In a recent article, we spoke about various lip fillers, their placements, common brands; the procedure, and the importance of professional training . (Read our article on Training in lip fillers at IIWAM).

In today’s article, we will discuss about various lip enhancement treatment procedures.

Significance of lip enhancement

Having plump, full lips is often considered  as a sign of good health, youth, and beauty. As one ages, once full and voluptuous lips become thin and develop vertical wrinkles. Lip enhancements restore the youthful fullness of the lips.

Specific changes that a skilled aesthetic practitioner can achieve through lip enhancement treatments include:

• Restoring volume to thin or aging lips
• Improving symmetry between the upper and lower lip
• Smoothening vertical lip lines
• Refining the shape of thin or flat lips

Lip enhancement treatment options

The choice of cosmetic lip transformation procedure depends on the goal results, facial structure, and facial features of the patient.

Lip enhancements can be done in the following ways-

Dermal Filler Lip Injection

Dermal fillers come in different forms.  Somedermal fillers contain hyaluronic acid, includingTeosyal, Juvederm, Restylane, Belotero, and Apriline,. Because hyaluronic acids are hydrophilic, they attract water from surrounding tissues, further augmenting soft tissue volume beyond what is expected from standard product implantation alone, making them an excellent choice for enhancing lip volume. Restylane Silk is used for both lip augmentation and vertical lines above the lips, while Juvéderm Ultra XC is great for plumping the lips. Juvéderm Volbella XC can be used for perioral, or “lipstick,” lines and mild plumping of the lips.

Modern-day dermal lip fillers are capable of lasting for up to twelve months at a time. The exact length of time depends on how one’s body synthesizes the acid.  To deliver  safe and effective results, the Aesthetic Practitioner must know the anatomy of the lip, the types of dermal fillers, injection techniques, and possible complications and complication management.

Advantages of  dermal filler lip injection

• Fast and relatively easy cosmetic procedure –

A skilled aesthetic practitioner can achieve precise results..  The procedure lasts less than 30 or 45 minutes with little to no downtime.

• Immediate results –

Improvements are usually noticeable immediately after treatment and final results can be seen within two weeks

• Minimal side effects-

Side effects are typically mild and include temporary bruising, swelling, or redness at the injection site.

Disadvantages of dermal filler lip injection

• Some individuals may be allergic to dermal fillers.
• The dermal filler may cause infection or death of skin cells if the aesthetic practitioner is not adequately skilled.
• Improper injection techniques can lead to swelling and lumpiness
• Lip filler procedures have to be repeated at regular intervals to maintain results.
• Occasionally, the lip filler procedure can trigger cold-sore flare-ups.

Fat Injection

Fat transfer, also called fat grafting, fat injections, and lipofilling is a cosmetic procedure that uses a person’s own fat to fill in irregularities on a different area of the body. This procedure can be done without incisions on the face or lips but normally requires Liposuction Surgery to extract fat from another area of the body

Fat injection procedures should be performed  by certified aesthetic practitionerstrained for fat transfer procedures. .

The area of injection should be massaged gently so that the fat is evenly distributed and is surrounded by healthy tissue. This ensures that the transplanted fat remains in contact with the surrounding tissues that must supply it with oxygen and nutrients.

Advantages of  fat injection

• Fat injection procedureprovides natural results.
• Fat is a natural substance that is produced by the body itself, so it’s less likely to cause bruising and comes with almost no risk of allergic reactions.
• Results are long-lasting and repeat treatments are not necessary
• No incisions need to be done on the lips.

Disadvantages of fat injection

• In inexperienced hands, patients may end up with asymmetrical, unshapely lips or lumps and bumps after the fat injection procedure.
• Reversing results is difficult.
• The liposuction procedure may lead to several days of downtime.

Lip Implants

Lip implants are useful to achieve a semi-permanent lip augmentation to improve the fullness and plumpness of the lips.

Two types of implant bases are silicone and expanded polytetrafluoroethylene.

Lip implant procedure requires two small incisions through which the implants are inserted and positioned in the lips. Local anesthesia is used to numb the area and then the procedure is performed in about an hour. In some cases, implants and dermal fillers may be combined for a better result.

Advantages of the lip implants

• Lip implants tend to provide more long-term results than dermal fillers.
• Lip implant surgery can take less than 30 minutes
• The surgery leaves virtually undetectable scars and results are immediate.

Disadvantages of the lip implants

• Silicone implants may look and feel unnatural if they are too large.
• Removal of lip implants requires additional surgery.
• Risks such as infection and bleeding arise if the surgery is performed by an inexperienced Aesthetic practitioner.

About IIWAM training in dermal fillers

It is prudent that all Aesthetic practitioners must undergo proper training in Aesthetic medicine. The practitioner must balance between benefits & risks of the Aesthetic procedure, and steps to mitigate complications, if it occurs. At IIWAM, we call it, understanding the procedure, the product, and the patient, and our trainers pay utmost attention to teaching the following subjects when it comes to Aesthetic treatments under our Advanced Training in Dermal Fillers.

• What is the anatomy of the lip?
• What are various types of dermal fillers?
• What are the various types of lip enhancement treatment procedures using dermal fillers?
• What are the various possible complications of dermal filler lip enhancement?
• How to avoid complications of dermal filler lip enhancement?
• How to mitigate or treat various complications of dermal filler lip enhancement?

Our Online Botox and Filler Training also provides the opportunity to learn remotely.

About IIWAM Aesthetic Education

At IIWAM, we provide International Aesthetic Certification program and also Advanced Online Aesthetic Courses for Doctors, Dentists, Nurses, Aestheticians, and Spa Owners in the field of Aesthetic Medicine.

Our Institute is based in Malaysia and has international students from the Philippines, Myanmar, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, and other parts of Asia. With our insignia of “Be Certified, Be Recognized”, we develop knowledgeable, skilled, and confident Aesthetic practitioners of international repute. Our Aesthetic training focuses on teaching the principles of Aesthetic procedures before venturing into Aesthetic clinical skills. IIWAM training Programs are a combination of Onsite Training, LIVE Online Webinars, and Online Learning. IIWAM is the first Institute in the World to have its Programs assured by City & Guilds of London and certified by European International University. IIWAM is also a registered CPD Training provider with CPD Standards Office in the UK and by CPD Malaysian Medical Association.

Onboard is our Assoc. Prof Dr. Morthy, the lead trainer, medical director of the International Institute of Wellness & Aesthetic Medicine (IIWAM), formerly known as Aesthetic Academy Asia (http://www.iiwam.ac/).

In the Aesthetic part of our Institute, we provide Advanced Aesthetic Medical Procedures that are Safe, Effective, and Affordable, offering a wide range of specialized treatments for All Your Aesthetic Needs.