Who among us doesn’t envy or want a pair of plumper lips?
Angelina Jolie. Scarlett Johansson. Rhianna. All stunning by any measure, but what feature of theirs leaves the deepest impression? Their pillow-y lips, of course.
So prized are plumper lips that Kylie Jenner once admitted to spending 40 minutes a day lining her lips. There’s solace to be found in that confession: Voluptuous lips are something that elude most of us—even the stars who appear to be slightly more than human. And aging doesn’t help that cause.
But hope isn’t lost. In fact, there are a number of cosmetic procedures available to enhance your lips. As a not-so-insignificant side benefit, they’re all also an effective means to erase fine lines around the mouth. Too good to be true? Read on.
Dermal fillers
Hyaluronic acid fillers have become a popular option because they’re temporary and they’re affordable. Think of them as the equivalent of dipping a toe in the pool. The procedure is usually performed with a specially formulated topical numbing cream. The filler is then artistically placed in to the lip to help you achieve perfect pout you’ve always wanted.
Depending on the product, the results will last between six and 12 months. Though, the results will last a little longer with each subsequent treatment. And because hyaluronic acid is a natural element, the filler will simply dissolve and leave your lips the same as they were prior to the treatment.
Fat injections
It’s common for patients to progress from a dermal filler to a longer-lasting treatment, like fat injections. Here, fat is removed from one part of the body, usually through liposuction, and used as a lip filler—all without a single incision on the face or lips.
Fat injections create a very natural-looking lip contour that will last for years. Even more, it’s a very safe procedure that can be done in an office setting.
Lip implants
Lip implants have gotten a bad rap through the years because of celebrities who’ve undergone the procedure and come out looking like Daisy Duck. That should serve less as a reason to avoid them, though, and more as an incentive to seek out an experienced, skilled, board-certified plastic surgeon.
The implants are made from a soft, pliable silicone rubber or biodegradable substance. The procedure itself actually takes only about a half-hour. And despite what you’ve seen online, you should only need a couple of days to recover.
Still, I recommend it only for those who are seeking an appreciable increase in their lip volume. Even then, it’s usually a good idea to wade in and try on the look on a more temporary basis first.