Chad L. Prather, MD

While it's important to choose an expert, the product really matters here too!

 

Kissable Scale: 0 (cold fish) to 10 (silver-screen worthy)

 

10 out of 10     Hyaluronic Acids - the softest and most natural feeling fillers in the lips (except for fat and silicone... see below notes). The lips should be augmented in a natural pattern, NOT lined to look like a duck, which many patients unknowingly ask for and many practitioners unfortunately oblige. Stick with HAs for a winning filler in the lips...at least until Evolence Breeze is approved in the U.S.

 

8 out of 10     Collagens - the classic lip filler, but hard to find. Cosmoderm is not being made anymore, and only last 3 months. Evolence is a new collagen that can last a year, but is a bit too thick for the lips. Keep an eye out for Evolence Breeze, a soon to be coming to the U.S. product that will be "thinner" and more appropriate for the lips.

 

2 out of 10     Radiesse - not for the lips.  Radiesse is a great filler for elsewhere, but not for the lips (very low on the kissable scale).

 

0 out of 10    Sculptra, ArteColl, or other permanent fillers (see fat and silicone exceptions below).  Not for the lips.

 

Fat - great lip filler in experienced hands, but must be harvested from your body

 

Silicone - be very, very careful in the lips.  You probably shouldn't do this until you've had years of experience with other fillers in the lip, and even then probably shouldn't. Purified silicone should only be used by the most expert of injectors and in the most confident patients. It's permanent, which can be a bad thing.