- Breast Augmentation
- Breast Lift (mastopexy)
- Breast Reduction
- Breast Reconstruction
- Implant Removal and Revision
- Male Breast Reduction (gynecomastia)
- Liposuction
- Large-volume Liposuction
- Tummy Tuck (abdominoplasty)
- Lower (circumferential) Body Lift
- Arm Lift (brachioplasty)
- Thigh Lift
- Buttock Lift
- Labioplasty (labial reduction)
- Fat Transfer Contouring
- Massive Weight Loss
- Facelift
- Liquid Facelift
- Brow Lift (forehead lift)
- Eyelid Lift (blepharoplasty)
- Facial Implants
- Fat Transfer
- Neck Rejuvenation
- Ear Correction
- Lip Augmentation
- ThreadLift
- Skin Resurfacing
St. Louis Lip Augmentation Specialists
Lip augmentation creates fuller, plumper lips and reduces fine wrinkles around the mouth. Patients who request lip augmentation either want fuller lips than they were born with or want to restore the fullness they had when younger. Augmentation can enhance the red part of the lips (vermillion) and accentuate the thin white roll of tissue surrounding the lips.
Injected Materials
Most BodyAesthetic patients choose injected tissue fillers for lip augmentation. The most popular include natural materials such as collagen, or synthetic biocompatible materials such as HylaForm and Restylane. A patient's own fat from another site in the body is also a good choice. One injection is usually sufficient to produce the desired result, but the amount of augmentation diminishes over time. (Time varies with different injectable materials.)
Tissue filler injections are done in the office and typically have little downtime, though there may be some redness, mild swelling, or itching. Most patients leave the office and go about their business. Injections with Restylane and fat are more likely to cause lip swelling, which should mostly disappear after 1 or 2 days with Restylane and within a week after fat injection.
Implanted Materials
Another option for lip augmentation is use of a longer-lasting material that is implanted rather than injected into the lips. These materials gradually become integrated into the surrounding tissue. Available products include AlloDerm and Surgisis, which are a natural collagen matrix processed from donated human skin or animal tissue.
Synthetic implants most often used are made from expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE), and products used at BodyAesthetic include SoftForm and Advanta. These implantable materials come in a tube-like shape that the surgeon inserts with a small specialized tool. The procedure is done in the office under local anesthesia and mild sedation.
Proper placement of an implanted material is important and requires skill to reduce the chance of lip asymmetry. Because AlloDerm and Surgisis are natural products, the risk of developing a foreign-body reaction or rejection is extremely low. Synthetic implants are usually well tolerated by the body but may rarely become infected. Any implanted material may shift its position, become palpable, or extrude through the skin, though these problems are extremely rare.
Patients undergoing a facelift who also desire lip augmentation can have both procedures done at the same time. A good option in this case is to take "leftover" subcutaneous tissue removed during a facelift and implant it in the lips. The results are long-lasting and the tissue is especially useful for adding volume to the vermillion (red part of the lips).
Recovery after lip augmentation with an implant is usually 4 to 5 days until swelling and redness disappear. The lips will be tender and feel "stiff" for a few weeks, especially if synthetic products are used.
