Get the gorgeous, full lips you are looking for!
Smooth, plump lips are a sign of youthfulness and beauty for many women. If you feel that your lips are too thin, either due to genetics or aging, Honolulu plastic surgeon Dr. S. Larry Schlesinger can help you get the gorgeous, full lips that you desire with lip augmentation. If one of your main concerns is an elongated upper lip and a red lip that has rolled inside your mouth, Dr. Schlesinger can also perform a lip lift, raising the upper lift in a virtually scarless procedure.
What are my options for lip enhancement?
Dr. Schlesinger is experienced in both non-surgical and surgical lip enhancement options. He will help you choose the right approach based on your unique concerns, your desired outcome, and whether or not you seek a temporary or permanent solution.
Lip augmentation with dermal fillers: results last about 6 months to 2 years
Hyaluronic acid fillers like Volbella, Voluma, Vollure, Juvéderm and Restylane are popular choices for lip augmentation, as they can achieve instant, natural-looking and feeling results without any surgery or downtime. Dr. Schlesinger is highly skilled in using fillers to contour the lips as well as enlarge them, helping to improve lip definition, enhance a cupid’s bow, and correct asymmetry between the upper and lower lips. He can also use a filler product that will achieve a dramatic or subtle lip augmentation, depending on your wants.
Fillers last about 14 months+ on average, making them a good choice for patients who want to try out lip augmentation before committing to a permanent change as well as those who prefer not to take time for surgery. The flip side is that to maintain the effect, treatment must be repeated, so if you are ready for a longer-lasting solution, a surgical lip augmentation may prove more cost-effective for you.
AlloDerm lip augmentation: results last about 7 years
Dr. Schlesinger can achieve a very beautiful semi-permanent lip augmentation using AlloDerm acellular dermal matrix, a sterile, durable tissue implant that has been used for decades in reconstructive procedures to add support and structure to an area. With lip augmentation, AlloDerm provides a “scaffolding” for natural collagen to build and grow, thus naturally enhancing the lips.
The surgery for AlloDerm lip augmentation is quite straightforward, involving tiny incisions at the corners of the mouth. Sutures are removed in about 3 days, and the resulting scars are usually invisible once healed. The AlloDerm implant is very soft and looks and feels natural even under the delicate lip tissue. Most patients enjoy fuller, more youthful lips for many years after an AlloDerm lip augmentation.
Is AlloDerm safe to use in the lips?
If you have read that AlloDerm has fallen out of favor, it’s important to understand that it’s the old technique doctors were using, and not the AlloDerm product itself, that was the issue. In the past, doctors would roll up the AlloDerm, which prevented a healthy blood supply from forming. Dr. Schlesinger uses a single, thicker sheet of AlloDerm during lip augmentation that is not rolled. This allows the healthy blood vessels in the lips to naturally integrate into the AlloDerm for a very satisfying result.
Using AlloDerm + Dermal Fillers: get results now and enjoy lasting benefits
While AlloDerm alone will achieve some immediate improvement in lip volume, the greatest improvements occur gradually as the body builds new collagen. Most of Dr. Schlesinger’s patients would rather not wait to see the results they desire, so he can use dermal fillers as an interim solution to achieve immediate results that last long enough for the lips to build natural collagen. Once the fillers wear off, the lips will remain fuller, softer, and smoother, thanks to the AlloDerm.
Lip Lift + Augmentation: correct long white lip syndrome with virtually invisible scarring
If you are bothered by long, thin lips, a lip lift can help raise the upper lip to restore a more refreshed look when your face is at rest. Dr. Schlesinger uses a scar-minimizing technique that places incisions just inside the nostrils, so that scars rarely can be seen once healed. Through these incisions, he can remove excess skin and gently lift the lip upward, taking care to achieve an even, natural appearance. A lip lift is typically combined with lip augmentation (AlloDerm and/or fillers) for maximum results.
If you are longing for more beautiful, kissable lips, we can help. Call our Honolulu plastic surgery office at 808-597-8835 for your personal consultation.
