Lip augmentation creates fuller, plumper lips and reduces fine wrinkles around the mouth. Lips may be injected with collagen or with fat transferred from another site in the patient’s body. Both liquid collagen and fat are absorbed and repeat treatments are necessary to maintain results. Newer, longer-lasting options include implantable materials like AlloDerm and SoftForm.

Technique

A natural or synthetic biocompatible material, or the patient’s own fat, is injected or implanted in the lips. One injection is usually sufficient to produce the desired result, which may be temporary, depending on the material used. Injections may need to be repeated periodically. Proper placement of the injected material is important. AlloDerm, a natural collagen sheet made from donated skin, is inserted through tiny incisions inside the corners of the mouth. Once the AlloDerm implant is in place, it eventually becomes integrated with the natural tissues. Gore-Tex, SoftForm and soft ePTFE are other synthetic implant options.

Further options include

• Autologen — injectable dermal implant material made from the patient’s own skin.
  
• Dermalogen — injectable Human Tissue Matrix (HTM) procured from donor tissue.
  
• Fascia — injectable donor tissue made from the dense white connective tissue that supports body structure. Can also be done as a surgical implant.
  
• HylaForm — a crystal-clear injectable gel; the hyaluronic acid in Hylaform is similar to that naturally found in the body.
  
• Radiance — calcium hydroxylapatite
  
• Restylane — crystal-clear injectable gel; the hyaluronic acid in Restylane is very close to that naturally found in the body.

Another augmentation choice is laser lip rejuvenation, which tightens the natural collagen and elastic tissue beneath the lips.

Benefits

• Immediate return to normal activities (one-day return if sedated) for nonsurgical procedures; depending on the procedure and materials used, recovery period is within a week for surgical procedures.

• AlloDerm and Dermalogen do not require patients to provide donor tissue and are not rejected by the body, because they are human tissue. Usually they have a pliable, natural feel.

• Gore-Tex implants are permanent, easily inserted and well tolerated by the body.
  

• Temporary procedures like collagen or fat injection can be appealing to patients who want to experiment with a fuller-lipped look, but not necessarily commit to it.