Are Lip Fillers No Longer Doing the Trick? Learn Your Options

Who doesn’t want perfect lips or the perfect “pout”? Dermal fillers are the mainstream go to when women want fuller, more voluptuous lips. But what if your usual regime of lip fillers is no longer giving you what you need. While dermal fillers are a safe, non-invasive way to add volume to your natural lips, the results do eventually wear off. So, what options are available if you want a different even more permanent solution for your lips?

With over a decade of experience, Dr. Kevin Sadati is a highly regarded facial plastic surgeon serving Orange County and the Southern California area. Board-certified and renowned for his surgical skills, Dr. Sadati blends his fine arts background as a studied sculptor and painter with his surgical expertise to create amazing results for his patients, continuing to set himself apart from other plastic surgeons. If you have tried noninvasive options like dermal fillers and are needing more for your lips, here are some alternative options that Dr. Sadati can provide for you.

The dermal filler solution

When just starting out dermal fillers can be an excellent solution in order to experiment with how you want your “fuller” lips to look. Dermal fillers offer a noninvasive, non-permanent solution to augmenting your lips in order to get an idea of what you like and don’t like. Hyaluronic acid fillers are the most popular and are fully reversible with a simple injection. With minimal after-care, just taking it easy and having an ice pack handy to minimize swelling, dermal fillers are a great option when wanting to experiment with lip size before going to a more permanent solution.

Wanting a more permanent change

If temporary solutions like dermal fillers are leaving you wanting more, but without the maintenance and follow-up needed, then there are more permanent options to get amazing lips. Women in the Orange County and Southern California area that love having fuller lips along with no fine lines or wrinkles may decide they want a more permanent solution.

Lip Lift

Although commonly performed at the same time as a facelift, more patients are choosing to have a lip lift as a single procedure. Lip lifts have been on a steady incline with individuals wanting a more permanent solution to eliminate frown lines, asymmetrical lips, or thin lips. Considered a minor surgery done under a local anesthetic, this normally hour-long procedure allows the plastic surgeon to lift both the lower and upper lip in order to customize the shape for each patient. Patients will see immediate results of fuller-looking lips right after the procedure, but it can take a week for the lips to completely heal. With minimal post-op discomfort and swelling, lip lifts are the most permanent and cost-effective solution to getting the fuller, smoother lip area you have always wanted.

Lip Implants

Lip implants have the same end goal as dermal fillers which is to create fuller, more plump lips but are a more semi-permanent solution. Just like breast implants, lip implants can be customized by size, shape and have varying levels of firmness. With an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon a lip implant will be chosen that best suits the needs of each patient. The implants are surgically placed under the skin of the lips through a small incision and patients can choose to “plump up” one or both lips. Normally done in conjunction with a facelift but can also be done as a single procedure, this surgery does require patients to take at least 3 days off in order to recover. Lip implants can offer a more long-term solution with minimal upkeep if performed by the right plastic surgeon like Dr. Sadati.

Fat Grafting

Fat injections, also known as fat grafting, are another alternative to dermal fillers. This option offers patients a more natural substance rather than implants to augment their lips. Like with all fat grafting procedures, fat is taken from another area of the body -- usually the stomach, thighs, or buttocks -- and is injected into the lips. Patients can choose to do one or both lips. This more noninvasive approach only leaves tiny injection marks that will heal after a few days. With fat injections, the level of plumpness can be unpredictable so patients may need multiple treatments in order to achieve the fullness they want. Since this is a two-part procedure involving fat removal as well as lip augmentation, the recovery is a little more extensive. The lip augmentation itself only requires a day off and can be done under a local anesthetic.

Dermal fillers are still the number one choice for patients wanting to augment their lips, but it does require follow up maintenance every 3-6 months. If you are wanting a more permanent solution for your lips, considering lip implants or a lift may be the right solution for you. As with any cosmetic procedure, consulting the right, board-certified plastic surgeon will ensure you get the best end results.

Board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Kevin Sadati has received the honor of being voted the “Best Cosmetic Surgeon of Orange County” for the past 3 years. His highly recommended practice and his well-known surgical skills makes him a highly sought-after plastic surgeon in the Southern California area. He is also a recurring guest expert on the television show, The Doctors. His artistic background and highly qualified medical training allow him to provide patients with amazing results. We invite you to call our Newport Beach plastic surgery practice and schedule your lip augmentation consultation with Dr. Sadati today.