| I have several friends who have chosen cosmetic | | | | from the patients themselves. Again, there are no |
| surgery, and lip augmentation is popular among them. | | | | chances of allergic infection and the results are long |
| The change in one friend has been remarkably | | | | lasting. |
| positive, vastly improving her confidence after her | | | | There are many other procedures, such as the |
| fat grafting procedure. Based on her example alone, I | | | | popular and quite successful use of AlloDerm. The |
| would recommend this minor procedure to anyone. | | | | use of Alloderm sounds a bit scary, since it is |
| There are several techniques employed in lip | | | | extracted from a cadaver. However, it is one of the |
| augmentation. Often, only a local anesthetic is | | | | best, most reliable forms of semi-permanent lip |
| needed, and the healing process involves only minor | | | | augmentation, often lasting up to six months or |
| discomfort after a couple of days. Among the most | | | | more, with only a very small chance of infection. |
| common procedures are the following: | | | | Other techniques involve surgical implants using |
| Collagen | | | | various synthetic materials, which can essentially last |
| Made from collagen found in bovine epidermis, | | | | a lifetime and have been proven safe and effective. |
| collagen is used as a temporary enhancement. The | | | | Consult Your Doctor |
| treatment lasts for up to three months and can be | | | | There are a number plastic surgeons that are |
| repeated when required. Tests are done in advance | | | | reputable and caring and often offer free |
| to ensure that there is no allergic response. If a | | | | consultation. |
| patient is found to have an allergic response, several | | | | What Will my Friends and Family say? |
| alternatives are available. | | | | This might be the biggest hurdle to jump when |
| Fat | | | | considering any sort of lip augmentation procedure. |
| In this treatment, fat cells are taken from another | | | | Those that love you will support you. Quite honestly, |
| area of the patient's body and then injected. This | | | | most people you deal with in life, even close friends, |
| procedure is often preferred to collagen injection | | | | may never notice. Unless your procedure results in a |
| since there is no chance of allergic reaction, and the | | | | radical alteration, they will most likely sense an overall |
| results tend to last longer. | | | | change about you. Your family and closest friends will |
| Fat grafting | | | | inevitably support you and maybe even join you, |
| The patient's own body fat is taken from an area | | | | once they see the positive changes. |
| such as the abdomen, and transplanted into the lips. | | | | The information in the article is not intended to |
| The treatment usually results in a permanent | | | | substitute for the medical expertise and advice of |
| enhancement. | | | | your health care provider. We encourage you to |
| Autologen | | | | discuss any decisions about treatment or care with |
| Autologen is a form of collagen that is extracted | | | | an appropriate medical professional. |