It’s an inescapable fact: the older we get, the thinner our lips get. Luckily, however, there are a number of options—offering both short-term and long-term results—that are available to those of us whose lips have lost some of their fullness over time. Here’s a basic breakdown of the procedures available to anyone who wishes to rejuvenate their lips:
Collagen is an injectable substance derived from animal collagen that fills and adds volume to the lips. The injections last for an average of three months. (Some patients are allergic, so a patch test must be conducted 30 days prior to the initial treatment to ensure that you don’t experience an adverse reaction to the injections.)
CosmoDerm and CosmoPlast are injectable substances similar to collagen, but which are made from human collagen rather than animal collagen. The effects of these injections generally last for two to three months. Unlike collagen, no allergy testing is necessary before CosmoDerm and CosmoPlast treatments.
Restylane is a non-animal based dermal filler made from hyaluronic acid (a naturally-occuring, biodegradable substance) that provides volume and fullness to the lips. It lasts for about four to five months.
Juvederm, like Restylane, is a hyaluronic acid-based dermal filler. Clinical trials have shown that it can be effective for up to six months, but generally speaking the results last about four to five months, similar to Restylane.
Fat transfer is a process by which fat is removed from a different place on the body, purified, and then injected into the lips. The effects can last from anywhere between a few months and several years; for best results, several treatments are usually necessary.
Gortex implants are the only long lasting lip augmentation solution available. Only local anesthesia is necessary for the procedure, in which a tube of Gortex (hollow or solid, depending on which type you choose) is inserted into the lips.
As you can see, there’s no lack of possibilities when it comes to lip augmentation. Only you and your plastic surgeon can determine which of these procedures is best for you—but with so many options, it’s pretty likely that one of them is exactly what you’re looking for!