Surgical Lip Augmentation and Non-Surgical Lip Augmentation Options
Surgical and Non Surgical Options for Lip Augmentation
Over the past several decades, there has been a dramatic increase in cosmetic surgery in Western Culture, with an increasing focus on achieving aesthetic ideals and maintaining a youthful appearance. Full lips have become increasingly desirable as they are considered both youthful and beautiful. Moreover, a trend has been identified toward fuller and more pouty lips in models appearing in magazines over the past century.
As we get older the lips age with the rest of the face, resulting in atrophy of the lips. The lips thin out. Tiny vertical lines appear and the graceful cupid’s bow of the upper lip begins to flatten. Others may have been born with thinner lips, and simply want a more defined cupid’s bow and greater lip volume to balance the other features of their face.
FACT: According to the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, lip augmentation using injectable fillers was one of the most commonly facial plastic procedures performed in 2005.
There are two major types of injectable fillers for lip augmentation, those that are permanent and synthetic such as silicone, and those that are temporary and made of a protein or sugar that the body can reabsorb. As permanent filler can be rejected by the body, temporary fillers are a safer bet. These include collagen, which is a protein, and hyaluronic acid, which is a sugar. Hyaluronic acid fillers tend to last longer than collagen (6 months versus 3 months), and the gold standard of hyaluronic acid on the market is Restylane™, but there are different versions coming out on the market including Juvederm™ and Perlane™ which promise to be more stable and last longer.
How these injectable fillers are placed in the lips is as important as the type of material used. The traditional technique currently favored by plastic surgeons and dermatologists worldwide involves injecting the filler into the lip border, which can make the lip look unnatural and overstuffed; a problem that plagues celebrities and socialites from Park Avenue to Beverly Hills. To deliver a more natural-looking result, I created a technique called French Lips™.
French Lips™ is an innovative new lip augmentation technique that uses hyaluronic acid to deliver sexy, pouty lips that look completely natural. This customized technique targets some 15 different anatomic zones of the lip. By injecting the Philtral columns (the two vertical lines above the lips), the center part of the cupid’s bow (to accentuate it’s curvature) and the outer half of the lips, towards the corners (which rolls the lip out ever so slightly), this technique delivers the pouty, sexy lips which have come to define CLASSIC BEAUTY and YOUTH. Lipstick bleed lines and a down turned mouth can also be corrected at the same time.
The cost for a French Lip™ procedure varies and according to our study, it will last about five to six months. The procedure can be performed over lunchtime, and there is essentially no downtime.
For individuals with naturally thin lips seeking a permanent solution, plastic surgeons perform surgical procedures that will require a week or two to recover. These include fat transfers and a technique called V to Y lip augmentation. Fat transfers are performed by liposuctioning some fat from the abdomen or thighs, and transferring the fat with specialized syringes and instruments. These results can last up to 3 years. The V to Y lip advancement surgery procedure delivers permanently voluptuous lips like Angelina Jolie. Using small incisions in the corners of the mouth and the inside of the lips (making them imperceptible) the lip is rolled out from the inside making it permanently pouty and full. My results with this technique were published in the Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery. The cost of these procedures varies depending on which procedures are being conducted. Whether the treatments are injectable or surgical, these procedures can and should be customized to the patients’ desires. The ability of your plastic surgeon will dictate the quality of your results, which is why you should seek a specialist, certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Those who are certified are listed online at www.abfprs.org.
Posted by Dr Jacono at 5:31 PM
