Trends in body aesthetics come and go. From curvy figures to tall and thin, short bob-cuts to long layers, the trends change almost every year. This year is no exception; however, one trend stands out above the others.
One of the Hottest Trends in Facial Aesthetics Right Now: Fuller Lips
Celebrities like Kylie Jenner, Scarlet Johansen, and Angelina Jolie are among some of the most well-known people who have inspired the full-lip trend. Likewise, the full lip trend has been increasing in popularity amongst social media influencers, making this new facial aesthetic trend hard to escape.
As more and more people, especially women, are hopping on the fuller lip trend, it’s important to know the basics of getting rid of thin lips.
What You Need to Know About Filling Out Thin Lips
It’s common for people to feel insecure about their lips if they are thin or smaller than the average person’s lips. Some people are simply born with thin/small lips, while others get thin lips from not caring for them properly. Before getting a procedure performed to enhance the size of your lips, ask yourself if you take care of your lips. Do you keep them moisturized? Do you exfoliate them? Have you tried a nighttime rejuvenator? Trying simple remedies such as these may be all you need to achieve fuller lips all on your own without any medical intervention.
However, if you have done all of the at-home, simple remedies to enhance the size of your lips and haven’t gotten results, you may want to try one of the following ways to get fuller lips.
What are Lip Fillers?
Lip fillers are one of the most popular ways to get fuller lips. There are a variety of different kinds of fillers that can be injected into your lips to make them appear fuller. However, the most common type of filler used is a hyaluronic acid filler. Hyaluronic acid fillers can improve not only the volume of your lips but also the structure and overall shape.
When you use a lip filler, you can decide (with the help of your doctor, of course) how much filler to inject to get rid of your thin lips. Typically, lip fillers last about six months. Some other benefits of lip fillers include:
- There is minimal swelling and bruising directly after the procedure.
- Any bumps that appear post-injection will dissolve quickly.
- The injections can be administered gradually during multiple appointments until the patient is happy with the results.
- There are very few patients who have reported allergic reactions since hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance found in the body.
Can You Get Lip Implants?
Yes! Lip implants are another option for people who want to get rid of their thin lips. Lip implants are a permanent lip augmentation that uses plastic implants to create fuller lips. There are two types of implants: silicone and expanded polytetrafluoroethylene. Both are safe, though the expanded polytetrafluoroethylene implants are more popular with patients because of the fast tissue response to the expanded polytetrafluoroethylene. Likewise, the expanded polytetrafluoroethylene is softer and easier to compress to create more natural-looking results.
However, Dr. Amy Brodsky is one of the few doctors in Illinois who specialize in silicone implants. She says, “As long as silicone implants are done correctly, they are the most natural-looking.” Silicone implants are permanent, so we go slow, allowing the patient to go bigger if they want in the future.” Dr. Brodsky emphasized the importance of working with a talented, qualified, and specially trained doctor to get silicone lip implants, as not many doctors specialize in silicone implants.
What is the procedure for lip implants?
Here is a brief description of what you could expect if you opt for lip implants to get fuller lips:
1. An incision will be made on both corners of the mouth, and a clamp will be inserted into the incisions. A pocket will be created.
2. The clamp will open the pocket, and the implant will be inserted.
3. The clamp will be removed, and the incision will be closed.
Getting limp implants only takes about 30 minutes, as long as there aren’t any complications. Typically, it takes one to two weeks for the lip tissue to begin holding the implant in place, so it’s recommended that you avoid any kind of pressure on the lips during that time.
In addition to plastic implants, there are two other kinds of lip implant procedures that you can choose from:
Fat grafting for the lips
Fat grafting for the lips, also known as autologous fat transfer, is a cosmetic procedure that involves transferring fat from one area of the body to the lips to enhance their volume and shape. This procedure offers a natural and long-lasting alternative to traditional lip fillers, as it uses the patient’s own fat cells to augment the lips.
Fat is harvested from donor sites such as the abdomen, thighs, or buttocks through liposuction during the fat grafting procedure. The harvested fat is then processed and purified to remove impurities and excess fluid. Once purified, the fat is injected into the lips using small cannulas, with the goal of achieving a fuller and more symmetrical appearance.
Fat grafting for the lips offers several benefits, including natural-looking results, minimal risk of allergic reactions or rejection, and the potential for long-lasting outcomes. Additionally, since the procedure uses the patient’s own fat cells, there is no risk of foreign body reaction or migration, making it a safe and effective option for lip augmentation.
Tissue grafting for the lips
Tissue grafting for the lips, also known as dermal or soft tissue grafting, is a surgical procedure aimed at enhancing lip volume and correcting asymmetry or defects. This technique involves transplanting tissue from one area of the body to the lips to achieve fuller and more aesthetically pleasing lips.
During the tissue grafting procedure, tissue is harvested from donor sites such as the inner cheeks or the lining of the mouth. The harvested tissue is then carefully prepared and shaped to fit the desired lip augmentation goals. The tissue graft is meticulously sutured into place, ensuring a natural and seamless integration with the surrounding lip tissue.
Tissue grafting for the lips offers several advantages, including long-lasting results, minimal risk of allergic reactions or rejection, and the ability to address more significant volume deficits or structural irregularities. Additionally, tissue grafting allows for precise customization of lip shape and contour, resulting in natural-looking enhancements that complement the patient’s facial features.
What is a lip flip, and do they work?
A lip flip is a medical procedure that uses Botox injections to create fuller lips. Botox is injected into the upper lip to relax the muscles and “flip” the lip up. It’s important to point out that lip flips make the lips appear fuller, compared to dermal fillers and implants that actually do make the lips fuller. Lip flips simply temporarily relax the lip muscles to turn the lip up rather than increase the actual volume of the lip.
Lip flip procedures typically take about 10 minutes and are normally fairly straightforward. The doctor will likely not numb your lips since the procedure isn’t very painful. After getting a lip flip, you will likely see results in 10-14 days, and the results should last between two and three months.
Which procedure works the best and has minimal side effects?
The lip augmentation that works the best depends on the specific person. For example, some people benefit from lip injections more than others because they are comfortable with permanent results. In contrast, a first-time lip augmentation patient may do better with lip fillers so they can see if she likes fuller lips. All lip augmentations work to some degree.
In regards to the lip augmentation that has the least side effects, one should opt for a lip filler. Since the body naturally produces hyaluronic acid, lip fillers that use hyaluronic acid are the most natural. Dr. Brodsky pointed out that lip fillers are one of the safest options because the results are not permanent.
Most people who use lip fillers experience very few side effects, if any. Side effects that you might experience include swelling, bruising, and asymmetry, all of which typically go away with time.
More invasive lip augmentations, such as lip implants, have more potential side effects than lip fillers, including ulceration, scarring, lumps on the lip, or stiffening of the lip.
Recovering After a Lip Augmentation
To get the most out of your lip augmentation, regardless of the procedure, you need to pay special attention to recovery. Here are some tips for recovering after a lip augmentation:
- Avoid smoking
- Do your best to avoid rubbing, massaging, and touching your lips
- Don’t put any pressure on your lips for about 2 weeks after the procedure; this includes kissing
- Try to sleep on your back at night
- Be sure to go to any follow-up appointments
- Ice packs and head elevation may help with swelling and pain
- If you are in a lot of pain, talk to your doctor about getting some kind of pain medication
- Ice packs can help alleviate the pain
Depending on the intensity of your surgery, you may want to have someone drop you off and pick you up after your procedure. Similarly, if you have children, you may want to arrange for someone to watch them on the day of the procedure, as you will likely be sore.
How to Find a Doctor to Help You Enhance Your Thin Lips
As you think about what kind of lip augmentation is right for you, you should make it a point to meet with multiple doctors to find the one that will give you the best results. Spend time researching various doctors online and reading reviews. Once you have found a few doctors you are interested in, meet with them for a consultation, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Some questions you may want to ask are:
- Can I see before and after pictures of your past patients?
- How should I prepare for the procedure?
- What procedure do you think is best for me?
- What are your credentials?
This article is for informational purposes only. Please consult with a board-certified doctor for your best option.
Read Next:
