Plump, pouty lips are a symbol of attractiveness for women and a highly desired feature in cosmetic practices across the country. Volume loss in the lips is a common sign of aging, but you can find many ways to add volume and achieve youthful lip contour with the help of an experienced plastic surgeon.

Lip augmentation is a procedure that is gaining popularity thanks to the many innovative materials and techniques that have made this treatment accessible and affordable. Choose from noninvasive injectable options, or opt for a more permanent enhancement with lip surgery. This procedure is usually performed on an outpatient basis with local anesthesia. Depending on the treatment type you choose, recovery can range from one day to one week.

Here are some of the ways you can achieve fuller lips:

Injectable Fillers

Injectable fillers use bovine or human collagen, hyaluronic acid, and synthetic substances to replace depleted collagen and create a fuller lip appearance. Injectable fillers such as Restylane®, or Juvederm®,have been shown to produce very natural-looking results, but they are temporary solutions that require regular repeat injections.

Surgical Collagen Replacement

During a surgical procedure, AlloDerm® is inserted into the upper and lower lips. AlloDerm achieves dramatic results using actual sheets of collagen that can last up to one year.

Permanent, Synthetic implants

These advanced medical materials create safe, biocompatible lip implants that can help patients get permanent plumpness. Material choices include GORE-TEX®, SoftForm®, or ePTFE (Perma Lips).

Find out which treatment can give you the full lips you desire. Dr. Robert Aycock offers a variety of lip augmentation options, along with other facial rejuvenation procedures like facelift, cheek implants, and chin implants. For more information on these and other advanced cosmetic treatments, please contact Dr. Aycock at his state-of-the-art Bay Area facility.

Want a natural, nonsurgical solution for areas of the body that have lost that youthful, full appearance? Fat transfer (or autologous fat transplantation) is a wonderful way to combat the loss of volume that occurs with the aging process.

What is involved with a fat transfer?

Fat transfer, as the name implies, involves removing cells from an area of the body with ample fat (such as the stomach or thighs) for implantation in an area that has lost volume. At the start of the fat transfer procedure, your plastic surgeon will numb both treatment areas. Using a thin needle, the doctor carefully removes a specific amount of fat from the donor site. Then, after the fat cells are purified, the doctor gently implants them and re-contours the area for a flawless, natural appearance. The transfer process can take anywhere from 30 minutes to three hours, depending on the patient’s needs.

What can a fat transfer correct?

The fat transfer procedure can have a very positive effect on areas of the face and body that are showing signs of aging. Popular treatment sites include the cheeks and buttocks. Also, fat transfer may be used to create balance in body areas that are asymmetrical or deformed. Results can last for many years and may even prove permanent for some.

What is the recovery like?

Healing after fat transfer is quick, and results can be seen almost immediately. Every patient’s experience is unique, depending on factors like the treatment area chosen and how much fat is being transferred. In general, fat transfer recipients can expect to be back to work in one to three days (for small fat grafts) and resume light exercise at the one-week mark. Touch-ups are often recommended to achieve ideal, even contours.

Fat transfer is a great procedure to do in combination with other anti-aging options, such as the Brow Lift, Eyelid Lift, Facelift, Botox^®, Restylane^®, Hydrelle™, or Sculptra™.

If you are searching for a way to restore lost volume and fight the signs of aging, learn more about the safe and effective fat transfer procedure. Please contact Dr. Aycock today to set up your consultation and get information on patient financing.

—Lindsey Kesel, Cosmetic Surgery Consultant