Am I a Good Candidate for Lip Augmentation?

Lips that display a full, pouty look can be an attractive asset to your facial features. If yours don’t quite measure up to the image you have in mind, a lip augmentation procedure may be the right thing for you.

At Oral & Facial Surgery of Mississippi in Flowood, Dr. Michael Nichols and our staff are experts in lip augmentation procedures. From dermal fillers to lip implants to fat grafting, the practice offers numerous options that will make you happy with the way you look. But which option is for you? And are you a good candidate? Keep reading to find out more.

Lip augmentation options

When it comes to enhancing your lips, you have three primary options.

1. Dermal fillers

Injectable dermal fillers are the most common method to augment the size and shape of your lips. They’re a temporary solution and, therefore, a good step for people who want to see what their lips can look like before committing to a more permanent procedure. They’re also quick and relatively inexpensive.

Many different brands and types exist, but most are gels made from synthetic hyaluronic acid (HA), a naturally occurring substance in your body that gives volume and definition to your tissues. HA dermal fillers have a number of benefits:

Control over volume: Dr. Nichols can control how much gel he injects and where
Gradual treatment pace: the injections can be administered gradually until you achieve the desired result
Less bruising and swelling compared to other types of dermal fillers
Longer-lasting results: 6-8 months before you need a booster
Allergic reaction unlikely since HA is natural to your body

The most popular brands for lip augmentation are Restylane®, Voluma, Perlane, and JUVÉDERM®.These fillers are only intended for patients over 21 and should not be used if you are allergic to either hyaluronic acid or lidocaine; if you have inflammatory skin conditions, such as psoriasis, rosacea, or eczema; or if you have a bleeding disorder.

During your consultation, Dr. Nichols assesses your lips and your overall facial balance to determine which areas of your lips need augmentation and how much filler he needs to inject. The procedure is done in the office and takes only about 15-30 minutes. You can go home immediately after.

2. Lip implants

Lip implants are a type of permanent lip augmentation using plastic implants instead of an injectable gel to plump the lips. The two types of implants used are:

Silicone
Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene

Both types of implants are solid and safe, but the polytetrafluoroethylene is softer and easier to compress than the silicone, meaning it feels more natural and is less noticeable in the lip.

Good candidates are generally those who:

Have relatively symmetrical lips
Have enough lip tissue to stretch over the implant and hide it
Have an aversion to needles or frequent procedures
Want a permanent lip augmentation solution
Want to save money long-term

If Dr. Nichols determines you’re a good candidate, he performs the procedure with IV anesthesia. He makes an incision at the corners of the lips, places the implant, then closes with dissolvable sutures. You may experience mild-to-moderate bruising and swelling during the first week, but once that resolves, you’ll have full and shapely lips for a long time to come.

3. Fat grafting (autologous lip augmentation)

A semi-permanent alternative to dermal fillers and implants is using your own fat tissue for lip augmentation, a process known as autologous lip augmentation. Like lip fillers, fat transfer is performed as an in-office procedure under local anesthesia, and again like fillers, Dr. Nichols controls the amount of material he injects into the lip tissue.

Dr. Nichols first harvests fat from your abdomen (around the belly button) through liposuction, then cleans it, processes it, and injects it into your lips. The entire procedure takes about 60-90 minutes, and you go home the same day. Lips augmented with grafted fat stay plump for five years or more.

Good candidates have enough fat in the donor area for the doctor to be able to remove enough for the augmentation procedure.

If you’re looking to give your lips the full treatment, you have options. To learn more, and to set up a consultation with Dr. Nichols to determine what will work best for you, give us a call at 601-282-9290, or request an appointment online today.