Frequently Asked Questions

Lip augmentation is an in-office cosmetic procedure that creates fuller, more youthful-looking lips. There are different types of lip augmentation to fit your needs and goals. Some procedures are nonsurgical, using fillers to plump up the lips temporarily. Others involve small incisions in your lips or face for longer-lasting results.

A healthcare provider injects lip filler, also called a dermal filler, into your lips or around your mouth.

How long your fuller lips last varies by procedure. For example:

• Lip fillers last six months to a year.

Your plastic surgeon will help you decide whether you’re a good candidate for lip augmentation and which procedure is right for you.

In most cases, you’re a candidate for lip augmentation if you:

• Are in good health.

• Don’t smoke or can quit smoking before the procedure.

• Don’t have an active infection like a cold sore.

• Don’t have a chronic condition like diabetes or lupus.

• Have realistic expectations about your results.

Your healthcare provider will give you specific instructions on how best to prepare. A few weeks before the procedure, you’ll need to stop smoking and taking blood-thinning medication, which can worsen bruising. Avoid pain relievers like aspirin and herbal supplements like multivitamins and fish oil.

Your plastic surgeon will likely use local anesthesia to numb the area so that you don’t feel any pain. You’ll be awake for the procedure. If you’re having multiple cosmetic surgeries, you may receive general anesthesia and be asleep the entire time.

When getting lip injections, your healthcare provider uses a fine needle to inject the filler into your lips. The injections typically take 10 to 30 minutes.

You’ll receive instructions for helping your lips heal and optimizing your results. The plastic surgeon may suggest:

• Eating soft foods for the first few days.

• Elevating your head during sleep.

• Not moving your lips excessively.

• Using an ice pack on your lips for several days.

Lip augmentation gives your lips a fuller, younger look. Depending on which procedure you have, lip augmentation has minimal to no downtime.

Results with some lip augmentation procedures are reversible. If you’re unhappy with the outcome of lip implant surgery, your plastic surgeon can remove the implant. If you have lip fillers, your healthcare provider can dissolve them with hyaluronidase, an enzyme that breaks down hyaluronic acid.

Talk to your plastic surgeon about potential issues after lip augmentation. Your chances for risks and complications go up with surgical lip augmentation. But nonsurgical lip augmentation also has risks.

In general, possible risks and complications include:

• Allergic reactions like redness and itching.

• Bleeding.

• Bruising.

• Infection.

• Lip stiffening.

• Scarring.

• Swelling.

• Uneven lips.

With lip fillers, there’s little to no recovery time.

With nonsurgical lip augmentation, you can typically return to work right away. Surgical lip augmentation may require some downtime. With any lip augmentation procedure, your plastic surgeon may suggest avoiding exercise and other strenuous activities for up to several weeks.

Call your plastic surgeon right away if you develop:

• An allergic reaction or infection.

• Bruising that doesn’t go away.

• Excessive bleeding.

• Fever.

• Severe swelling.