Procedures
Lip Enhancement
Lip enhancement is a cosmetic procedure used to increase the size of the lips through surgery or injections. This procedure can be performed on the upper or lower lip, or both at the same time, and may offer temporary or permanent results depending on the type of material used. Most patients desiring larger, fuller lips are able to achieve their desired results with just one simple procedure.
Fuller lips can be achieved through several different cosmetic techniques. The best procedure for you depends on your overall health and desired results, along with several other determining factors. Dr. Bonillas will discuss these factors with you to help you decide which treatment option is best for you to achieve the full lips you desire.
Enhancement Options
Most lip enhancement options involve an injection of a facial filler to increase the size of the lips, although implants may be used as well. Some of the options commonly used for lip enhancement include:
- Collagen injections
- Patient's own fat from another area of the body
- Artecoll injections (synthetic material)
- Autologen injections (patient's own collagen from another area)
- Dermalogen injections (donor material)
- Fascia injections (donor material)
- HylaForm injections (similar to natural hyaluronic acid)
- Restylane injections (similar to natural hyaluronic acid)
Each of these different types of lip enhancement offer patients some kind of benefits over others. You can discuss these options further with Dr. Bonillas in order to determine which procedure is best for you.
Procedure
Lip enhancement procedures are performed on an outpatient basis and can usually be done in Dr. Bonillas' office in less than an hour. Anesthesia may or may not be used for this procedure, depending on how the procedure is performed. Injections may only require a topical anesthetic, while implants usually require local anesthesia. An allergy test may be needed if synthetic materials are being used, to ensure that the patient is not allergic to the material.
Once anesthesia is applied and the risk of allergies is eliminated, the filler is injected directly into the lips through a minimally invasive procedure that takes just a few minutes to perform. Proper placement is important in order to achieve optimal results.
For lip implants, the synthetic implants are inserted into the lips through tiny incisions at the corners of the lips. Dr. Bonillas uses the PermaLip™ Facial Implant which is a silicone implant placed into the upper and/or lower lip, as detailed below. Dr. Bonillas closes the incisions with stitches, and the implants will remain in place with permanent results.
Perma™ Facial Implant
The excitement surrounding this FDA cosmetic enhancement breakthrough has been immediate and overwhelming both in the U.S. and in Europe. The implant is made in the U.S. and consists of soft, solid silicone. It's an implant that cannot rupture, deflate or degrade over time. The implants correspond to the dimensions of the lip. It is an implant and NOT an injection of silicone. The implant is available in a variety of diameters and lengths to accommodate the uniqueness of each person's lip characteristics, tapering at both ends to conform naturally to the normal lip. Although it's permanent, the Perma™ Facial Implant is also designed to be easily removable should a person wish to achieve a larger or smaller enhancement or even return to their original lip appearance. The following photographs were supplied by SurgiSil™, and do not reflect actual patients of Dr. Bonillas'.
Full, Pouty Lips
Full, pouty, romantic lips are a hallmark of young Hollywood. When you think of soft, full lips, who do
you see: Angelina Jolie, Julia Roberts, Scarlett Johansson? Next time you look in the mirror, permanently soft, sultry lips
could be looking back at you.
Natural Lips (Only Better)
The Perma procedure is popular in the augmentation of thin lips for a natural look. As you can see, the result does not have the signature augmented look. Quite the opposite. This is a subtle but important enhancement.
Mature Lip Rejuvenation
Mature lips may be rejuvenated as a stand-alone process or in tandem with other facial procedures.
Results and Recovery
After lip enhancement, patients may experience mild discomfort and swelling for a few days, although these side effects usually subside on their own. The lips may appear to be overfilled at first, since some materials, such as collagen, lose much of their volume within a very short period of time. The exact results for your procedure will depend upon the type of enhancement performed and your desired results, although most patients are satisfied with their results.
Most patients can return to work and other normal activities within one to two days after the procedure, although exercise and other strenuous activities should be avoided for a bit longer. Recovery from fat grafting procedures may take longer.
Depending on the type of material used, patients may require multiple treatments over time to maintain their desired results. Many injectable materials, especially natural ones, are not immune to the effects of aging and will gradually deplete.
