You can have a fuller, more-sensuous mouth with lip augmentation. Through this cosmetic procedure, a filler composed of hyaluronic acid is injected into your lips and in the area around your mouth to provide more shape, structure and volume. This produces a longer-lasting, less-noticeable lip augmentation that involves less bruising and a reduced risk of allergic reactions as compared to other approaches to augmentation. A lip augmentation procedure from the Cedar Valley Center for Facial Plastic Surgery of Waterloo, Iowa and Dr. David J. Congdon, a lip augmentation specialist, can help patients experience a greater sense of confidence and draw attention to their smiles.

Lip Augmentation

Lips can be made fuller with injectable fillers or fat injections. Restylane® is the first cosmetic dermal filler made of non-animal-based hyaluronic acid, a natural substance that already exists in the human body and that is used to provide volume and fullness to the lips for results that last about six months. For a permanent result, fat can be harvested from the abdomen, purified, and injected into the lips. The filler within the hyaluronic acid helps reshape the lips and allows patients to experience a more customized treatment. Patients can direct the amount of injection (and thus the new lip volume) and their providers can easily remove any imperfections in the lips.

Is lip augmentation right for you?

Lip augmentation is performed as an outpatient surgical procedure and varies from several months (with hyaluronic acid) to a permanent solution (with fat injections) and can be repeated for additional fullness if so desired. Hyaluronic fillers also are less likely to cause allergic reactions or bruising for most patients, as compared to other types of fillers. During the actual augmentation procedure, a fine needle will be injected into your lips, with the entire process taking a few minutes. Most patients experience some swelling and should avoid applying lip glosses or related products to their lips immediately post-procedure. The augmentation is usually visually apparently immediately following the injection.

Case Study

The patient featured below underwent lip augmentation with an injectable filler.

Before

After