Blog

Plump, fuller lips are only growing in popularity thanks to celebrities, models, and social media influencers. Today’s lip augmentation procedures can create natural-looking results through relatively quick and easy outpatient procedures. Lip enhancement treatment can be achieved through either surgical or non-surgical techniques, each having their own pros and cons.

Read on to learn more about lip lift surgery and lip injections to find out which one might be right for you.

What Is the Difference Between a Lip Lift and Lip Augmentation?

This is one of the most frequently asked questions at Livingston Plastic Surgery, and the answer is fairly simple. A lip lift is a procedure where a small bit of skin below the nose is removed so that the upper lip can be moved a little higher. It involves making an incision in the crease at the base of your nose and removing some of the skin of the upper lip. You can think of it as a mini facelift for the mouth!

A lip augmentation makes the lips fuller using a type of dermal filler injection. The most common type of injections used for a lip augmentation are hyaluronic acid-cased dermal fillers. The lip filler options at Livingston Plastic Surgery make the lips soft and create long-lasting results. It’s a great option for many people who aren’t quite sure how full they want their lips and want to tailor their lip augmentation.

What to Expect from the Recovery for Both Treatments?

Recovery is going to look a bit different between the two procedures. After a lip lift there will be sutures at the base of your nose hidden within the skin crease that will be removed one week after the procedure. These should be kept clean and hydrated with an ointment provided by your plastic surgeon. Mild swelling occurs and bruising is generally minimal. The incision can appear tight and slightly pink for several weeks to months, but it will improve over time. During the healing process, the scar can be easily covered with cosmetics.

With lip fillers, you can expect mild swelling and bruising around the injection sites, but both will subside over the next few weeks. Most filler injection results last anywhere from 8 to 12 months, but most patients want touch ups about a year after their initial injection.

How Do I Know Which Procedure Is Right for Me?

Contacting Dr. Chris Livingston’s office is the most important first step in determining which procedure is best for you and your aesthetic goals. Dr. Livingston can help you choose whether a permanent lip lift would be more beneficial for your lip augmentation goals. If you have a long section of tissue between your upper lip and nose, a lip lift might be the best solution.

However, if you’re looking to refresh your lip area, lip fillers can be an easy and convenient first step. Aging and genetics can cause lips to grow thinner and wrinkles to form around the edges of the lips. Lip filler can add volume and fullness, giving a more you a more natural-looking pout. Because lip fillers gradually get absorbed by the body, it’s essential to understand that you will require maintenance appointments to sustain your results. Reach out to Dr. Livingston’s office to schedule your consultation and take the first step to a refreshing and glamorous new look!