If you love the look of Angelina Jolie's pouty lips and wish yours looked that full, then you may want to consider having lip injections. Also known as lip augmentation, these injections are performed by a doctor and include having substances - which we will review later - injected into the upper and lower lips for a fuller appearance. This procedure is usually temporary and patients need to have the procedure performed every few months in order to maintain the look they desire.



When you decide on lip augmentation, you will be asked by your doctor to bring pictures of the lips that you like and don't like. You will discuss with your physician what you want to improve, what your expectations are, and whether or not they are realistic. What each person likes is an individual preference so the initial consultation is very important. The doctor will review your medical history with you and then tell you whether or not a lip augmentation procedure is right for you.

Lip injections are usually performed in the doctor's office under local anesthesia and take approximately thirty minutes to two hours to perform. The price can range from $300 to $5,000 depending on the material and medication used and the doctor's fee involved. Subsequent lip injections can cost as little as $333. The recovery time after the procedure is approximately 1 day to 1 week so that the residual swelling evens out across the lips and fades down into your new pout. You should keep ice packs on your lips for the first 48 hours in order to help the swelling go down. Your lips should be kept clean to make sure no infection sets in. If you notice any abnormalities in your lips after the procedure, call your doctor immediately.

Here is a list of some of the most common types of lip injections today:

* Collagen injections - made from the collagen that is found in the skin of the cow, this substance is slowly absorbed into the body, proving patients with a fuller set of lips for about one to three months. Sensitivity tests should be performed on the patient before the procedure is performed to test for allergies to the collagen.

* Fat injections - harvested from another part of the patient's body and then purified, the fat is injected into the lips and usually lasts longer that collagen. Because it is taken from the patient's own body, there is very low risk of an allergic reaction.

* Autologen injections - collagen extracted from the patient's own skin, autlogen further reduces the chance of allergic reaction and the results are long lasting. If the patient had a facelift before the lip augmentation, the doctor will use the collagen in the excess skin from the precious procedure.

* Dermalogen injections - dermalogen is a substance that is extracted from the skin of a dead body and produces the same temporary effects as collagen injections. Doctors screen the donor material very carefully to avoid spreading any disease before the lip injections.