Lip Enhancements
Full, voluptuous and well proportioned lips have always been recognized as aesthetically desirable features. Thin lips can be a result of the natural aging processes (stress, exposure to sunlight, smoking etc), trauma or congenital abnormality. A number of procedures and injectable products can be used to enhance the lips to create a more youthful look while maintaining natural facial animation.
Lip enhancement can be used to:
- Increase the volume of the lips
- Eliminate wrinkles around the mouth so that lipstick does not "bleed" or "run".
- Eliminate a sad look when the mouth is down turned
- Balance the thickness of the upper and lower lips
- Recontour the Cupid's Bow
- Lift saggy corners of the mouth and lips
Understanding the Procedure
Upper and lower lips can be enhanced (augmented) or reduced in size. Surgery can be performed to achieve the desired effect under local anaesthesia, or alternatively, a dental block is used and then a number of different types of fillers can be injected into the lips beneath the skin's surface. The fillers range from Restylane, Aquamid, Juvederm, Esthelis, Collagen etc and Dr Pham will discuss these treatments with you and point out their effectiveness. Fillers are injected into the upper and lower lip borders to enhance definition and contour, or into the upper and lower lips to create volume. Costs vary greatly and you need to take the time to consider the various options available. Results vary depending on the substance used.
After the procedure your lips will be swollen and numb, and this will gradually subside over the next 1 to 2 weeks. You will need to keep your lips moist and will have to be careful with hot foods and drinks until a few hours after your procedure. Please remember to always protect your face from the sun by wearing a hat and sunglasses.
Injectable Fillers
1. Autologous fat, dermis and fascia (from your own body). This has a high absorption rate and may leave unevenness. Only 30-50% is retained long term. Newer techniques of microfat injections allow for higher retaining rates.
2. Synthetic
a. Collagen (a test dose is necessary). Lasts for 3-4 months.
b. Hyaluronic Acid
i. Restylane or Hylaform. Lasts for 6 months
ii. Juvederm or Esthelis. Lasts 6-9 months.
c. Aquamid. May last up to 3 years or more.
d. Expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) - Gortex
Before the Procedure
At Consultation - please inform Dr Pham of
- Any previous use of fillers
- Any previous lip or mouth surgery
- Any bleeding disorders
- Current medications especially Aspirin, Anti-inflammatories, Warfarin, blood thinners, Insulin, and oral contraceptive pills. Over the counter products such as vitamins and herbal medications may also be important.
- Allergies or adverse reactions to antibiotics, anaesthetic drugs or other medications.
- Past keloid scarring or poor healing
Please Inform Dr Pham at his clinic if you have the following:
- Cold sores
- High fever, chills or a temperature of more than 38 degrees
- Heavy bleeding from the wounds
- Severe pain or tenderness
- Significant redness, tenderness or discharge around the incision
Risks of Surgery
Modern surgery is safe but does have risks. Complications can occur despite the highest standards and world's best practice principles used by Dr Pham.
It is not possible to list all the risks but you should be informed of the common side effects and benefits so that you can make an informed consent. Dr Pham will discuss these in greater detail at consultation. You should write down any particular questions or specific concerns.
The potential risks are
1. General risk of surgery
- Wound infection - may require antibiotics
- Bleeding, blood clots or seroma
- If you require a general anaesthetic - chest infection, sore throat from the breathing tube
- Scars that become raised (hypertrophic or keloid)
2. Specific Risks
- Asymmetry is common but rarely this is gross. Minor revision may be recommended.
- Too little or too much fillers. Dr Pham usually under fills the areas as more filler can easily be added later if required
- Extrusion of the filler.
- Minor lumps or irregularities of the lips.
- Reduced sensation, nausea and loss of balance is temporary
- Skin necrosis is very uncommon
- Allergic or hypersensitivity to the fillers (Collagen is most common)
- Sterile abscess.
Please contact us for your consultation on Rhinoplasty / Nasal Reshaping or other cosmetic surgery and non surgical cosmetic procedures
Gallery - Before and After Photographs
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