Lip Enhancement

Dr. Hilinski is "Double Board Certified" in Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery.

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As we age, our lips tend to drop and thin. The red portion of the lip and the border of the lip called the white line lose their fullness and voluptuous shape. A thinning upper and lower lip can give an appearance of anger or old age. If your lips are thinning, you may be a candidate for augmentation.

Lip enhancement, also known as lip augmentation, is a procedure using a variety of surgical and non-surgical techniques to enhance the appearance of the upper and lower lips. Materials used to enhance the lips can be either temporary or permanent. These materials include Restylane®, Alloderm™, fat transfer and alloplastic implants (synthetic materials). Nearly all of these choices result in lip enhancement with an overall soft, natural feeling.

Before & After Photos

Temporary treatments take minutes to perform and can be done in an office visit. Injectables such as Restylane can be done with a topical anesthesia with or without a nerve block. On average, results can be expected to last between six to nine months.

Permanent enhancement uses materials that are of medical-grade quality and have a proven safety record. A nerve block with local anesthesia is typically used, and incisions are usually hidden in the corners of the mouth. Fat transfer can often provide permanent results when used for lip enhancement. This procedure also uses a nerve block with local anesthesia and only involves the use of tiny nicks in the skin to both harvest the fat and place it within the lip.

Swelling and bruising are rare after Restylane treatment, but may be more pronounced following permanent enhancement. These side effects may last for three to seven days.

Verafil IMPLANT

The latest advancement in permanent lip enhancement procedures is the Verafil Implant. Unlike prior permanent lip implants that were made of a soft but more solid goretex sleeve, the Verafil Implant is softer and more natural feeling. The Verafil Implant is unique in that it is saline-filled, much like implants used in breast augmentation. This quality gives the implant a softer, more natural feel and look. The Verafil Implant does have a very thin goretex coating, however this simply allows the implant to stay in place. The Verafil Implant is done in the office under local anesthesia and takes as little as thirty minutes to one hour to complete the upper and lower lip.

Dr. Hilinski was the first plastic surgeon in San Diego to successfully perform this cutting-edge advancement in permanent lip augmentation. If you are interested in a permanent alternative to provide you with fuller, more youthful lips, contact our office today to see if you are a candidate for the Verafil Implant procedure.

Whichever path you choose, lip enhancement and augmentation restores the gentle curves and supple appearance characteristic of attractive, youthful lips.

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Q - What is lip enhancement?
Lip enhancement, also known as lip augmentation, is an office-based procedure using a variety of surgical and non-surgical techniques to enhance the appearance of the upper and lower lips. Materials used to enhance the lips can be either temporary or permanent and include Restylane, fat transfer and the Ful-Fil® Lip Implant. Patients may seek lip enhancement with a desire for fuller, more shapely lips or to address unwanted vertical lines and wrinkles around the lips known as smoker’s lines. Lip enhancement can improve the appearance of deflated or excessively thin lips resulting from age which may make a person appear sad, angry or old.

Q - What is Restylane?
Restylane is the most popular injectable filler that is used for temporary lip enhancement. Because it appears smooth and natural when placed under the superficial skin, it is a great option for adding volume to the lips and surrounding area. With the ability to place Restylane just below the lip and skin surface, even finer lines and wrinkles can be effectively erased in one simple office-based procedure. The soft and natural appearing enhancement that is seen with Restylane augmentation of the lip will last an average of six to nine months.

Q - What is fat transfer?
Fat transfer is another option for lip augmentation which involves harvesting excess fat from areas such as the abdomen or thigh and placing it within the lip. Much like temporary fillers, fat injections into the lip can provide volume enhancement and a more shapely, feminine lip contour. In many cases, lip enhancement with fat can provide a permanent result. However, because some fat that is transferred will inevitably be absorbed to varying degrees, a series of fat injections is often required to achieve the desired level of augmentation.

Q - What is the Ful-Fil Implant?
The Ful-Fil® Lip Implant is the latest advancement in permanent lip enhancement procedures. Unlike previous permanent lip implants made of a soft but more solid Goretex sleeve, the Ful-Fil® Lip Implant is softer with a more natural feel. The implant is unique in that it is saline-filled, much like breast implants. This allows for a softer, more natural feeling and appearing implant. The Ful-Fil® Lip Implant does have a very thin Goretex coating which allows the implant to stay in place. Insertion of the Ful-Fil® Lip Implant is performed in the office with local anesthesia and takes as little as thirty minutes to augment the upper and lower lip. A cutting-edge advancement in permanent lip augmentation, Dr. Hilinski was the first plastic surgeon in San Diego to successfully perform the procedure.

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