Lip Plumping

Permanent Lip Plumping

All women want lush, beautiful lips. It’s one of the “secondary sexual characteristics” that Mother Nature has imbued in us to attract a mate. Unfortunately, as we age, the lips change: they become thinner. 

Most young people have full lips. Unfortunately, as we age, the skin between the upper lip and the nose begins to lengthen. The result is that the upper lip actually gets longer and thinner, turning inward and downward. You can easily see this in older individuals when they speak: notice that you can see their bottom teeth, but not their upper teeth, which is the exact opposite of the appearance of younger individuals when they speak. For those with a shorter distance between the nose and top of the lip (the vermillion), this lengthening will be less noticeable. Men can hide it with a moustache. 

Temporary Lip Filler

Dermal fillers can satisfactorily create fuller lips. Although Restylane and Juvéderm will add volume to the lips, dermal fillers are a temporary solution that must be repeated every 6-12 months to sustain a satisfactory appearance. 

Semi-Permanent Lip Filler

Fat is a solution that is longer lasting, but even fat is not permanent. It is estimated that approximately 60-80% of fat, which is removed from the patient’s body via liposuction, will remain in the lips over time. Furthermore, to accomplish the desired result, fat harvesting must be performed, with fat removed via liposuction (usually from the tummy). A benefit is the improved body contour but an obvious dis-benefit is that liposuction is the only way to obtain the fat, boosting the price compared to silastic implants. 

Permanent Lip Filler

A permanent solution to deflated lips is silastic implants, a soft implant material that is inserted into the lips through very small incisions under a local anesthetic.

How Permanent Lip Plumping is Performed

In the time it takes to inject dermal fillers, silastic implants, which are soft and easy to place, can be inserted. The area is first numbed with Lidocaine (similar to that used for dental fillings), after which small incisions are made in the corners of the mouth. The silastic implants, which come in a variety of dimensions, are tailored to fit your lips prior to insertion. The results are immediate. 

For patients with a very droopy upper lip, a small incision can be made just beneath the nose and the skin of the upper lip “lifted” to expose most of the upper teeth. The excess skin is removed and tiny sutures are placed. 

Recovery from Lip Implants

Most lip implant patients take a couple days from work and social activities after the procedure. Any discomfort can be treated with ice packs.