16 Mar Lip Augmentation vs. Lip Fillers
Everyone wants a shapelier pout, and whether you’re looking to plump up your lips to achieve natural-looking results or want to re-shape your lips permanently for more symmetry, options are available. At RefinedMD, we offer both lip fillers and lip augmentation to suit your needs. However, there’s often some confusion on the difference between these two. Let’s take a look at lip fillers vs. lip augmentation so you can get a better idea of the best approach for you.
Sometimes you might hear lip fillers and lip augmentation used interchangeably, but they are very different procedures. Lip fillers are also known as lip injections. Although there are different types of lip fillers, they all provide temporary results lasting from a few months to up to one year on average. This range allows clients to try out a look, and sometimes a person might “graduate” from lip fillers to permanent lip augmentation.
Lip fillers are a quick and simple procedure. You only need about one hour in total for this appointment, from check-in to check-out. Most lip fillers are made with hyaluronic acid (HA), which already occurs naturally in the body. Sometimes a combination of lip fillers is used to achieve optimal results, but the exact type, amount, and placement of lip fillers will depend on your lips and your goals.
Is Lip Augmentation Right for You?
It’s very common for a person’s introduction to plumper, fuller lips to come from lip fillers. Since lip fillers are all temporary, it’s a safe and fun way to play with different lip shapes and sizes. However, for those who are 100% certain that they want permanently fuller, shapelier lips, lip augmentation might be a better option. Lip augmentation works by grafting excess fat from another part of the body (such as the belly) to the lips. Keep in mind that even the plumpest lips don’t have as much fat as bodily areas like the thighs, which means that only a relatively small amount of donor fat is necessary.
However, it’s also important to remember that not all fat survives the grafting process. This means that more fat that is necessary gets harvested and placed in the lips during this procedure. This can lead very slender clients to need donations from different areas, but virtually any healthy adult will have enough fat to donate for lip augmentation.
As you can imagine, lip augmentation is a bit more invasive than lip fillers—but the recovery period is still very short. You can expect some minor swelling and redness following the procedure, but there is very little downtime. Full results will take about 1 – 2 months to be revealed. During the initial days and weeks following lip augmentation, lips will often appear plumper than the final look. Don’t worry. This is due to swelling and the fact that some amount of the transferred fat will “die.”
Should I Choose Lip Fillers or Lip Augmentation?
There’s no single answer for all clients. Choosing between lip fillers and lip augmentation depends on what you want. Lip fillers are generally more popular than lip augmentation because they are less invasive and temporary. However, if you fall in love with lip fillers (as most clients do!) remember that you’ll need regular maintenance sessions to maintain that look. Lip augmentation is costlier than lip fillers, but that isn’t true if you’re going to continue using lip fillers in the future. Those who are sure they want fuller lips for life are often a better match for lip augmentation.
Of course, it also makes sense to ease into plumper lips by trying out lip fillers first. This is a popular option for many clients. You can learn more about the different types of lip fillers available and what to expect with before and after photos of clients with lips similar to yours. Juvederm and Restylane are two product lines, both made with HA, that are most popular for plumping lips. If you’re ready to learn more, a complimentary consultation is the perfect first step. We look forward to helping you achieve the lips you want and deserve, whether via lip fillers or lip augmentation. Call RefinedMD today at (408) 688-2082 to schedule your consultation or appointment.