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Phone 512.401.2500 | Fax 512.401.2501
2745 Bee Caves Road, Suite 101
Austin,
Texas
78746
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Question:
I have incredibly thin lips and would like to make them look fuller and sexier. I’d like this to be a permanent change; can I get a onetime fat graft instead of having repeated injectable filler injections?
Answer:
Fat grafting is not particularly reliable in the mobile sites of the face such as the lips. It is very reliable when it is placed over the bony areas of the face. You can get fat injections into the lips in an attempt to get a permanent result, but you will likely need multiple injections and there is a chance that even with that the fat may not be permanent. There is a lip implant that is relatively easy to insert and is permanent. The downside to the implant is that it can be felt. Patients are generally very happy with this procedure however.
Posted by Dr. Buckingham
Question:
I’m embarrassed of my ugly thin lips and I’d like to get something done to make them look better. What can be done to give my lips a sexier and healthier look?
Answer:
The usual treatment for thin lips is injecting of hyaluronic acid fillers such as Restylane or Juvederm. This is an easy procedure and patients love the results, but they will wear off with time, 6-12 months. Surgical implants can also be used which provides a permanent result through the use of a very simple in-office procedure. The results look natural, but the implant can be felt if the lip is grasped with the thumb and index finger. Other surgical lip lifts may also be used, but scarring may prevent this from being the procedure of choice.
Posted by Dr. Buckingham
Question:
I am 52 years old and look tired all of the time due to the dark bags under my eyes. It feels like fatty tissue. I would like the fat removed. Can this be accomplished with gentle liposuction or is blepharoplasty necessary?
Answer:
Liposuction is not appropriate for removal of fatty bags under the eye. There are other fragile anatomic structures in this area including the muscles that move the eye. Injury to these structures would cause significant deformity and functional deficit. Blepharoplasty however is a relatively straight forward procedure. We nearly always use an incision inside the eyelid for the procedure. Restylane can also be used to fill in the depression under the eye bag for further improvement or sometimes can be used alone. We also utilize the patient’s own fat cells for improvement of the groove under the eye commonly referred to as the "tear trough".
Posted by Dr. Buckingham
Question:
How does Juvederm compare to Restylane for lip augmentation?
Answer:
Juvederm has a slightly higher concentration of hyaluronic acid than Restylane. It therefore tends to draw more water into the lip and produces a slightly softer result. We prefer Juvederm in the lips for this reason. Contrary to that, we prefer Restylane around the eyes. Since these injections tend to be deep, we prefer the more firm feel of Restylane. Juvederm more often causes excessive swelling around the eyes as well.
Posted by Dr. Buckingham
Question:
My lips need help! They are thin and extremely ugly. Could you please give me some details about the lip enhancement procedures that you offer?
Answer:
We offer injectable fillers for lip enhancement or lip implants utilizing the Permalip implant. The injectable fillers, Juvederm or Restylane are usually used. This is a 15 minute procedure and has some minor bruising and swelling involved. The results usually last about 6 months. The Permalip procedure is performed in the office with oral sedation and local anesthetic. It also takes about 30 minutes. There is a little more tenderness and swelling, but it is usually resolved in about 4-5 days.
Posted by Dr. Buckingham
Question:
What brand of injectable filler do you recommend for a lip enhancement?
Answer:
Hyaluronic acid fillers are the only ones that should be used in the lips. We usually utilize Juvederm or Restylane for this purpose.
Posted by Dr. Buckingham
Question:
I have a lot of fine lines and indents in my lower lip. They make me look so much older than I already am and I would like to fix these imperfections. What type of lip enhancement would work the best to eliminate these issues?
Answer:
Lip improvement usually involves a combination of filling and skin resurfacing. Filling is usually performed with hyaluronic acid. The common names for these products are Juvederm, Restylane and Perlane. The filling helps replace lost volume and skin fullness. The fine lines that are in the skin are then removed using a CO2 laser. Both of these procedures can be performed in the office.
Posted by Dr. Buckingham
Question:
While I would love to have my lips enhanced, I am worried about possible complications. What type of filler do you use for lips and what are the problems associated with that filler? Can the filler be removed if the lips don’t look right?
Answer:
We utilize only the hyaluronic acid fillers for the lips. These include Juvederm, Restylane and Perlane. These fillers are very safe and the complications are rare. Possible complications include under or over filling, lumps, tenderness, bruising or infection. Other associated complications are listed on the package insert. Of these only tenderness and bruising are common and are not really complications, but side effects. The hyaluronic acid fillers are all able to be easily removed by injecting hyaluronidase, which is an enzyme that will break down the filler in a matter of days.
Posted by Dr. Buckingham
Question:
I would like shapelier lips without surgery. Are silicone injections the only option for lip augmentation?
Answer:
Silicone injections are certainly not the only option for lip augmentation and I would not recommend them. I have personally seen irreparable complications from silicone injections even in the most expert hands. For a non-surgical option, even though it needs to be repeated, I would recommend injection with hyaluronic acid (Juvederm, Restylane) Fat can also be used and might provide a more long-lasting result, but the results are variable.
Posted by Dr. Buckingham
Question:
I’d like to enhance the look of my lips but don’t want a full-on surgical procedure. What are some non-surgical options for a lip enhancement?
Answer:
The most common method to enhance lips is non-surgically with the use of fillers. The most common filler used in hyaluronic acid in products such as Juvederm, Restylane and Perlane. The procedure is performed in the office with a local nerve block, takes about 10 minutes and will last between 6 and 12 months.
Posted by Dr. Buckingham
