Overfilling During Lip Augmentation?

Lip augmentation is a very popular procedure these days, and can really brighten up a face when done well. The hyaluronic acid fillers such as Restylane, Juvederm, and Prevelle do not require overfilling. You pretty much walk out knowing what your lips will look like. You will have swelling for the first 2-3 days, but not to the degree where you look abnormal or obvious. Depending on the injection technique, you can also get some bruising (more common when injection is into the... more

 Overfilling happens because of a misreading of what the real problem is. The upper lip has the inner layer attached to your gums. The outer skin layer slides down with the rest of the skin as the skin ages. The skin then acts like a descending curtain that progressively hides the red layer of skin.  If you plump up the red layer the lip then gets longer. As you close your mouth it runs into the lower lip and has nowhere to go but forward. Thus you get fish mouth or duck lips.... more

This is a common issue and I totally understand what you are saying. My patients want to look normal and good at all times; no ups and downs. Our motto is "did she or didn't she". Therefore, I do not overfill the lips when using fillers. I make it look perfect in the office; the patient comes back to touch it up just when the fullness starts to decrease. This approach requires more office visits for the patient but they look great all the time. Also, I use Juvederm, which... more

The fillers used for lip augmentation now are Hyaluronic Acid gels - mostly Juvederm and some Restylane. Most people have some initial post injection swelling because hyaluronic gels are "hydrophilic" and work by absorbing and holding onto water. When Hyaluronic Acid gels are first injected, they seek a balance between the water in the gel and the water in your own tissue. This is one reason some people tend to have more swelling and others less or none. The nice thing about the... more

Great question. In general most lip augmentations are being performed in the office under local anesthesia using a hyaluronic acid based gel. I utilize Juvederm which I find is more form stable than others. The fill volume is basically one to one so I do not overfill, though there is a period of swelling which lasts for 4 to 14 days. I emphasize the use of ice after to help decrease this, as well injection technique helps as well. There are different regions in the lips for injections,... more

Hyaluronic acid fillers like Restylane, Juvederm, Perlane, etc. are a great for augmenting the lips. They allow accurate filling and you always have the options of using enzymes to dissolve the fillers for accurate touch ups. I have an approach that allows me to manipulate the fillers based on how long the fillers were injected. So poor results should be a thing of the past. Also, a knowledge of facial aesthetics is indispensable.

The most skilled physician injector is one that would aim to achieve natural and subtle rejuvenation of the lips. Less is better with lip augmentatoin. Fantastic cosmetic results can be achieved simply by accentuating vermilion lip lines/contours utilizing hyaluronic acid filler such as Restylane or Juvederm. Subsequent augmentation of the 'meat' of the vermilion may be pursued as needed.

Overfilling can occur with any type of lip augmentation. The real key is not necessarily overfilling, but filling to a volume that is not harmonious with the face. Since facial characteristics vary, it is important to discuss your aesthetic concerns and goals with your plastic surgeon prior to injection.

The Collagen Corporation which first developed Collagen received an FDA a reprimand because they were promoting injections into the lip. This caused them to back off from promoting what was called the Paris lip. Collagen was never supposed to be injected directly into the lip but was to outline the vermilion border between the lip and skin. This is still done today but rarely with the original collagen, Zyderm. Today, either a hyaluronic acid product such as Restylane or Cosmoderm or... more

Dear Lisa, Yes. Times have changed for most Plastic Surgeons. The jokes about Duck or Fish lips and imitations of "The First Wives Club" are no longer applicable. Except for a few die hard Collagen fans, the vast majority of Americans have lip augmentation using hyaluronic based fillers (Restylane, Juvederm etc). The basic concept with these fillers is NOT to overfill since "what you see is pretty much what you get". Unlike Collagen these fillers are much better tolerated... more

Things have come a long way since the days of collagen. For temporary injections, Juvederm and Restylane are fine fillers associated with very low complication rates. Swelling can be a problem post injection, so patients who are not familiar with their body's reaction to the injections should allow 2 days down time. When in doubt, it is wise to start with a less long-acting filler such as Prevelle, which has a much lower incidence of swelling but does not last as long. We avoid... more