Full lips continue to be a sign of youth and beauty. As we age and our hormonal balance changes, lips become thinner, lose definition, and begin to sag. Leong Facial Plastic Surgery offers some of the best results in lip injections Pittsburgh has to offer its cosmetic patients to restore that youthful appearance.
Hyaluronic fillers such as Restylane®, Juvederm® Ultra, Juvederm® Ultra Plus, and Restylane Lyft® provides an excellent non-surgical solution to shape and volumize thin, aging lips.
How does the history of lip augmentation play into today’s treatment?
More than a decade ago, plastic surgeons often used collagen lip injections for augmentation. However, we found that collagen for lips tends to last a very short time, so today most plastic surgeons prefer the hyaluronic acid fillers. Lip fat transfer provides a more long-lasting option for full, voluptuous lips. When it comes to lip augmentation, Dr. Leong’s goal is to create full, soft, natural-looking lips using our lip fillers in Pittsburgh so the lips are in proportion with the face.
Dr. Leong certainly sees some patients with bad lip injections come into his office. The most common issue with these patients is that too much filler has been injected, leading to excessive and artificial appearing lips. In order to make sure that he and the patient have a similar goal for how their lips will look, he often reviews a series of lip augmentation before and after pictures. As always, Dr. Leong believes that if it doesn’t look natural, it doesn’t look good!
How long do lip injections last?
Since the mouth is an area that moves frequently, cosmetic lip fillers may not last as long as areas that are less mobile, like the nasolabial folds or the tear troughs. You can expect filler lip treatment to last anywhere from approximately 3-5 months.
Fat transferred into the lips lasts longer, but the cost and recovery period are also greater. Most patients enjoy the benefits of this procedure for approximately 3-6 years. However, some lip fat transfer patients experience much more rapid decline in their lip volume, which can be very disappointing.
How long does it take to inject filler in the lips?
Our Pittsburgh lip augmentation with cosmetic lip fillers is a relatively quick procedure, usually lasting only a few minutes. More involved cases can last up to 30 minutes.
Do lip augmentation injections hurt?
Since the lips are a sensitive area, (due to many nerve endings) Dr. Leong often administers a dental block prior to treatment to numb the area. This consists of two injections to the upper lip and two to the lower lip. Most of his patients find that this greatly reduces discomfort and pain.
What can I expect after lip augmentation treatment?
Results from lip augmentation are typically seen immediately after treatment. Swelling, bruising and redness may occur. This usually resolves in a few days. An ice pack can be applied on and off for several minutes to reduce swelling. The true results are usually seen in two weeks, after all swelling has resolved.
Does lip augmentation require sedation or general anesthesia?
Sedation or even general anesthesia will only be used if you are having fat transfer injections in the hospital. During this procedure, Dr. Leong will use your own fat and transfer it directly into the lips.
Can both men and women have lip augmentation treatment?
Yes, both men and women can be good candidates for our lip fillers in Pittsburgh. The ideal candidate is someone who is looking to add volume and shape to slim, droopy lips.
Now Serving Morgantown
Dr. Paul Leong is a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon specializing exclusively in aesthetic facial plastic surgery. With an international reputation for the quality of his lip augmentation treatments, Dr. Leong’s practice has a regional scope, drawing patients from well beyond Pittsburgh. To better serve his patients in the region, Dr. Leong has expanded with an additional office in Morgantown, WV.
Contact Leong Facial Plastic Surgery
For more information on lip augmentation or to schedule an appointment with Dr. Paul Leong to talk more about your options, please contact Leong Facial Plastic Surgery today.