Also referred to as "cheilopasty," lip augmentation is a type of cosmetic surgery, the goal of which is to enhance the appearance of the lips. If you are considering it, there's a lot you should know. First off, you must be in good overall health. That means if you have diabetes, oral herpes, lupus, connective tissue disorders, or blood clotting problems, you may not be a candidate. If you are a smoker, there may be complications.
You also need to have realistic expectations. If you are expecting a radical change, you may be disappointed. The lip injections and implants should look natural, and surgeons have to work with what they're given.
Injectable Fillers
A surgeon may use local anesthesia to make you more comfortable during the injections. You can expect the procedure to be done on an outpatient basis in the doctor's office.
- Artecoll is known to have more staying power than collagen or fat injections. Artecoll contains partially denatured Bovine collagen. With this, there is some risk of allergic reaction.
- Autologen is collagen taken from your own body. The collagen is extracted from your body and sent to a lab where it is processed into an injectable form. Because it is from your own body, there's no risk of reaction. But the effects of the injection are temporary. Your body will slowly reabsorb the collagen.
- Bovine collagen is extracted from cows. This effect lasts only a month to three months. This product is a good first-time option so you can get an idea of what lip augmentation can do for you. Allergic reaction is a risk.
- There are other types of fillers, such as Dermalogen, HylaForm, Restylane,and Juvaderm.
Implants and Surgeries
