Lip Implants | Do You Need Them?
Sometimes a slight imperfection caused by a congenital condition or even hereditary factors can be easily corrected by way of minor surgical procedures. For instance, a person born with very thin lips can make an amazing improvement with lip implants. Lip implants can increase the fullness of the upper or lower or both lips. However it will not correct or improve upon lipstick bleed that occurs along wrinkles.
Outpatient Procedure
Lip implants are an outpatient procedure that is performed under local anesthetic. The procedure can be done with liquid injectable materials or a sheet form material placed surgically. The type of material used for the implants will determine the procedure. Sheet material requires that small incisions be made at the corners of the mouth with the sheets threaded through and smoothed out for an even and correct augmentation. The incisions are actually located inside your mouth to hide them and to achieve aesthetically pleasing results.
Sometimes it is necessary to sedate the patient. In that instance the patient must do some recovery at the office until able to return home. The patient is allowed to return to daily activity the next day or whenever comfortably possible. Discomfort is small and pain medication is usually not needed. But bruising, if it occurs may last from one day to a week.
Types of Lip Implants
In the past, liquid collagen was used primarily for lip implants. However this type of implant only lasted weeks, as in maybe six weeks. So other types of lip implants were developed that last longer. Newer lip implants use products like restylane which has gel consistency and can last anywhere from 6 to 9 months. Another popular product is named Radiance. It has the consistency of toothpaste and is said to last from 3 years to 5 years.
Other Types of Lip Implant Products
Sheet form lip implant material comes under several names including; Alloderm, Dermoplant or Gore-Tex. The first two are actually freeze dried collagen pressed into sheets. The collagen comes from dead organ transplant donors. The result of using this sheet form collagen is a natural and soft, smooth looking augmentation. That’s the upside. The downside is that these lip implants, being collagen, are eventually absorbed by the body, causing the lips to shrink back to normal size over the course of a year.
Using Fascia and Gore-Tex for Lip Implants
Fascia is a dense white connective tissue that surrounds muscle and is probably the most difficult product to acquire and to use. This product must first be harvested from the body, so it requires invasive surgery often making for another uncomfortable location needing healing on the body. Fascia can be harvested from the scalp or just above the ears. And since it comes from the body, it will be reabsorbed from the body over the course of a year.
Gore-Tex is a combination cloth rubber. You may have heard of it in relation to rainproof athletic wear. It is used for making raincoats. It is the stiffest of the products, but patients who use it get used to the stiffness.
Costs of Lip Implant Procedures
These procedures are widely available throughout the United States and the cost is similar for each, ranging from $1500-$3000, depending on which city and what region of the country you have it done. Bear in mind that it will always cost more in New York or Miami.
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Lip implants are a real help for those who dream of having lush and juicy lips. I know many women who have done it and are pleased with the results. The best thing about lip implants is that no scars are left after the procedure.
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