Lip augmentation procedures increase the size of the lips to make them fuller. Like the rest of our skin, our lips lose collagen and fat as we age. Lip augmentation is thus a procedure ideal not only for patients who have always had naturally thin lips, but also for those who want to return their lips to the shape and fullness they had when they were younger.

To achieve those lush looking lips there are two options: lip augmentation surgery and injectables:

• Lip augmentation surgery basically involves inserting implants into the lips to achieve a fuller appearance. There are several different substances commonly used:

AlloDerm is a popular human-donor implant material which has a natural feel and low risk of infection. It is inserted through incisions made in the inside corners of the mouth.

A similar technique to this is fat grafting, which involves patients using the fat from another area of their own bodies to enhance their lips. However with all human-donor materials, there is a risk that the body will absorb them.

SoftForm is a synthetic substance that is never absorbed into the body, and is inserted through a small incision made on the inside of the lip.

Finally, the local flaps technique involves bringing material from inside the mouth outside to enhance the lips but results are temporary.

Lip augmentation surgery is typically an outpatient procedure carried out under local or general anaesthetic. There will be initial post-surgical swelling, and then there may be a stiffness and numbness of the lips for 2-3 months. People usually wait between one and two weeks before returning to their normal routine.

• Injectables are an easier option and involve filling the lip with a soft Hyaluronic Acid substance to create a fuller appearance. Collagen is the most widely used and is injected into the lip. The results are temporary, and many patients repeat the injections regularly. Fat injections are also popular; the fat is taken from another area of the patient’s body. This method has the advantage of no allergic reaction but the results are also temporary.