Lip Service

AUGMENTATION, LIFTS, FILLERS, AND MORE

BY AUDREY SELLERS

Have your lips gone from full and voluptuous to thin as a pencil line? It’s a normal part of aging. Starting in our 30s, our bodies produce less collagen and elastin. As a result, our once-full lips lose definition and plumpness, and many of us are left with thin, deflated lips.

If you’re looking to get fuller, more luscious lips, there’s a whole world of non-surgical and cosmetic options available. We explore some of them here.

Fillers. When you want to restore your lips’ natural volume without any drastic changes, look into lip fillers. This non-surgical procedure involves injecting hyaluronic acid, a naturally occurring substance in the skin, into the lips to add shape, definition, and volume. Many fillers last six to 12 months and provide immediate results with no downtime.

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy.

This non-surgical procedure involves drawing a small amount of your blood, processing it to concentrate the platelets, and then injecting it into the lips to stimulate new collagen and cell production. If you’re looking to give your lips a subtle, natural fullness, this could be right for you.

Microneedling with lip infusion.

Microneedling essentially prompts your lips’ skin cells to rebuild. The procedure involves creating tiny micro-wounds in the uppermost layers of your lips using a device with fine needles. When you combine it with a lip infusion of hyaluronic acid, you enhance the natural plumping effect of microneedling. Just note that it may take a few weeks to notice results.

Lip augmentation. This cosmetic procedure gives you fuller, plumper lips and can involve various techniques like fat grafting and dermal implants. Although the recovery time can range from a week or two, you can benefit from longer-lasting results. Most lip augmentation procedures are performed under local anesthesia.

Lip lift. This straightforward surgical procedure is exactly what it sounds like — a surgeon makes a small incision below the base of the nose and gently lifts the upper lip for a more defined lip and a more youthful appearance overall. The results are often permanent. Plan to take one or two weeks off to recover and ensure proper healing.

Lip implant. When you want to plump your pout for the long haul, a lip implant may be the way to go. Designed to be a permanent solution, a lip implant involves placing silicone or other biocompatible materials into the lips through a small incision in each corner of your mouth. You can customize the size, shape, and placement of your implant, allowing you to enhance certain areas, like the cupid’s bow. Recovery time is typically one to three days, although it can take a week or two for the tissue to begin scarring and hold the implant in place.

LOVE YOUR LIPS AGAIN

Aging is a natural part of life, but that doesn’t mean you have to kiss the soft, supple lips of your youth goodbye. From subtle enhancements with fillers to long-lasting results with a lip augmentation, you can take many steps to maintain a healthy, plump pout into your golden years.

Pucker Up

An Easy Lip Care Routine for Soft, Healthy Lips

Do you pamper your pout like you should? Here are a few simple, quick ways to take care of your lips.

Start with hydration. Every morning, apply a hydrating lip balm or nourishing lip oil. Make sure it has SPF to protect against the sun’s rays.
Give your lips a mid-day refresh. After lunch, swipe on some lip balm for a burst of hydration. Look for a light weight, non-greasy formula with nourishing ingredients like vitamin E, grapeseed oil, and honey.
Exfoliate to smooth and soften. Once or twice a week, gentlyrub a lip scrub onto your lips using circular motions. Leave it on for five or 10 minutes, and then rinse with warm water. You can make your own lip scrub at home by combining a teaspoon of honey or olive oil with two teaspoons of sugar.
Apply a lip mask before bed. Use a leave-on lip mask to give your lips a surge of moisture while you sleep. You can buy a product or DIY it by combining equal parts honey and coconut oil.