San Antonio Cosmetic SurgeryLip Augmentation, Making A More Youthful Smile

Lip augmentation is a quick and easy procedure that is hard for other people to tell that work has been done. This cosmetic procedure uses injectables to add volume to a patient's lips and reduce signs of aging around the mouth.

Signs of aging around the lips and mouth include decreased lip volume and lip lines which extend on to the skin above and below the mouth. A decrease in the structural components of the lips, around the corner of the mouth lead to these signs. Time, smoking, and exposure to the sun accelerate the signs of aging in and around the lips.

Materials And Procedure

In order to create the look of fuller, plumper lips, or to reduce wrinkles around the mouth, lips may be injected with a natural or a biocompatible, synthetic material.

The natural options are transferring fat from another site on the patient's body or injecting liquid collagen. The synthetic filler is known as hyaluronic acid. In addition to filling in the depressions around the lip area, hyaluronic acid has been found to stimulate the collagen production in the area injected with it.

Some of the brand names of the synthetic options include:

• Radiesse
• Restylane
• Juvederm

It is recommended that a conservative amount of filler is used in the procedure so the results will have a more natural appearance. In some cases a second injection may be needed to achieve the optimal results.

The average results from the lip augmentation procedure typically last six months or longer.

Patients with very thin lips, deep wrinkles, or severe sun damage should be realistic with the results of the procedure. Results for these types of patients would be less dramatic than those with fuller lips and subtler signs of aging.

If you're interested in exploring or learning more about your lip augmentation options, contact Dr. Delio Ortegon online, or at San Antonio Cosmetic Surgery location.

Sources: Science Daily and The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery