When it comes to facial aesthetics, the primary focus is often concentrated on the eyes, nose, and lips. Full, sensual lips with good contour and definition are near the top of the beauty list for many women, but achieving this look naturally isn’t always possible. Genetics or aging may have prevented you from getting the full, beautiful lips you covet, but don’t despair; you have options. Lip enhancement has been a popular cosmetic treatment goal for years, and better techniques and products are being developed all the time to meet the needs of patients. If you’re interested in improving the fullness, contour, or youthful appearance of your lips, it may be time to consider treatments with a plastic surgeon to finally get the look you’ve always wanted.
Non-Surgical Options
Dermal fillers have been a popular choice for lip augmentation in the last several years, and recently, this option became even more effective with the release of a new lip enhancement specific filler, Restylane Silk.
Restylane Silk is a new hyaluronic acid filler that is similar to other fillers like Juvederm and traditional Restylane, but uses smaller, smoother particles optimized for lip rejuvenation, volume, and contour. The product can temporarily resolve vertical lines that form around the lips, improve fullness, and achieve other lip enhancement goals with a brief and convenient injection treatment process. Results from the treatment can last six months or more, depending on the patient.
Benefits of augmentation with fillers include:
- Beautiful, natural look and feel
- Instant results
- Little to no downtime and pain
- Few potential complications
- Accessible pricing and eligibility
- Quick procedure
One of the only downsides to choosing soft tissue fillers for lip enhancement is the temporary nature of the treatment. Patients must be willing to have repeat procedures around twice a year to maintain good results. Though the treatment has a lower initial cost than surgery, maintaining the results can be expensive, and patients may find that permanent enhancement is a better long-term value.
Surgical Enhancement
For patients who are looking for a more stable, permanent option for lip augmentation, lip implant surgery is often a good choice. Implants used in these procedures are made of soft synthetic material to help create a natural look and feel to the final results. The process is fairly simple, but does involve local anesthesia with or without sedation and a recovery period of about a week.
Benefits of augmentation with implants include:
- Permanent results
- Relatively minor procedure
- Good value over time
Permanent lip augmentation has more risks associated with the procedure than fillers, but many patients like the convenience and value of not having to maintain the results and feel the downtime is worth the final results.
Choosing a Surgeon
While lip enhancement with fillers may seem like a simple process, it actually involves a great deal of skill and artistry in order to achieve good results and avoid problems such as “duck lips.” Additionally, Restylane Silk is currently only available to a select few doctors, and it may be difficult to find a provider in your area who carries the product. Surgical lip enhancement is a tricky procedure that takes the skill of a board certified facial plastic surgeon. No matter which option you are considering, you should seek help from a specialist for the best results.
If you are looking for an expert in facial aesthetics who has the knowledge to help you reach your lip rejuvenation goals, come visit Dr. Edward Buckingham at Buckingham Center in Austin, Texas. Dr. Buckingham is a renowned facial plastic surgeon who offers both surgical and non-surgical lip enhancement. Dr. Buckingham is pleased to offer Restylane Silk to his clients as an exciting new option for lip augmentation. If you would like to schedule a consultation with Dr. Buckingham, call 512-401-2500 today.