The lips have recently become the center of attention in the world of cosmetic enhancement. Full lush lips are the new ‘normal’ although statistically most of us fall short of the mark and try to enhance what nature gave us with make-up. For men, there are not many do-it-yourself options for correcting flaws in the lips other than growing a moustache. In addition to the plight of thin lips, some have overly large lips or lips that are uneven, while others have wrinkles that frame the lips and cause lipstick bleed.

If you are unhappy with the appearance of your lips there are now several exciting options available that can correct these shortcomings. The lips are very expressive and any enhancement needs to be carefully done to avoid the overly filled ‘duck lips’ that we have all seen as well as other issues.

Obtaining the finest lip augmentation Miami can provide greatly depends on who does your procedure. Choosing a board certified plastic surgeon such as Dr. Joshua Lampert ensures you have someone with thousands of hours of training and experience in facial enhancements and restorations. While the lips are a small part of the face, getting it right is vital.

Why Consider Lip Augmentation?

The majority of people seeking lip augmentation want to either correct inherited thin lips or regain the youthful plumpness lost through aging. Along with the aging process, many women are plagued with vertical lines, called smoker's lines that intensify the perception of age. These lines form for many reasons other than smoking. Using straws, talking, puckering the lips and genetics all play a part in forming mouth wrinkles.

Lip augmentation does not only concern adding volume to thin lips or smoothing out wrinkles. There are other issues that detract from facial beauty and balance that can be corrected such as a gummy smile, overly large lips and lips that lack definition.

Two Most Effective Methods of Achieving Luscious Lips

In Miami, lip augmentation is accomplished in two ways; using one or more dermal fillers sometimes in combination with Botox® or through surgical procedures. Dermal fillers are by far the most common form of augmentation as these procedures can be done in less than an hour and patients can resume their normal activities immediately. Surgical procedures require a longer recovery commitment – usually about a week to 10 days – but these procedures can correct more complex issues such as reducing thick lips, reshaping flat lips and correcting a gummy smile. The main benefit is that surgical methods do not need periodic touch-ups as in dermal fillers.

Surgical Lip Augmentation Solutions

Vermillion Advancement

The colored part of the lip is called the vermillion. This tissue is thin and different from the surrounding skin and contains many blood vessels. Correcting the height of the vermillion results in increasing or decreasing the colored area of the lips. This is accomplished by carefully removing a thin line of skin just above (or below) the vermillion border, and then closing the incision. Reducing the height is done in the same way except the vermillion is trimmed to the desired size and then the incision is closed.

Lip Implants

There are several different materials that are used in permanent lip implants. The procedure involves making small incisions inside the mouth and creating a tunnel in which the implant will be placed. The incisions are closed after the implant is properly seated and trimmed to the right size and since they are in the mouth, there are no visible scars.

Fat Transfer

This option uses excess fat from your abdomen, hips or thighs which is sanitized and then injected into your lips similar to chemical dermal fillers. Using your own fat ensures the material will not be rejected and while it may take two sessions to get the fullness you are after, the results can last up to 5 years. Fat transfer provides among the most natural lip augmentation Miami residents could ask for. It eliminates the problem with lumpiness that sometimes occurs with dermal fillers and lasts much longer than those on today’s market.

Dermal Graft

This method is an excellent way to create fullness and to correct lips that are not even. In this procedure, a fat graft is taken from within the deep layer of the skin in the mouth and is then positioned under the lips from incisions inside the mouth.

Lip Lift

For those with a down turned mouth or with loose skin above the lips a lip lift can both increase the area of the upper lip and eliminate the sad or annoyed effect that a downturned mouth can project. Extra skin is removed above the lip which shortens the skin under the nose to the lips which is what creates the lift. To correct drooping corners the extra skin at the corners of the mouth is removed through very small incisions beside the corner of the lips.

Non-Surgical Miami Lip Augmentation

Dermal Fillers

The most popular non surgical cosmetic procedures performed in America are those using dermal fillers. These products can restore volume to hands, face, feet and some are approved for the delicate area of the lips. Most fillers today contain hyaluronic acid which is a naturally occurring substance that can increase volume by stimulating the production of collagen.

Of the many dermal fillers available, only two are approved by the FDA for use in the lips. These are Restylane Silk with Lidocaine (a local anesthetic) and Restylane-L Gel also with Lidocaine. (Source: http://preview.tinyurl.com/ndu9qd6)

The fillers specifically approved for the lips are Restylane®Silk and Juvederm Ultra XC. The results obtained by most fillers will last from 3 to 6 months, although Juvederm Ultra XC is reported to be effective up to one year following initial treatment.

Restylane Silk is not only effective in adding volume to the lips, it is thin enough to be carefully injected into the area just above the lips to smooth the vertical lines known as smoker’s lines.

While the other fillers on the market have not been specifically approved for lip augmentation, that does not mean they are prohibited. Often a combination of fillers can be used to improve the results achieved by Restylane.

Laser Treatment for Plumping Lips and Reducing Lip Lines

Lip lines occur in women more frequently than men and cause cosmetic issues like lipstick bleed. Minimizing deep lip lines usually requires a combined approach which is determined by many anatomical factors. As a prominent Miami lip augmentation specialist, Dr. Lampert has seen countless men and women who look and feel young but their lip lines say otherwise.

Laser resurfacing using a laser like the Fraxel® DUAL deals with surface issues such as sun spots and acne scars, but also stimulates the production of collagen. Collagen is vital to maintaining lift and plumpness in skin structure which fills in wrinkles and lines and plumps the lips. Laser resurfacing removes several layers of skin which reduces the depth of lip lines. In the right circumstances, the use of laser treatments can provide a solution to both lip volume and lip lines.

Your Unappealing Lips Can Be a Thing of the Past

Find out how Dr. Lampert can help you with your unique lip and lip line issues. By arranging a consultation, he can examine your face, focusing on your lips and provide you with recommendations for plumping your lips, removing smoker’s lines or reducing and evening lip shape problems. Within a very short time, even opting for a surgical solution, you can turn back the clock by years simply by restoring youthful plumpness to your lips and eliminating lip lines.