Lip Augmentation: Types, Benefits & Prerequisites

Written By: Dr. Eman Kotb

Dr. Eman Kotb is an aesthetic dermatology specialist qualified with an MS in Dermatology, Venereology & Andrology from Alexandria University, Egypt.

Updated On:December 26, 2023

Read more.

blog

What is Permanent Lip Augmentation?

Evenly & naturally plump full lips are a facial feature that many people desire, but not everyone is fortunate enough to have full lips. The good news, however, is that in today's tech-driven world, nothing is impossible. Lip augmentation is a type of cosmetic procedure that allows you to have full, curvaceous lips. But what exactly is lip augmentation, lip fillers or for that matter, plumping? What do these processes involve?

Types of Lip Augmentation:

Lip augmentation, which can be done in several ways, is a type of medical cosmetic procedure that aims to alter the appearance & shape of the lips to quite an extent by increasing their “fullness”. The most common lip augmentation process is the lip filler, a process that involves injecting dermal fillers in & around the mouth. These fillers contain hyaluronic acid, a natural substance in the body that helps increase the volume of the lips. While the lip filling process is temporary, there is a more permanent option known as lip implants, which involve using soft but solid silicone implants shaped like natural lips. Then, there are other options such as fat grafting & tissue grafting. Let us study all these methods in a bit more detail.

Lip Fillers:

There are many types of fillers, the most common type of fillers used for lip augmentation is hyaluronic acid, a natural substance in the body that helps increase the volume.

In the lip filler augmentation process, the doctor needs to assess the symmetry & shape of your lips & overall facial balance. Based on this, it is decided which areas of the lips need to be fuller & plumper. Fillers are then injected into either or both, the upper & lower lips. The gel in the filler supports & shapes the lip tissues.

The lip filler augmentation procedure, which is an in-office process, takes about 15-30 minutes, allowing you to go home the same day. It is also a temporary solution that lasts between only six to eight months.

Lip Implants:

A more permanent option, implants are positioned underneath the lip fat & above the lip muscles, in a thin tunnel that the surgeon creates to accommodate the implant. Usually, surgeons choose the corners of the mouth to make the incisions, but they may zero-in on somewhere else on the lips, depending on the specific technique being used.

Three types of lip implants are the most popular: GORE-TEX, SoftForm, & AlloDerm. It takes about half an hour to complete this in-office procedure, & you are then sent home the same day.

Fat, Tissue Grafting:

A third method, called autologous lip augmentation, is using your own fat & tissues to add fullness. As in the first two options, this procedure is also an in-office procedure. Fat grafting involves fat harvested from your abdomen. The procedure, performed under local anaesthesia, takes about 60-90 minutes. Lips augmented with fat stay plump for five years or longer.

Tissue grafting involves using dermis or deeper layer of the skin, usually from the abdominal wall or scalp, some times the tissue is harvested as a by product of other operation(abdominal reduction, breast reduction, face lift). This too takes about an hour, with the results lasting for up to five years. 

Lip fillers are the least expensive option, while fat & tissue grafting procedures the most costly. Regardless, a difference can be immediately noticed in all cases.

The lips should feel natural on healing, though it is advisable to avoid lipstick or similar products after the procedure. One of the main benefits of these two procedures is that you seldom have an allergic reaction or reject the tissue as the fat or tissue is taken from your own body.

Hyaluronic Acid Filler Benefits

Hyaluronic acid fillers have several advantages:

  • Hyaluronic acid fillers stimulate new collagen, give volume & soften fine lines
  • The doctor can control the volume of substance injected, & thus control the lip volume
  • Injections can be staggered till desired results achieved
  • Lumps created by lip movement can be dissolved easily
  • Bruising is less compared to other dermal fillers
  • Reasonably lasting results, though not permanent
  • An allergic reaction is unlikely as hyaluronic acid fillers are made from substances similar to those found in the body. But the doctor should be told if you are allergic to lidocaine

Implant Benefits

The primary benefit of permanent lip augmentation is that they are permanent. This method provides longer-lasting effects than temporary fillers, which are eventually absorbed into the body. Apart from providing permanent lip augmentation, the results are more refined than dermal lip fillers, making them a good option for individuals with thin lips.

How to Choose a Lip Augmentation Specialist?

An important consideration while opting for lip augmentation is to choose the right surgeon. You must find a qualified doctor who is especially adept in administering injections. This is because it will reduce the possibility of disfiguring your lips & face.

Several types of specialists can perform lip augmentation, including plastic surgeons, dermatologists & cosmetic facial surgeons; How do you decide who to go to?

When it comes to finalising the right surgeon, what becomes essential is the doctor’s training & education, the number of procedures they have completed, & whether they are a certified member of the speciality’s medical association.

It might also be a good idea to check before-and-after photographs of patients the doctor has previously treated. Fortunately, healthcare providers like Medcare Hospitals & Medical Centres employ skilled surgeons that are capable of performing lip implant procedure.

The Prerequisites for Lip Augmentation

While the doctor can advise you on the right lip augmentation options, you on your part must come clean with them. As mentioned earlier, if you are allergic to lidocaine, the doctor should be informed before the procedure. The same goes for other known allergies, ongoing medications including prescription & OTC drugs & supplements, & any case of oral herpes in the past.

As for active infections, the procedure is not advised if you have oral herpes, diabetes, lupus & blood-clotting issues. You should also be in good shape & a non-smoker to undergo lip augmentation.

Meet our doctors from the Dermatology department

Nabila Mahmoud Eid Rashid
MBBS, MD, Ph.D
Dermatology
Palestinian
Arabic, English
BOOK NOW
Nancy Labib
MBBch, MS, MD
Dermatology
Egyptian
Arabic, English
BOOK NOW
Hala Aljaber
MBBCh, MD, MSc
Dermatology
Syrian
Arabic, English
BOOK NOW
Mousumee Nanda
MBBS, MD
Dermatology
Indian
Arabic, English
BOOK NOW
Reem Al Kaddah
MBBS, MD
Dermatology
Syrian
Arabic, English
BOOK NOW
Lubna Alshaltoni
MBBS, MD
Dermatology
Jordanian
Arabic, English, Urdu
BOOK NOW
Abeer Elsayed
MBBS, MSc
Dermatology
Egyptian
Arabic, English
BOOK NOW
Bassant Ahmed Ezzat Abou Yamama
MBBch, MSc
Dermatology
Egyptian
Arabic, English, French
BOOK NOW
Rahul Chaudhary
MBBS, MD
Dermatology
Indian
English, Hindi
BOOK NOW
Ghada Ehsan Ashour
MBBCH, MS
Dermatology
Egyptian, British
Arabic, English
BOOK NOW
Eman Kotb
MBBCh, MS
Dermatology
Egyptian
Arabic, English
BOOK NOW
Jobeetha Yoosuf
MBBS, DDSc Dermatology (UK), MSc Dermatology (UK)
Dermatology
Indian
Arabic, English, Hindi, Malayalam, Tamil, Urdu
BOOK NOW
Mariana Vector Saad Uoakime
Bachelor's Degree & Beauty Therapy Diploma
Dermatology
Egyptian
Arabic, English, German
BOOK NOW
Mona Mady
MB BCh, M.Sc
Dermatology
Egyptian
Arabic, English
BOOK NOW
Neetu Chaudhary
MBBS, MD Dermatology & Venereology
Dermatology
Indian
English, Hindi
BOOK NOW
Shruti Kakar
MBBS, MD
Dermatology
Indian
English, French, Hindi, Kannada, Punjabi
BOOK NOW
Aashim Singh Kukreja
MBBS, MD, Master in Facial Aesthetics
Dermatology
Indian
Arabic, English, Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu
BOOK NOW
Sidra Bilal Zia
Beauty Therapist & Cosmetologist, Certified Laser Specialist
Dermatology
American
English, Urdu
BOOK NOW
Olivera Nikolic
MD, MMedSc
Dermatology
Serbian
Croatian, English, Macedonian, Serbian
BOOK NOW
Eman AboElnagah
MBBS, MD (Dermatology & Aesthetic)
Dermatology
Egyptian
Arabic, English
BOOK NOW
Yasmin Helal
MBBS, MD
Dermatology
Syrian
Arabic, English
BOOK NOW
Nameer Abdul Majeed
MBBS, MD. Dip. In Aesthetic Medicine, Laser specialisation
Dermatology
Indian
Arabic, English, Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam, Urdu
BOOK NOW
Maha Sultan
MBChB, MSc, MD
Dermatology
Egyptian
English, Arabic
BOOK NOW
Nourhane Gharbi
BSN, Laser Therapy certification, Beauty Therapy certification, Skin care protocols certification, Certified Laser Operator
Dermatology
Tunisian
Arabic, English, French
BOOK NOW
Badeh Nabil Zraik
MBBS, MD, Master's Degree in Dermatology & Venereology
Dermatology
Syrian
Arabic, English
BOOK NOW
Kinan Ibrahim
MBBS, Arab board in Dermatology and Venereology, Syrian Board in Dermatology
Dermatology
Syrian
Arabic, English
BOOK NOW
Hala Mohamed
MBBch, MS, PhD
Dermatology
Egyptian
Arabic, English
BOOK NOW
Joshuapaulline Co
BSc. Nursing, Licensed Laser Technician, NCLC Certification
Dermatology
Filipino
English, Tagalog
BOOK NOW
Edralyn Enriquez
Bachelor of Science in Nursing - Philippines
Dermatology
Filipino
English, Tagalog
BOOK NOW
Amina Ashraf
BScN, Diploma in Laser Hair Reduction
Dermatology
Pakistani
Arabic, English, Hindi, Urdu
BOOK NOW
Kim Grace V Icay
BSN, Certified Laser technician
Dermatology
Filipino
Arabic, English, Tagalog
BOOK NOW
Gayatri Karad Gupta
MBBS, DNB - DVL, SCE Dermatology ( M.R.C.P -UK) & B.A.D IAFSC - Facial Aesthetics IADVL - Dermatosurgery Masters in Fillers & Aesthetic Medicine
Dermatology
Indian
English, Arabic, French, Hindi, Marathi
BOOK NOW
Reem Hanna
MBBS, MD (Dermatology & Aesthetics)
Dermatology
Syrian
Arabic, English
BOOK NOW
Similar Posts
Scroll Top