Fuller, poutier lips have become a rage among both men and women and lip augmentation surgery is quickly skyrocketing as the new 'facelift' surgery. The implant procedure is not complicated and it can very easily be down in your physician's office under local anesthetic. There is very little involved in having this done and when your lips have healed properly, you will notice the difference right away.



The implant surgery works by first injecting the patient's lips with Lidocaine. This is a pain reliever and it works similar to the Novocain used in a dentist's office. Epinephrine is also injected into the lips to constrict blood flow, which is why there is very little blood during the procedure and little to no bruising afterwards. The doctor will then make four very small incisions at the corner of the mouth right before where the lips meet. That means one on the upper lip and one on the lower lip on each side.

Once the incisions are made, the implants are then inserted using a pair of alligator forceps or a tool called a trocar, which is a hollow cylinder with a sharp end that the implant is threaded on. Upon insertion, the implants are then trimmed to the right size and length of your lips and the incisions are closed with dissolving sutures. As long as you leave the sutures alone and let the incision heal without picking at them or touching them, your lips should heal quickly with minimal to no scarring.

After the lip augmentation surgery, you can expect your mouth to be swollen and tender. Your lips will also be 'fat' from swelling so eating or drinking will prove to be a bit difficult. You will have some pain if any pressure is applied to your lips and there may be numbness in them for a few days. It is advisable to take the pain relievers your doctor prescribes because as the swelling goes down, the more tender your lips will get. If the doctor used sutures that need to be removed, you'll have a follow-up appointment for around seven to ten days after the procedure.

In about a week most of the swelling will have gone down, but don't be alarmed if your lips are sensitive to pressure for a few weeks. This is common and they will get used to the implants pressing against the nerves in time. Bruising is usually minimal, but every person is a little different and some may bruise more than others. The doctor may prescribe a topical ointment to use on and around your lips to help decrease the bruising and swelling.

The results of the procedure will be visible after the swelling subsides and you may initially be disappointed in what you see. You may wish some of the swelling didn't go away even though in the back of your mind you knew your lips were not supposed to be quite that big. Look at your before pictures and then look at yourself after the surgery. You will see a marked difference in your lips. Plus, if your implant stimulates the growth of your own collagen, it will take few weeks to see more pronounced results. But it will come. Your lip augmentation surgery will not have been in vain and if you want your lips a little fuller, be assured that it's easier to add more fullness than take it away.