Lip augmentation Honolulu, also known as lip enhancement, is the general term for cosmetic procedures that create fuller and plumper lips. It has, in fact, become more popular over the years with a total of 25,000 lip augmentation Honolulu procedures in 2006, a nearly 19,000 increase from 2000, as stated by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons.
Most patients choose to undergo lip augmentation Honolulu treatments to achieve a greater sense of facial balance and to correct problems such as:
• thin, flat lips
• thin upper lip
• thin bottom lip
• lips with irregular borders
Most lip augmentation Honolulu treatments are non-invasive but surgery can also be performed. During a non-surgical lip augmentation Honolulu procedure, synthetic or natural biocompatible materials, or the patient’s own fat are implanted into the lips to enhance them and make them more appealing.
The most common materials for lip augmentation Honolulu include:
• Alloderm – a collagen sheet made from denatured human tissue
• Autologen – an injectable dermal implant from the patient's own skin.
• Collagen – protein taken from the connective tissue of animals
• Dermalogen – a highly concentrated collagen also from the patient’s skin
• Fascia – an injectable donor tissue taken from the connective tissues that support body structure
• HylaForm – a crystal-clear injectable gel made of hyaluronic acid
• Gore-Tex implants – known under brand names like Advanta, SoftForm, and UltraSoft, made of biocompatible microporous expanded polytetraflouroethylene
• Radiance – a synthetic solution made of calcium hydroxylapatite suspended in a gel
• Restylane – a clear gel containing hyaluronic acid, which is believed to be very close to that naturally occuring in the body.
Other lip augmentation Honolulu techniques include fat transfer and laser lip rejuvenation. During fat transfer, the surgeon gets a certain amount of fat from places on the patient’s body or harvest them from those suctioned though lipoplasty to inject or surgically place into the lips. Lip rejuvenation, on the other hand, involves the tightening of the elastic tissue and natural collagen beneath the lips.
The choice of material and technique for lip augmentation Honolulu usually depends on the extent of the procedure and the kind of lip augmentation Honolulu needed. Some may also need other facial surgeries aside from lip augmentation Honolulu to achieve the facial balance they desire. Hence, auxiliary procedures like cheek and chin implants and nose reshaping may be done in conjunction with the lip augmentation Honolulu treatment.
Lip augmentation Honolulu is normally done in a doctor’s office or a surgical clinic, especially when performed with other surgical procedures.
The most common side effects that may arise from lip augmentation Honolulu include redness, itching, swelling, and bruising but they normally fade away after a few days. The advantage of having non-surgical lip augmentation Honolulu is its lack of down time. Patients can immediately return to their normal activities after the procedure. Surgical lip augmentation Honolulu, however, needs at least a week of recovery period.
Some injectable fillers can last for 3-5 years but most of them are temporary. Some are actually absorbed into the body after several months. Though one injection is usually sufficient, lip augmentation Honolulu may need to be repeated regularly to maintain the desired effect. Hence, even if lip augmentation Honolulu surgery is less appealing to most patients, it can act as a less expensive alternative to injectable treatments that need intermittent maintenance. A patient should, therefore, be prepared to discuss with the surgeon his/her expectations and goals to ensure the success of the lip augmentation Honolulu procedure.
