Lip Augmentation Options
Based on your facial anatomy, cosmetic goals, and personal preferences, Dr. David Kahng and Dr. JoAnna Nguyen can recommend a lip augmentation procedure for you. Options include:
Injectable Dermal Fillers
Soft tissue fillers, such as Juvéderm® and Restylane® can shape and add volume to the lips and soften the appearance of vertical lip lines. These dermal fillers are made with hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring substance in the skin. Hyaluronic acid retains moisture, fills in lines and wrinkles, and adds plumpness to the skin. With many kinds of fillers available, hyaluronic acid fillers are the only ones that can be injected into the lips.
Dermal fillers are injected to reshape and augment the lips in a minimally-invasive procedure with little or no downtime. Results are visible immediately after treatment and last up to one year.
Fat Transfer/Lipofilling
In this minimally-invasive treatment, our surgeon uses gentle liposuction to harvest fat from another area of the body. The fat is purified and injected into the lips to add volume and enhance appearance. There is no chance of rejection or adverse reaction, as the patient’s own body fat is used in the procedure.
Fat transfer treatment for lip augmentation may require a few days of downtime. Post-procedure discomfort is minimal. This treatment produces beautiful, natural-looking, long-lasting results.
Lip Implants
Permalip implants are an option for patients who want long-lasting lip augmentation. These soft, silicone implants are manufactured by Surgisil and approved by the FDA. They are tapered at each end to mimic the natural shape of the lips.
The implants cannot leak or rupture. They are available in different sizes for varying degrees of augmentation and custom-tailored, permanent lip enhancement.
The Procedure
The procedure to place the implants can be performed with local anesthetic and typically takes approximately 15 minutes. Our plastic surgeon will make small incisions on the upper and lower lips at the corners of the mouth through which the implants are placed. The incisions are closed with absorbable sutures.