At Advanced Liposuction Center, our Moon Township plastic surgeons help many clients correct and improve the appearance of their lips with lip enhancement. Lip enhancement and augmentation procedures can expand or reshape your upper and/or lower lips. This improves their volume in relation to the surrounding facial features. These procedures fall into two categories.
Lip Enhancement Procedures:
Temporary—If you’re looking to plump your lips, eliminate fine lines and creases and improve the appearance of scars, but are not ready to commit to a surgical procedure, we offer a number of injectable dermal fillers. These soft gels are FDA-approved and have been used safely for many years. Dermal fillers add volume and restore a youthful appearance to lips.
Permanent—One of the most exciting cosmetic breakthroughs in recent years is lip implants. These soft, solid silicone implants cannot rupture, deflate or degrade over time. The implants are made of material that is especially suited for use in facial tissue. They are available in several diameters and lengths. Our expert plastic surgeons use variations to accommodate the unique characteristics of your lips to create a natural and beautiful contoured look. The results are permanent but if the implants are removable if you wish to achieve a smaller or larger enhancement or even return to your original lip.
What to expect afterwards:
With both procedures, you may experience some minor discomfort immediately after the injections or surgery. Your lips may be sensitive to pressure the first couple of weeks and some patients experience bruising. There are medications to take to reduce the pressure. In general, most patients feel back to normal within a week or two.
Patients will see the final result of your lip enhancement as soon as the swelling disappears.
Are lip fillers painful?
Lip fillers don’t include any invasive surgery, incisions, or stitches because they are a non-surgical procedure. Some people who receive this injectable treatment can experience a mild pain. Yet, it’s typically fairly moderate. Most patients only experience a slight stinging sensation as the filler is injected, along with a minor scratch as the injection is administered. For individuals who are feeling especially apprehensive, we can additionally apply a local anesthetic to the treatment region to fully minimize pain.
After getting lip fillers, may I smoke?
There is no reason why you cannot smoke after getting a lip filler procedure, except from the detrimental effects on your health.
Smoking after lip fillers won’t have an impact on how well your procedure goes. Smoking has been related to rapid aging and is known to dry out the skin, thus we advise against starting right after your surgery.
How long are the effects felt?
Depending on the fillers or procedure employed, different results can be obtained from lip augmentation. Beautiful results can be achieved with hyaluronic acid fillers like Restylane, Perlane, and Juvederm that normally last up to a year before touch-ups and maintenance are advised. Typically, the effects of collagen-based fillers last three to four months. The duration of the results will ultimately depend on how much filler you use. Results from fat transfer frequently outlast those obtained with fillers.
Who May Have Their Lips Augmented?
Lip augmentation candidates who have naturally thin lips or lips that have lost volume with age make excellent candidates. In addition, qualified applicants are in generally good health, don’t smoke, and have reasonable expectations for how the treatment will turn out. Lip augmentation can increase your self-esteem and give you larger, more luscious lips, but it might not make you happier in other areas of your life.
The first step is setting up your free consultation with one of our expert cosmetic surgeons in downtown Pittsburgh or any of our other locations. We’ll discuss what you’re looking to achieve in the appearance of your lips. The plastic surgeon will be able to help you determine the best treatment for your goals. Make your appointment at one of our Pittsburgh area offices today by calling: 724-683-7581.