Achieve a Plump, Youthful, Evenly Contoured Mouth
Lip Enhancement Scottsdale, Arizona
While a full or pouty lip is often associated with a youthful or sensual appearance, thin lips may be genetic or can be associated with natural aging that causes lips to shrink, flatten, and wrinkle. With a lip enhancement procedure at Dr. Pamela Henderson’s Scottsdale, Arizona practice, patients can achieve plump, attractive, evenly contoured lips. Contact our practice—proudly serving patients from throughout the greater Phoenix area—to learn more.
Lip Enhancement Options
Options for enhancing the lip can include anything from over-the-counter lip plumping products to surgical procedures. Injectable treatments such as JUVÉDERM® and Restylane® have become a common option because of their convenience and high tolerance. Because the results are temporary, lasting several months, repeat treatments are required to maintain the results which can become cost prohibitive. Although not common when administered by an experienced injector, there is also the risk of lumpiness and asymmetry. Fat transfer is an option for supple, long-lasting results, but may require repeat treatments to achieve the final desired result since not all of the fat survives the transfer.
For permanent lip enhancement using a single procedure, Dr. Henderson offers the FDA-approved Perma Facial Implant™. The implant is made of a solid – yet soft and flexible – silicone elastomer which cannot leak or rupture; it comes in three thicknesses and three lengths. Because of its smooth surface, tissue in-growth is prevented which avoids tethering on the implant while smiling, which was a problem with other porous implants. This also makes the lip enhancement reversible, allowing for easy implant removal or exchange if desired. Particularly in faces that are aging, the upper lip lengthens and in those cases, a vermillion lip advancement or nasal base lip lift procedure may be chosen to shorten the cutaneous (skin) portion of the lip while increasing the vertical height of the vermillion (red) portion. Because these advancement procedures alone do not increase volume, either injectable fillers or an implant may be desired.
The Consultation
Patients interested in lip enhancement will attend a consultation, during which Dr. Henderson will examine the lips for symmetry, shape, and size. The length of the upper lip is assessed as to its proportion to the remaining facial features. If the decision is made to proceed with the Perma Facial Implant™, the lengths of the lips are measured and the size of the implant is determined based on the patient’s expectations.
Preparing for Lip Enhancement Surgery
Once the decision is made to proceed with surgery, patients are scheduled for a preoperative appointment approximately two weeks prior to the surgical date. During that appointment, patients are given preoperative instructions and consent forms are reviewed. These instructions generally include avoiding medications that increase the risk of bleeding including herbs, vitamin E, aspirin, and NSAIDS such as ibuprofen.
Anesthesia
Lip enhancement procedures are performed in Dr. Henderson’s Scottsdale, Arizona office, under local anesthesia. The Perma Facial Implant™ procedure alone is generally completed in less than 30 minutes, and is performed on an outpatient basis. The lip advancement procedures can be completed in around an hour.
The Lip Enhancement Procedure
To place the Perma Facial Implant™ a small incision is made inside the corner of the mouth on each side for access to both the upper and lower lips. A tunnel is created from one side to the other along the wet/dry border of the lip. A grasping instrument is inserted into the tunnel and the implant is pulled into the tunnel. Once the implants are centered, the incisions are closed with dissolvable sutures.
In those patients with a long upper lip desiring shortening, the options include vermillion (lip line) advancement and a nasal base advancement. The nasal base advancement procedure addresses the middle portion of the upper lip and involves an incision along the base of the nose with an excision of a strip of skin. As the resulting defect is closed, the lip is advanced. Vermillion advancement involves excising a strip of skin along the lip margin and can be used on both the upper and lower lip. Precise placements of the incisions are required to minimize visibility of the scars.
After Surgery
Following lip enhancement procedures, patients are recommended to ice the area to minimize bruising and swelling. Bruising gradually resolves over seven to 10 days, but swelling may persist particularly in the upper lip for several weeks. This is generally mild after the first seven to 10 days, allowing patients to be comfortable in public. After several days, patients are instructed to begin gentle massage to maintain the position of the implants. Starting at about two weeks, stretching exercises are recommended to improve lip mobility and flexibility.
Risks
Although uncommon in association with lip enhancement procedures, complications can occur with any surgery. Depending on the procedure, these include bleeding, infection, asymmetry, implant extrusion, numbness, abnormal mobility particularly with lip puckering, and undesirable scarring.
Learn More about Lip Enhancement
Take the first step toward plump, youthful lip contours—contact Dr. Henderson to arrange a lip enhancement consultation at our Scottsdale, Arizona practice.