Plump ‘Em Up: Lip Augmentation with Dermal Fillers By Dr. William Cohen on June 27, 2015

Full, luscious, pouty lips are the envy of many women. While some women are genetically blessed with such lips, most are not. Fortunately, with the advent of such dermal fillers as Restylane® and Perlane®, virtually any woman can have the plump, voluminous lips she desires, with minimal risks and without invasive surgery.

At The SKIN CENTERx, Dr. William Cohen offers a full range of injectable dermal fillers that can be used to rejuvenate the facial skin. Three of these dermal fillers in particular - Restylane®, Perlane®, and JUVÉDERM® - are commonly used to excellent effect as a means of augmenting the lips. If you are interested in undergoing lip augmentation with dermal fillers at our Orange County plastic surgery practice, we invite you to read on and then contact us to schedule your initial consultation with Dr. Cohen today.

What are injectable dermal fillers?

Dermal fillers such as Restylane®, Perlane®, and JUVÉDERM® are safe, effective gels that, when strategically injected under the facial skin, add volume to areas that have lost their fullness. These three dermal fillers are composed of hyaluronic acid, a protein that occurs naturally in the human body. Hyaluronic acid is considered a “water-loving” protein because it binds to and absorbs water. Each of these dermal fillers contains hyaluronic acid; the primary difference between them involves their consistency and stiffness.

Contrary to what many people believe, BOTOX® Cosmetic is not a dermal filler. It is an injectable treatment, but unlike Restylane®, Perlane®, and JUVÉDERM®, it is not a filler substance. Rather, it acts to relax the muscles responsible for wrinkles in the skin, and therefore is not appropriate as a treatment for areas of the face that are lacking in volume, such as thin lips.

One of the greatest benefits of Restylane®, Perlane®, and JUVÉDERM® is that, because their primary ingredient is found naturally within the human body, no allergy test is necessary prior to treatment. The results of these fillers are temporary, generally lasting for about a year, at which point treatment can safely be repeated.

Injecting Dermal Fillers into the Lips

All three dermal fillers - Restylane®, Perlane®, and JUVÉDERM® - can produce outstanding lip augmentation results, either on their own or in artful combinations with one another. Each filler offers its own unique benefits; however, the differences between each are subtle. More important than the type of filler you choose for your lip augmentation is that you entrust your lips to a plastic surgeon with a keen eye for aesthetics, such as Dr. William C. Cohen. Less experienced surgeons and aestheticians are more prone to overinject the lips or place the injections in inappropriate locations. Dr. Cohen employs a conservative approach to lip injection, ensuring that his patients emerge from treatment looking naturally beautiful, with full, lush lips that usually last for a year or longer.