Lip Reshaping

Hyaluronic acid fillers are an excellent option to achieve fuller lips that look natural.  These fillers (Juvederm, Restylane) are placed with the use of a dental block, so there is very little discomfort.  The products are very soft.  The risk of bumps is low.  These fillers are totally reversible; there is an enzyme we can inject that would dissolve the product within 48-72 hours if there is an area of concern.  These fillers last approximately 1 year, but we have patients who experience benefit from these products in the lips ranging from 4-12 months.

If you had lip augmentation with a hyaluronic acid filler, such as Restylane or Juvederm, the product can be dissolved with an injection of enzyme called hyaluronidase.

I use a dental block to minimize discomfort when performing lip augmentation.  I tend to favor hyaluronic acid fillers, such as Juvederm, for lip augmenation.  I inject this product in such a way as to reclaim a more youthful, natural appearance of the lips.  For example, we adhere to some characteristic aesthetic qualities of the lips, such as achieving a slightly smaller upper lip relative to the lower lip.  If the lips are injected in such a way that the upper and lower lips are of the same size, this may result in an un-natural appearance.  As well, we place volume in specific areas of the lips; this allows us to avoid the over-injected, homogeneous appearance of the lips.  When lip augmentation is done well, it fits the face and does not garner attention.

Your options include non-surgical and surgical options. Of the non-surgical options, I would recommend filler augmentation of the lips to add volume. As well, I place filler in the corners of the mouth to turn the corner of the mouth upward slightly. The filler I prefer to use in the lips is hyaluronic acid, such as Juvederm. It is a very soft product and can provide natural-appearing results. A facelift is a good surgical option if you have the presence of jowls and marionette folds. Otherwise, there are other potential surgical options for the thin lips, such as lip advancement procedures, and options for downturned corner of the mouth, such as corner of the mouth lift surgery. I do not favor permanent fillers or implants in the lips at this time as these products may result in an un-natural appearance, feel un-natural, and/or result in lumps/bumps/contour irregularities which are very difficult to correct.

I prefer hyaluronic acid fillers, such as Juvederm, to provide fuller lips. I agree with your desire to avoid too much augmentation and I prefer using Juvederm to add volume to the lips in a natural to achieve a natural appearance. We use a dental block to minimize discomfort. We also provide ice after the procedure to minimize swelling and bruising.

I prefer to use hyaluronic acid filler, such as Juvederm, for the lips. The reason for this is that hyaluronic acid fillers are soft, safe, and very well tolerated in the lips. I combine this with a dental block to make the injection a relatively painless procedure.

For fine lines/wrinkles around the lips, I perform skin resurfacing with a fractionated laser.  Another potential treatment option for fine lines/wrinkles around the lips is filler augmentation with Juvederm.

For those patients who wish to have more volume to the lips, Juvederm is an excellent injectable filler option.

For patients who want a more permanent result, surgical options such as lip advancement or subnasal lip lift might be beneficial.

If the corners of the mouth are turned downwards, I like to lift the corner of the mouth with either injectable filler or surgery.

Posted by Rami K. Batniji, M.D., F.A.C.S.