, this technique, like Permalip, offers a definitive result.

Process of Lip Augmentation

This intervention may be advisable in cases where the patient has an excess of prolabe (that is, the white part of the lip) or when, with age, the vermilion of the upper lip has lost its tone, projection, or volume.

As this is a surgical procedure, it will be necessary to make 1 or 2 consultations with the surgeon before operating, to clarify all possible doubts. It is also recommended to stop smoking at least a month before the operation and continue without smoking even in the following month. You should also avoid taking aspirin or anti-inflammatory drugs for 15 days before lifting your lip.

The intervention lasts quickly, between 30 and 45 minutes, and is performed under local anesthesia. The surgeon makes an incision in the nostrils’ hollow, just below the nose, and then removes a small strip of skin located between the nose and the vermilion (the size varies depending on the result obtained) and will finally close the incision.

The procedure is not painful, and however, if during the postoperative period you experience discomfort, it will be possible to take simple analgesics, always following the instructions of your surgeon. In general, it is recommended to apply ice to the treated area to reduce swelling, which can last from 7 to 21 days. You can also use a soothing cream, and the stitches will be removed between the fifth and eighth day. You can get back to work after 5-10 days and physical activity after three weeks.

Results and duration of  Lip Augmentation

The results are immediate and definitive. The final results are visible after one month and a half. The scars will be invisible, and the upper lip will be larger, while the lips’ total length will be less.

Complications and side effects Lip Augmentation

You may feel some discomfort during the first 15 days, such as edema, changes in sensitivity, and excess mucosa regarding complications or side effects. Possible risks include irregularities or asymmetries that can affect the aesthetic result.

 

Here are some frequently asked questions

• Are there any contraindications to the filler? In general, there are no contraindications because hyaluronic acid is biocompatible. Naturally, people with serious pathologies treated with invasive drugs (for example, chemotherapy) or with symptoms of allergies should not undergo this treatment.
• Is it painful? Pain is generally well controlled by the anesthetic cream applied before treatment and by the local anesthetic contained in the filler.
• Is it dangerous? In medicine, any treatment can have risks of failure or even unpredictable side effects, but the treatment itself is not risky.
• After how long is the filler absorbed? It is subjective and depends on the metabolism and external factors, the amount injected, and the type of filler. In general, it goes from a minimum of 3 months to a maximum of 8 months.
• How can I keep the results longer? It is necessary to constantly treat the skin, lips, and lips, and often moisturize at least two times a day; cover the affected areas with a foundation to protect the skin from heat shock, avoid sun exposure.
• When hyaluronic acid is reabsorbed, how will the lips be? The lips tend to re-shape before treatment.

• Exactly two days ago, I injected plasma gel into my lips, and I got two balls up and down. Will that disappear by itself? I feel very worried, the person who put it on me told me that it is normal and that it will go away by itself, but it worries me. What can I do? Dear patient, they will probably disappear in no time if you do not check with your doctor again.
• Greetings.

 

• I would like to know what is the minimum age to put a hyaluron pen on the lips. If after the effect of this ends, how are your lips, if you notice a change in your natural lips or if it deforms them or something, I also would like to know the pros and cons before doing anything, better safe than sorry? The minimum age is if you are a minor in consent of your parents, and the result is lovely and natural, a greeting

 

• I had a lip augmentation with hyaluronic acid a little more than a week ago, and yesterday I saw a point on the edge of my upper lip. I squeezed it gently, and the hyaluronic acid began to come out. It was transparent (there is a small amount, but the case it comes out). Is it normal? Why is this happening? Hello, dear patient; although what you are commenting on is not a usual thing, it must be considered that only a week has passed. Therefore, the hyaluronic is not yet fully integrated into the tissues. Although in the labial mucosa, the filling is at a certain depth. It is difficult for pressure like the one you mention to make it come out. In the lip profile area, the hyaluronic is in a very superficial plane. The force applied to extract a pore, grain, or similar can make some of that hyaluronic come out. It is important to disinfect the area correctly to avoid risks of contamination or infection, and above all, to go to the doctor who gave you the treatment so that he/she can assess you accurately.

 

• Can lips be augmented with hyaluronic acid even if I have other products inside my lips? They infiltrated me 17 years ago, and it won’t go away. I don’t remember what exactly they put me in, and it was in a beauty salon. I want to increase and profile, but I don’t know if I need to empty it first? It is important to know the material that was injected into you. Suppose they cannot tell you where it was put. In that case, you could try to find out by doing an ultrasound of the lip to see the information that it can give us about the type of material, the reaction of the tissue, its possibility of extraction … In no case, Another infiltrated treatment should be done on a treated lip without knowing the material and what these “bumps” are due to.It would be desirable to be able to remove the injured material or tissue before considering subsequent treatments. We hope we have been able to guide you

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• Yesterday I infiltrated hyaluronic acid in my lips. Apart from the fact that today I cannot even speak about how swollen and purple they are (I have two large bruises), I think they have put too much on my profile since yesterday. I was still not just inflamed. It was between the face of a duck or a monkey with the upper part of his lip so projected. What do you think? I can’t speak or drink or eat or shut my mouth. In the first days, it is normal for the inflammation to increase, and you look with a lot of volume on the lips. It is necessary to wait a couple of weeks to assess the final result. Anyway, tell your doctor about your doubts so that they can tell you what to do.

 

• How do I know if they put biopolymers on me? It is approved hyaluronic fillers come with traceability stickers. The doctor or center where they were put it had to give you one of the stickers, and the other had to be stuck in the informed consent.

 

• I can’t breathe after applying AH. The truth is that the clinic that you have input has no apparent relationship with lip filling, since if for some reason the hyaluronic had infiltrated into a blood vessel (which is not usually due to malpractice but by mere probability, it can happen to all of us at some point in our professional lives) but in a lip, the effects are local and would manifest as local ischemia or necrosis, not as a sensation of shortness of breath, or headache, or tachycardia that responds more to an anxiety attack due to the uncertainty you have and the fear that what you have read on the internet has caused you. In any case, the hyaluronic is easy to eliminate with hyaluronidase. Still, I already anticipate that it does not seem that the hyaluronic is the direct cause of the symptoms from what you count.

 

• I have swelling after putting in hyaluronic acid, a more inflamed part. I see it as my mouth is turned. Is there any solution? Does it seem like a problem perhaps to use too much product? It would have to be re-evaluated. Generally, RHA3 does not produce so much inflammation, and differential diagnoses must be ruled out, such as possible bacterial infection. It is difficult to ensure, and I advise you to go to your aesthetic doctor.

 

• It turns out that they injected me with hyaluronic acid in my upper lip, 0.3 ml. On the first day, one part swelled. The other had a purple, it distended, and the purple went away. Still, I have sensations of palpitations throughout my face as if the nerve endings had been touched, I feel sensitivity in my teeth and anthills and throbbing around my eyes, also a headache, I’m taking ibuprofen, I don’t know what’s wrong with me, I’m very worried. I think the best thing is for your doctor to assess you again and rule out any complications.

 

• If I don’t like the result of the fillings, what can I do? In the first few days after treatment, you can inject hyaluronidase to dissolve the implant if it is too abundant in one or more sites. If wrinkles remain or the increase does not seem sufficient, it is possible to make a second or even a third application.