Fuller, plumper lips can be achieved by a variety of lip augmentation techniques. Dr. Alexander Ereso or Nurse Iwona will help you to select the lip augmentation method best for you. The technique chosen will depend on individual patient factors and your goals for the procedure. There are both natural and synthetic materials that can be injected or surgically placed into the lips to create volume. These substances come from a variety of sources, and each has its own particular benefits and disadvantages. Dr. Ereso or Nurse Iwona can review the options with you during a lip augmentation consultation at our Mountain View office.
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Lip Augmentation Benefits
Augmenting your lips can balance out your facial features and help you look more attractive. Plump, soft-looking lips generally convey youth and health. If you have always been self-conscious of your lips or have noticed the many ways aging has changed them, lip augmentation can help you feel more confident and comfortable in your own skin.
Consultation With Dr. Ereso
A personal consultation with Dr. Ereso and Nurse Iwona is the first step. They will assess your physical and emotional health and discuss your specific cosmetic goals for lip augmentation. A general physical assessment will be made. You should arrive at the consultation prepared to provide complete information about allergies and medications. San Jose Bay Area residents are invited to schedule a lip augmentation consultation at our practice by contacting us today.
Preparation
As long as our team is informed about your allergies and any medical conditions, no special preparations are required for lip augmentation. Dr. Ereso or Nurse Iwona will ask you to avoid smoking, drinking excessive amounts of alcohol and taking aspirin and other medications known to increase bleeding.
Lip injection Treatment Details
The simplest technique for lip augmentation is injection with your own fat (microstructural fat grafting) or with the latest hyaluronic acid fillers: Restylane®, JUVÉDERM®, JUVÉDERM,® Ultra Plus and RHA®. For fat injection, a small amount of fat is taken from another area of your body, using a small needle attached to a syringe. Sometimes patients who are undergoing lipoplasty will ask Dr. Ereso to use some of the suctioned fat to augment their lips. After processing to remove excess fluids, the fat is injected to create a fuller lip. Hyaluronic acid fillers like RHA, JUVÉDERM® or Restylane® can be injected directly into the lip to increase fullness and especially improve the border of the lip with the normal skin (vermillion cutaneous border).
The major disadvantage of Restylane® and other injectable lip augmentation treatments is the necessity to repeat them. Even with fat injection to the lip, 2 to 3 sessions should be anticipated over a 12-18 month period to achieve the desired result. Our plastic surgeon estimates that approximately 1/3 of the processed fat placed in the lips will remain for greater than six months.
The search for an ideal permanent material for lip augmentation has been elusive. The use of Gore-Tex (Softform, Ultrasoft) has resulted in a high percentage of unnaturally firm lips, asymmetry and infection requiring removal. In general, we no longer recommend the use of Gore-Tex for lip enhancement. The most promising substances are RHA®, Restylane®, JUVÉDERM® VOLBELLA™ and JUVÉDERM® Ultra Plus. These are all forms of hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring substance found in the body. New hyaluronic acid-based fillers result in nice improvement with minimal downtime and last approximately four to eight months. Although it is important to have a healthy skepticism for any new product, these new products show real promise and are currently available in the United States.
Lip Injection Recovery & Results
It is common to experience swelling and bruising around the lips right after lip augmentation. Applying cold compresses will help alleviate some of the swelling. If you have any discomfort, it may be helpful to stick to a liquid or soft-foods-only diet. Most of the aftereffects should subside fairly quickly.
Dr. Ereso or Nurse Iwona will give you detailed instructions for your recovery, but other than avoiding vigorous activities for the first 24 hours after treatment, there are few restrictions. You can resume work and other daily activities almost immediately. If you experience persistent discomfort, swelling or bruising, contact our office for further instructions.
Risks & Safety
Lip augmentation is generally a very safe procedure that is not associated with lasting complications. Selecting an experienced, qualified provider like Dr. Ereso or Nurse Iwona and following their instructions will give you peace of mind about the safety of lip augmentation.
Rare complications include the following:
- Infection
- Bad scars
- Allergic reaction to filler products
- Under-correction or overcorrection
Complementary Cosmetic Procedures
Some lip augmentation patients also express interest in filler treatment for other areas of the face, such as the temples, cheeks or chin. Fillers are extremely versatile and can add shape and definition where it is lacking in the face.
“I am a 51 year old woman, who must remain competitive in my career here in the Valley. I just visited Dr. Ereso for the first time to have filler in my cheeks and lips. I wanted a “boost” to restore what my face has lost, but I did –not– want to look like a movie star or Angelina Jolie. I wanted to look as good as possible, youthful if possible, and like my best self. I wanted a subtle change. Dr. Ereso listened and really heard what I was hoping for. He talked to me about the kinds of fillers and the places they would (and wouldn’t) help achieve the results I wanted. He let me know as the process was done, what was happening and what to expect. He also let me know what I could expect in the next few days going forward. The office staff are also truly lovely, kind and good. They made me feel like one of the family and they also deserve a share of the glow in this 5-star review. I feel very beautiful right now as I’m typing this. I could not be happier that I have had this done with Dr. Ereso.”
Lip Augmentation Costs & Financing
The cost of lip augmentation depends on the specific approach taken. If dermal fillers are used, the type and amount of filler will be reflected in the total cost of treatment.
Dr. Ereso and our team believe in being upfront and transparent about lip augmentation costs. We are happy to provide a pricing quote after you have had the chance to consult with Dr. Ereso and Nurse Iwona about your treatment needs.
If you qualify, you may finance your treatment through a company such as CareCredit. With CareCredit, you can have your lip augmentation now and pay for it over time.
Our staff would be happy to provide more information about pricing, payment and financing options upon request.
Schedule A Lip Augmentation Consultation With Dr. Alexander Ereso
Our beautiful plastic surgery practice located in Mountain View serves patients from throughout the San Jose Bay Area. We invite you to contact us to schedule a consultation with Dr. Alexander Ereso and Nurse Iwona to learn more about the procedure and the results that you can expect.
