Lip augmentation Scottsdale

Full lips are prized as a sign of youth and beauty. Some people are genetically fortunate enough to have very full lips naturally, but for others, nature has not given them this gift. Others had full lips in their youth, but have noticed that the lips have thinned during the aging process.

Fortunately, Dr. Henderson has several different ways to plump up your lips. Injections, fat transfer, lip implants, and surgical lip advancement are among the options we offer here at New Image Plastic Surgery. If you desire fuller lips, how can you choose among your options? What are the advantages of each choice?

Lip injections

One option for plumping the lips is to have injections of a dermal filler, such as Juvederm or Restylane, into the lip area. These products are made of hyaluronic acid, which is a substance that occurs naturally in the body and helps to keep tissues hydrated by adding water. A lip injection is temporary; over the course of a few months, the hyaluronic acid will be naturally reabsorbed by the body. To maintain the results, repeated injections are needed.

For most people, lip injections are the first lip augmentation method that they try. Because the treatment is temporary, there’s less commitment, allowing someone to feel more comfortable as they try out a new look. However, for those that like their fuller lips and want to maintain the results, having the injections repeated every few months may eventually seem like too much hassle and cost, and they may prefer a more permanent lip augmentation.

Fat transfer

Fat transfer can be used to enhance many parts of the body, including the lips. Fat is removed from another part of the body via liposuction, prepared, and then injected into the lips. The fat tissue that survives will remain permanently. Some people like the idea of fat transfer because it uses your body’s own tissue rather than a foreign substance.

However, not all of the fat that’s transferred will survive long-term. Because of this, the fat transfer procedure may need to be repeated a few times in order to achieve the desired results. Also, thin patients with very little excess fat on the body may not be good candidates for this procedure, as they may not desire removal of fat from anywhere else to place into the lips.

Lip implants

Lip implants are made of a soft silicone and come in a variety of sizes. They’re implanted from the inside of the lip, so the resulting scars are invisible. Lip implants offer a permanent lip augmentation, which will remain as long as the implant is in place.

The placement of lip implants does require a surgical procedure, although it’s a minor one and can generally be performed under local anesthesia. Many people choose to have lip injections first, and then may choose lip implants if they’re happy with their lip augmentation results and want to maintain them permanently. Having injections first may also help people to choose what size of implants they would prefer.

With the PermaFacial lip implants that Dr. Henderson uses, the surface of the implant is smooth. This allows the implant to move within the lip, allowing for natural smiling and speaking. It also allows the implant to be easily removed or exchanged for a different size, in case you aren’t happy with the results. Because of this, the lip implant procedure is permanent, but it’s still reversible.

Lip advancement or lip lift

These are surgical procedures that can be useful in some people. As a person ages, the skin between the nose and the upper lip lengthens, while the pink portion of the lip becomes thinner.  The lip can be made to appear larger by removing excess skin above the pink part of the lip, then bringing the upper border of the lip upward in order to create a fuller lip appearance or by removing skin at the nasal base.

These are more involved surgical procedure but can still be done under local anesthesia. The results of these types of surgery are permanent. (Although the aging process may continue to cause thinning of the lips, the lips will always be fuller after having these procedures than they would have been without it.) Surgery may be the right answer for those who have experienced thinning of the lips and want a more dramatic rejuvenation of their appearance.

Lip augmentation Scottsdale

If you’re considering having lip augmentation Scottsdale, then your next step is to talk to a professional to get advice about your options, so that you can choose what’s right for you. Dr. Henderson has helped many men and women achieve a more youthful and attractive facial appearance. She can advise you on the choices that you have and make personalized recommendations about what would be most likely to meet your goals. To schedule your appointment with Dr. Henderson, please contact our office.