Beyond "Duck Lips": The Art of Natural Lip Enhancement

“Quack Quack!”  That is the sound you might think of when you think of lip enhancement with injectable fillers.  A quick stroll around town might call your attention to strange looking, over inflated lips.  That is not the way it is supposed to be.  Most people that I see curious about lip augmentation either fear that they will look like a duck or have lips similar to Angelina Jolie.  If you have any interest in natural looking, fuller lips then read on.  Adding some volume to your lip is one the simplest ways to create a more youthful natural appearing lip.

Natural Lip Enhancement: The Art of Avoiding "Duck Lips"

Part of the normal ageing process is loss of volume in our face and lips.  If you look at young people you might notice that they have rounder, fuller faces and full lips.  As we age we lose some of that volume.  Dermatologists and cosmetic surgeons have recognized for years that we can make people look younger by replenishing volume and for many people avoiding surgery.

One of the more popular areas to fill is the lip.  Thinning of the lips make us appear old and angry.  The reason you notice what I call “crazy lips” or “duck lips” is because of failure of proper technique.  There are many inexperienced individuals providing this treatment.  Lips are naturally fuller in the central portion and taper at the corners.  A duck like lip can be obtained when too much filler is injected at the sides of the lip.  Another common error is to fill the upper lip and have in too large in proportion to the lower lip.  The goal of look augmentation is to enhance what you have and give a natural yet fuller appearance.

New and improved fillers have become available to create a natural look.  Some fillers are FDA approved for lips.  In addition, physicians have been using fillers for years to fill lips as an “off label” use.  Physicians commonly use drugs and devices such as injectable fillers “off label”.  If a physician thinks a patient will benefit from a drug or device outside of the narrow FDA approval it is common practice to do so.  However, manufacturers can only promote and advertise based upon the narrow FDA approval.

Modern Lip Fillers: What to Expect During and After Treatment

Most fillers used for lips are comprised of hyaluronic acid.  This substance is naturally found in the body.  The most common side effect is bruising so I don’t recommend filling in close proximity to a major work or social event.  When I inject lips I fully numb the lips so that there is no pain during the treatment.  There can be initial swelling for a couple of days.  After the injections most people will have months of fuller, natural looking and feeling lips.  If you have interest in fuller more natural looking lips call my office today.

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