Louis P. Bucky, MD, FACS
Award-Winning, World-Renowned Plastic Surgeon
Premiere Destination for Finest Injectables & Skin Care
Lip Augmentation
As we age, our lips naturally lose volume, leading to thinning and the appearance of vertical lip lines, often called “smoker’s lines”, “lipstick bleed lines” or “barcode lines”. The upper lip’s “cupid’s bow” can flatten, and the upper lip may lengthen, diminishing the youthful and balanced look of our faces. Some individuals are born with thin lips and seek to enhance their lip volume for a more harmonious facial appearance. Non-surgical lip augmentation, offered at Bucky Plastic Surgery in Philadelphia, uses advanced hyaluronic acid fillers (HA fillers) to address these concerns. Whether you’re looking to counteract the effects of aging, enhance naturally thin lips, or benefit from a more ideal lip proportion, our expert team is dedicated to helping you achieve beautifully shaped, full lips that balance your natural beauty.
How Does Non-Surgical Lip Augmentation Work?
Non-surgical lip augmentation with hyaluronic acid fillers is a minimally invasive procedure designed to enhance the fullness and shape of your lips, giving them a plump, youthful appearance. At Bucky Plastic Surgery, we use high-quality hyaluronic acid fillers to achieve natural-looking results that complement your facial features. These fillers not only add volume and smooth out fine lines, but can crisp and define the lip borders and can also decrease the amount of gums that show when you smile. Additionally, the treatment allows for gradual enhancements over multiple sessions, providing a customized approach to achieving your desired lip structure and size.
Benefits of Lip Augmentation with Dermal Fillers
- Improved lip structure and shape
- Crisp defined lip border
- Youthful lip volume
- Improved vertical height of the lips
- Asymmetry correction
- Soften fine lines, including smoker’s lines, or barcode lines of upper lip
- Support of surrounding perioral structures like the corners of the mouth
- Results that look natural, soft when animating
- Minimizes the visibility of gums when smiling
- Gradual progression: build the perfect lip volume, shape and structure over time
- Fully customized treatment
- Lip aftercare and minimal downtime
Dermal Fillers for Lip Augmentation
In the past, lip augmentation procedures primarily relied on collagen lip injections, which often yielded unpredictable results and lacked longevity. Today, advanced lip enhancement techniques utilize hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers, which provide smooth, natural-looking results and longer-lasting effects. Hyaluronic acid not only adds volume but also stimulates the body’s natural collagen production and helps the lips retain moisture, enhancing their overall appearance and health.
At Bucky Plastic Surgery, we use some of the most popular and effective HA fillers for lip augmentation, including:
- JUVÉDERM® VOLBELLA®: Ideal for adding subtle volume and smoothing fine lines around the lips.
- Restylane-L®: Known for its ability to create fuller lips with a natural look and feel.
- Restylane® Kysse: Specially formulated for flexible movement and natural expression in the lips.
- RHA® 2: Provides dynamic, resilient results, maintaining a natural look even with facial movements.
- JUVÉDERM® Ultra: Offers significant lip volume enhancement for those desiring a more pronounced effect.
These advanced fillers allow for tailored treatments that cater to your unique aesthetic goals, ensuring you achieve the desired enhancement with precision and artistry.
Preparing for Lip Augmentation
Preparing for lip augmentation involves a few simple steps to ensure optimal results and minimize potential side effects. Before your appointment, avoid blood-thinning medications, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, motrin and aleve for at least a week. Additionally refrain from supplements including Vitamin E, Fish Oil and Omega 3’s. These medications can increase the risk of bruising. It’s also recommended to abstain from alcohol for 48 hours prior to your appointment and avoid any workouts the day of the procedure. Please plan 1-2 weeks ahead of big events, vacations, meetings or conferences. During your consultation, disclose any medical conditions or allergies to your provider to tailor the treatment to your specific needs. Following these guidelines helps ensure a smooth and successful lip augmentation experience.
The Lip Augmentation Procedure
Your lip augmentation procedure will be tailored to achieve your desired aesthetic. Your provider will perform a full assessment of your lips, share our before and after result photos, and obtain your clinical photography to establish a baseline prior to your lip augmentation service. Your injector will apply a topical anesthetic to your lips ahead of the procedure as well as offer a vibration tool for your distraction from the injections while ensuring your comfort throughout the treatment. Once the area is numb, your injector will carefully use a fine needle to inject the hyaluronic acid filler into specific areas of your upper and lower lips. These precise lip injections are strategically placed to enhance lip volume, improve vertical height, crisp and define lip borders, improve symmetry and achieve a balanced, natural look that complements your unique facial features.
Lip Filler Recovery & Results
Non-surgical lip augmentation with dermal fillers requires minimal downtime. While some patients may experience temporary mild redness, swelling, or slight bruising at the injection sites, these effects typically subside within a few days. Our post treatment lip kit that is provided at the time of your procedure, is very helpful in minimizing side effects and diminishing downtime while providing safe and effective hydration for your newly enhanced lips. Most patients can resume their regular activities immediately following the procedure.
To ensure optimal results and minimize side effects, follow these post-procedure care instructions after lip filler injections:
- Hydration of the lip is essential, our post treatment lip kit consisting of a lip serum and lip balm will ensure your lips get the special care they need to heal.
- Take oral Arnica tablets to help reduce swelling and bruising.
- Avoid extreme heat, and hot sauna treatments.
- Use 1-2 pillows when sleeping to reduce swelling.
- Refrain from exercising for at least 24 hours after the treatment to minimize blood flow to the face and reduce inflammation.
- Refrain from alcohol for 12 hours following the procedure.
At Bucky Plastic Surgery, we focus on achieving results that enhance and revitalize your natural beauty. The effects of lip augmentation typically last between 6 months to 1 year, depending on the type of filler used and individual factors. Touch-up treatments can be scheduled to maintain your desired look.
FAQs About Lip Augmentation with Dermal Fillers
Yes, lip augmentation with dermal fillers is generally safe when performed by a highly qualified specialist. Our lip augmentation providers have studied anatomy, gel rheology, and have trained with the top educators in aesthetics and plastic surgery to deliver exceptional results. At Bucky Plastic Surgery, we use only FDA-approved fillers and adhere to the highest safety standards to minimize the risk of complications.
The cost of lip augmentation varies depending on the specific treatment plan tailored to your needs. To receive detailed pricing information, we recommend scheduling a consultation, where we can discuss your goals and provide a personalized quote.
While lip augmentation is safe for most patients, there are potential risks and side effects. These can include temporary redness, swelling, bruising, and, in rare cases, lumps, unevenness or vascular impairment. Our specialists will review all possible risks during your consultation to ensure you are well-informed.1
The procedure involves minimal discomfort. You might feel a slight pinch or pressure during the injections, but a topical anesthetic is used to numb the area and a vibration tool is offered to reduce any pain. Post-procedure tenderness is common but typically subsides within a day or two.
Achieving natural-looking results depends on the skill of the practitioner and the type of filler used. At Bucky Plastic Surgery, our experienced specialists use the most advanced techniques and high-quality fillers to ensure smooth, even, and natural-looking lips.
Lip augmentation with hyaluronic acid fillers is not permanent. The effects usually last between six months to one year, after which the filler gradually dissipates. If desired, the treatment can be repeated to maintain the results.
Dermal fillers used for lip augmentation at Bucky Plastic Surgery are composed of hyaluronic acid, a substance naturally found in the skin that helps retain moisture and add volume. These fillers also contain a small amount of lidocaine to enhance comfort during the procedure.
Ideal candidates for lip fillers are individuals looking to enhance the volume, shape, or symmetry of their lips. Good candidates are in overall good health, have realistic expectations, and understand the potential outcomes and limitations of the procedure. During your consultation, our specialists will evaluate your suitability and develop an individualized treatment plan that aligns with your aesthetic goals.
Contact Us
To learn more about non-surgical lip augmentation and dermal fillers, schedule an appointment at Bucky Plastic Surgery. Our Philadelphia team is ready to help you achieve your aesthetic goals.
1American Society of Plastic Surgeons. What are the risks of dermal fillers? Available: https://www.plasticsurgery.org/cosmetic-procedures/dermal-fillers/safety. Accessed June 24, 2024.
Dr. Bucky has either authored or reviewed and approved this content.
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