Lip Augmentation

Lip augmentation procedures increase the size of the lips to make them fuller and more attractive. The procedure is used to help women and men of all ages. The upper or lower lip may be treated singly, or both upper and lower lips may augmented at the same time. Lip augmentations have become increasingly popular in recent years. Some types of lip augmentation involve the insertion of natural or synthetic materials. Other surgical techniques bring tissue from the inside of the lip to the outside.

Some of these procedures are permanent, while others provide only temporary results. If you're considering lip augmentation, the following information will provide you with a good introduction to the different lip augmentation procedures. For more detailed information about how this procedure may help you, please schedule a consultation with Dr. Kremer.

What are some of the most common benefits of this surgery?

Whether you have always had thin lips, or you want to return your lips to the shape and fullness they had when you were younger, a lip augmentation procedure may provide you with the look you want. If you are dissatisfied or self-conscious about your lips, this surgery can open up new possibilities for you to change your appearance and self-image.

What will happen at the initial consultation?

During the consultation, you will have the opportunity to talk to Dr. Kremer about the changes that you’d like to make in your appearance. He will explain the different options available to you, the procedure itself, and the risks and limitations involved as well as the anesthesia required. Be sure to as all the questions you have about the surgery. Learning everything you can about your options, risks and benefits is the key to making an informed decision. It is important that you explain the results that you would like. Bring photos to show Dr. Kremer what you like and what you don’t like. He will be able to tell you if you are a good candidate for lip augmentation.

How is a lip augmentation performed?

There are many different types of lip augmentation procedures, each with particular advantages and limitations as will be explained below.

Injections:

Injections involve filling the lip with a soft substance to create a fuller appearance. Collagen and fat are the most widely used injectable substances.

Hyaluronsäure ist eine biotechnisch hergestellte, gelatineartige Substanz aus Hahnenkämmen, die nach heutigem Wissen keine Allergien oder sonstige Abstoßungsreaktionen auslösen kann. Hyaluronsäure wird in die Lippe mit einer kleinen Nadel eingespritzt. Weil der Körper langsam die Hyaluronsäure abbaut, halten die Resultate im allgemeinen zwischen fünf und sechs Monaten. Das Verfahren kann je nach Bedarf wiederholt werden. Nach wissenschaftlichen Erkenntnissen soll der Körper durch die Behandlung zur Produktion eigener Hyaluronsäure angeregt werden.

Prepared from the collagen found in cow skin, collagen injections are used to temporarily augment the lips. Although it is purified, this collagen may cause allergic reactions in some people. For that reason, a sensitivity test should be performed before the actual lip augmentation procedure. Collagen is guaranteed by the manufacturer to be BSE-free. Collagen is injected into the lip with a small needle. Because the body slowly absorbs the collagen, the results generally last between six and seven months. The procedure may be repeated as needed. Fat injections are also placed in the lips with small needles. The fat used is harvested from another area of the body - most often the abdomen or the inner thighs - and is purified before it is injected into the lips. An advantage to this procedure is that there is no possibility of an allergic reaction. As with collagen injections, results are temporary. The procedure is often performed more than once to achieve desired results.

Grafts:

There are several different substances commonly used in grafting.

SoftForm™ has recently replaced another lip implant material, Gore-Tex™, because it has been shown to produce better results with fewer complications. SoftForm™ does not shrink and is never absorbed into the body. It also remains in place because scar tissue forms around it. This allows it to easily be removed if ever desired later or if it becomes infected. To insert SoftForm™, a small incision is made in the inside of the lip. The material is then made into the shape of a small tube and it is inserted with an insertion trochar (needle). For the upper lip, this process is repeated three times, to implant three separate pieces in the lip. In the lower lip, two pieces are usually used.

Dermal fat grafting produces lasting results in approximately half of the people who try it. Although it is possible that the body will reabsorb it, many people choose fat grafting because they are most comfortable with using the fat from their own body to enhance their lips. The fat is harvested from another area of the body, often the abdomen, or during another procedure like e.g. a facelift. It is then prepared and inserted into the lip through small incisions in the corner of the mouth.

Local flaps bring material from inside the mouth outside to enhance the lips. An incision may be made inside the mouth to push the tissue inside the mouth upward and outward into the lip, sometimes in conjunction with grafting. Or, an incision may be along the upper lip line. In this case, skin above the lip is removed, and the lip is then stitched along the line of the incision.