Plump Lips

Lip enhancement is an outpatient procedure done is a physician's office or clinic. The type of lip enhancement may vary from a simple injection to a permanent implant requiring small incisions.

Despite what the cosmetic surgeons claim, lip augmentation is painful. Some individuals find it mildly painful and some find it very painful. It definitely is not painless.

One of the best agents to produce luscious and plump lips is hyaluronic acid. This naturally occurring substance is jelly like and maintains the volume and shape of the lips. It's soft consistency has made it appealing to most women.

To reduce the pain, the surgeon may inject you with some local anesthetic or may apply some ice on the lips. There are some dermal fillers which already contain a local anesthetic. Once the lips are cleaned with an antibiotic solution, the injection sites are marked. The injections are then performed with a very fine needle.

The majority of dermal fillers can be injected in 3-10 minutes.

Soon after the lip injections, all individuals will have some degree of pain and lip swelling. The pain may last a few days but the swelling may persist for a week.

The final cosmetic result of lip augmentation is seen after a few weeks. The initial swelling is usually from the injections.

The majority of individuals are able to resume their work in a few days. Heavy exercise and sports should not be initiated in the first week.

To avoid displacement of the dermal filler, one should not push or squeeze the lips for the first few days.

The majority of dermal fillers last anywhere from 3-12 months.

Sometimes fat can be used as a dermal filler. The major advantage of fat is that it has no allergy reaction. The fat is usually obtained from the patient himself. The fat can be obtained from the abdomen or thighs. The fat is then processed and injected into the lips. Fat has similar side effects to collagen but the results last a lot longer. There are reports that fat injections can last anywhere from 6-24 months.

The cost of lip augmentation is variable and depends on the type of filler being used; in any case, the procedure is not cheap.

Costs may range anywhere from $400- 4000. And most of all, temporary fillers only last anywhere from 3-12 months