Pretty, full lips convey a look of youth and sensuality. Not everyone is born with full lips, and those who are often find their youthful lips lose their fullness with time. Collagen and fat injection are the most reliable procedures to restore the fullness to a woman’s lips.

Collagen Injection
Collagen is a protein which can be injected to plump out the lips. A skin test must be performed several weeks prior to lip injection to be sure the patient is not allergic to collagen. An advantage of collagen is that within a few days swelling subsides giving the patient the desired effect. The disadvantage of collagen is that the fullness created is only temporary. Within months the collagen is resorbed by the body and will need to be repeated to maintain the result.

Lip Augmentation with Fat Transfer
Patients can give their lips more volume by fat injection. This method involves plumping the lips by harvesting the patient’s fat via liposuction and injecting it into their lips. Fat can be removed from the tummy or flanks. The patients own fat is the safest filling material and allergic reactions are impossible since it is their own tissue.
Another advantage of fat injection is its semi permanence. Approximately 40% of each injection will become incorporated into the patient’s lips. Fat injections usually last 6 months and with additional injections they can last for years. Patients need to know that there is more swelling in the days following fat injection than with collagen.

If patients are wondering whether to proceed with fat transfer, I recommend they first have a trial treatment of collagen injection to try out the new look before committing to the more expensive and permanent fat injection.