Plump, attractive lips are a hallmark of youthful beauty and feminine appeal. For those not genetically blessed with supple, full lips, there are different treatments and procedures that can be performed to achieve this appealing look. Both lip augmentation surgery and minimally-invasive dermal fillers are designed to effectively provide patients with the full, beautiful lips they have always wanted. What is the difference between the two, and which one is right for you?
What is the difference between lip filler and lip augmentation surgery?
Lip augmentation with fillers and surgical lip augmentation are quite different procedures, as one is a minimally-invasive, temporary treatment without downtime, and the other is a surgical procedure that uses a permanent implant to achieve the desired results.
Risks
Each procedure carries its own risks.
Lip augmentation surgery risks include the following:
- visible scar
- bleeding
- hematoma in the lip tissue
- infection
- asymmetry
- too much or too little augmentation
Lip filler risks include the following:
- bleeding
- bruising
- infection
- nodules
- injection into or around blood vessels that can cause tissue loss (rare)
Permanence of treatment
Results after lip fillers last for up to 18 months. Lip fillers are highly customizable and reversible. While rare, if a lip filler patient is unhappy with their treatment result, some or all of the filler can be removed with an injection of hyaluronidase. This procedure can be specifically tailored to the area of concern, removing a precise amount of filler to refine the results.
Lip implant results are considered permanent. After lip augmentation surgery, the results can also be reversed, but to achieve this, a minor in-office surgical procedure is required.
Customization
Lip augmentation surgery can be customized with different implant sizes, but lip filler augmentation is much more versatile and can be more highly customized for the patient’s anatomy, specific needs and desires. Lip fillers can also be used to smooth away wrinkles around the lips and mouth to provide a more youthful appearance.
Natural results
Some patients have a concern about whether lip filler treatments will look and feel natural. The answer to the question? Definitely. Most people are only aware of “bad” filler injections that they’ve seen. They’re unaware of the thousands of lip treatments that look beautiful and natural. The key is to have the right injector who is highly experienced and trained to precisely place the right amount of the right product in the right area(s) of the lips
On the other hand, lip implants do not always feel natural. Sometimes implants can make the lips feel stiffer.
Which treatment does Dr. Weber prefer?
Dr. Weber prefers lip filler treatments because they are safe, natural-appearing, and highly customizable. Lip implants can look or feel asymmetric on occasion and can have a tendency to shift during the healing process.
Dr. Weber also offers other options, such as fat transfer. During lip augmentation by fat transfer, the patient’s own fat is used to plump the upper and lower lips. Excess fat is removed from the belly, flanks, or thighs, then cleansed. This purified fat is then carefully injected into the lips.
Dr. Stephen Weber is a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon who is highly experienced and qualified to enhance your lips beautifully to achieve the most natural, appealing results. To find out more about your options and to determine which is the best for your needs, please schedule an appointment with Dr. Weber.