Full lips and a kissable pout is a feature that is considered both attractive and youthful. With so many celebrities sporting beautiful full lips, enhancing your own lips can seem like an easy way to be prettier. However, lip enhancements can only complement your own unique beauty if they are natural and not over-inflated or fake looking. After all, a trout pout is not attractive unless you are a fish!

Here at Richmond Surgical Arts we offer safe and effective procedures to increase the volume of your lips, naturally. Fuller lips can drastically alter the way you look and may help to improve your overall image and self-esteem.

If you are considering a lip enhancement, here are most frequently asked questions with advice from our specialists to help you to decide if this type of treatment is right for you:

1. 1. What Lip Enhancement Options Do You Offer?

You can increase the volume of your lips using a variety of different methods. Here at Richmond Surgical Arts we would recommend that lip enhancement be performed using either injectable smooth gel fillers (like Juvéderm® Ultra or Restylane Silk) or by grafting fat harvested from the hip or thigh region.

1. 1. Do lip enhancements procedures take long?

If you choose an injectable filler procedure, it can be performed quickly and easily in your doctor’s office. If you opt for fat injections however, the procedure will take longer as you will need to have liposuction to remove the fat from another are of your body before the injection can take place.

Fat injections will also be done in the office, but will be under local anesthesia and will take around 45 minutes to perform. It may also take up to 2 – 3 treatments to achieve your desired result when using fat injections.

1. 1. How should I prepare for lip augmentation surgery?

Even though lip augmentation treatments are low risk, you will still need to consult with your doctor before the treatment. If you have ever had a cold sore (oral herpes) any time in the past, you will need to tell your doctor this. You will also need to let him know if you have allergies, are allergic to lidocaine or are taking any medications including prescription and over-the-counter drugs or herbal supplements.

1. 1. What happens during lip enhancement procedures?

Before your doctor injects your lips, he will apply a topical or local numbing agent to minimize any discomfort. Your doctor will then carefully mark the areas that are going to be injected and, using a very fine needle, inject the substance into your lips.

1. 1. Will the procedure be painful

In most cases, no it isn’t particularly painful, and your lips will be numbed before hand.

1. 1. What should I expect after lip augmentation treatment?

After hyaluronic acid fillers injections, you may be given ice or a cold pack to help control swelling and to ease any pain. These side effects will pass very easily within a few days. After fat grafting however, your lips may be swollen and bruised for 7 to 10 days. If you have a history of cold sores, you will be placed on a prescription medicine 2 days prior to the procedure to prevent an outbreak due to the stress of the procedure.

1. 1. How long will the augmentation last?

Depending upon the product used, duration of the benefit can be anywhere from 4 months to 12 months. Most patients will book further treatments to ensure that there lips remain fuller.

1. 1. Are there any side effects?

Again, while lip fillers are a minor treatment in terms of risk, some patients do experience some minor side effects. These are all temporary and should only last a few days. These may include, bleeding from the injection sites, swelling and bruising or redness and tenderness at the site of the injection

1. 1. Is Lip Augmentation Right for You?

As with all cosmetic treatments, you must ask yourself why you want to change the appearance of your lips. Only go ahead with the procedure it you are happy that you will only alter the appearance of your lips, and that the rest of your look will remain the same.

You should also be in good health and a non-smoker. You may not be a candidate for lip augmentation if you have an infection such as oral herpes, diabetes, Lupus or blood clotting problems.

Finally, be sure to find the right doctor
There are several specialists who can perform lip augmentation, including plastic surgeons, dermatologists and even some cosmetic facial surgeons. Finding a doctor who you trust and believe in is vital to any successful cosmetic procedure. The doctor you choose should be qualified and experienced in giving injections, and happy to show you examples of his previous work.

Richmond Surgical Arts are proud to be able to offer lip enhancement procedures to the people of Richmond. Speak to Dr. Lynam and his team today on (804) 560-5260 to book a consultation with us.