By: Katharine Griffiths
Created on 20th September 2011
Do you dream of having perfect rosebud lips, like Scarlett Johanssen? Or maybe Angelina’s sultry pout is more your style? Whatever your aim, our team of experts is on hand to help you achieve the look you’ve always longed for
If the eyes are the windows to the soul, the lips are the gateway to the heart – it is an unfortunate truth that men find fuller lipped women more attractive, and recent studies have revealed that a plumper mouth makes you look younger too. But what are the options for lip augmentation if you haven’t been blessed in this department...
The option: Non-surgical temporary
The expert: Dr Rita Rakus Dr Rita Rakus is often referred to in the media as the ‘London Lip Queen’ for her ability to create the most sought-after, naturally full looking lips.
My patients like the fact that other people don’t notice that they have had their lips done and there is a reason for that. For those that are able to pop in to the clinic easily, I tend to inject the lips with one syringe of filler at a time and then wait a week to add even more volume. Because the changing look is gradual, you don’t get asked embarrassing questions about your altered appearance.
I use new Juvéderm Ultra for my patients because it includes an anaesthetic. The lips are a very sensitive place to treat, and are prone to swelling. Also Juvéderm takes around a year to fully breakdown so the effects of the treatment can be considered quite long lasting and with the built-in anaesthetic the pain is lessened.
I don’t use a dental block to numb the patient like some practitioners, because this swells the lips. If the lips are swollen, it is very difficult to see what you are doing and how much volume you are creating and virtually impossible to inject into the finer areas accurately.
When women come to see me for a treatment I ask them to bring with them some images for inspiration of lips that they like. Also, I look at the face holistically to get a feel for what type of look will best suit – lips need to be in perfect proportion to the rest of the face. Sometimes it is not only the lips I am focusing on, but around the mouth as well such as in the outer corners and nasolabial lines to encourage a perfectly natural result.
The patient holds a hand mirror throughout the treatment so she can see what I am doing every step of the way and is happy with every stage. I inject the lips with patients sitting upright instead of lying down so you get a feel for what the finished result will actually look like. Lying down, the lips change shape so it is not advisable to treat a patient in this position.
One of my patients once said to me that the only person she lets near her lips other than her husband is me!
I recommend that if you have never had your lips filled before, you should always have your treatment at least a week in advance of a big event in case you need to get any top-ups, or have a reaction, which is very rare. I advise all patients, new or existing, that you should never have it performed if you are tired, on your period or hungover because that can really affect your pain threshold.
The option: Non-surgical permanent
The expert: Dr A Vyas FRCP, MD, MB. CHB, BSc. Dr Vyas is a Consultant at Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Trust and Owner of Individual Beauty ltd, based in Manchester (www.individualbeauty.co.uk).
The vast majority of my clients are happy with temporary fillers, but for clients who want a permanent solution I recommend Aquamid. In my experience, Aquamid is the best of the permanent fillers with regard to feel and results, whether it is for lips, nasolabial folds, cheeks, nasal reconstruction, improving jaw lines or chin enhancement.
Aquamid is a hydrogel, composed of 97.5 per cent water and 2.5 per cent polyacrylamide. This combination makes it non-degradable and hypo-allergenic. Volumisation and contouring occur in correlation to the amount of filler used because there is no inflammatory or fibrotic reaction.
Aquamid is a permanent solution so I can’t stress enough how important it is to have had temporary filler first to ensure you are happy with the effect, with the same practitioner who will undertake your permanent filler. Apart from the longerlasting results, I don’t think there are any differences from temporary fillers. You can be just as accurate and achieve an equivalent outcome and clients have told me that it differs very little in terms of discomfort.
The procedure takes only slightly longer than temporary fillers. This is because in my practice we believe the level of hygiene should be as good as it can be, whether you have a temporary or a permanent filler. For anyone having an aesthetic treatment, it is important that your practitioner understands what you desire and you understand what can be achieved. Honesty is key. I always ask my clients to bring pictures of individuals with lips they want to attain. Some bring pictures of themselves when they were younger and this really helps to focus us on what can potentially be achieved.
All clients should ensure they use practitioners, like us, who will review you one to two weeks post-procedure when any minor top up can be undertaken. It is important not to over correct, although Aquamid can be removed within the first month.
Clinical studies show that after five years, the vast majority of Aquamid clients – over 90 per cent – are still extremely happy with their lips. So this is a treatment that will potentially be part of your life full stop. I think that’s the way to look at Aquamid. It costs around two to three times more than temporary fillers so in the long run it is very cost effective.
The option: Surgical – PermaLip implants
The expert: Mr Peter Paterson A fully accredited consultant plastic surgeon with a special interest in facial rejuvenation, Mr Paterson has challenged the traditional approach to cosmetic surgery.
Up till three months ago, I offered temporary dermal fillers for lip augmentation, but the track record and the ease of the PermaLip implant has changed my practice and now I’m actively encouraging my patients to consider PermaLip against repeated injections.
I saw it in a trade magazine and was interested in the concept. I had a patient in mind who’d had a horrendous lip filler in the past – a permanent filler, which had leaked. We removed the filler and inserted the PermaLip and she’s delighted.
My procedure for the PermaLip implant starts with the preoperative assessment – if we try to maintain a normal ratio between the lower and upper lip, the lower lip is slightly larger than the upper, so you have to measure fullness and length.
You’ve also got to discuss with the patient what kind of volume enhancement they’re looking for. Of course, having an implant is not like having a row of shoes in every different size conceivable; there are three different sizes which provide a small, moderate or slightly enlarged enhancement.
Once the patient decides what they want to achieve, they come in on a separate occasion and under local anaesthetic – I use a dental block – the lip is completely numbed. Using very small incisions within the pink margin of the lip, the implants are placed in each lip, under sterile conditions, then closed with a dissolving stitch. The whole thing takes probably about thirty minutes from start to finish.
There can be some localised bruising and swelling, but with the dental injection you can avoid a lot of trauma. Within two weeks it will have settled down.
The major advantages compared to temporary fillers is that, firstly, you don’t need to have repeated injections, which is very painful, no matter what pre-operative skin prep you do. Secondly, it’s more cost effective over a period of time.
Finally, the injection process is operator dependent, so some practitioners might be very skilled, but others less so and you might get lumps or irregularities. If you’re using an implant, it’s a fixed form so you’re always going to get a predictable result.
The nice thing about the
PermaLip is, because it’s a
silicone implant, it can be
removed from the lip very easily
or you can change the size if you
want to. It’s very user-friendly.
A drink for your lips
What do you do when you’re happy with the size and shape of your lips, but notice that they have fallen victim to the ageing process.
Restylane Vital Light is an innovative new treatment that hydrates the lips, banishing the crêpey and collapsed flat appearance that occurs with age.This treatment subtly plumps and smoothes lined, dry and cracked lips restoring them to the lips you had years ago.
Emily Cash was treated
with Restylane Vital Light by
Dr Tracy Mountford at the
Cosmetic Skin Clinic:
“I have always been blessed
with a good pair of lips, but
as I have aged they have
flattened and become crêpey.
This was the perfect treatment
for me as my lips look natural
and plump again without the
dreaded trout pout, I couldn’t
be more pleased!”
Extra Volume
If you’re considering a treatment or have even taken the plunge, there is a range of products to give you that extra something
Dr Rita Rakus’ Plump and Prime: Designed by Cosmetics à la Carte with Dr Rita Rakus’ clients in mind, The Lip Primer contains peptides to boost collagen and moisturise lips, making them firmer, smoother and better defined.
£18/available from the Cosmetics à la Carte popup studio at Dr Rita Rakus’ Knightsbridge clinic /www.drritarakus.com or www.cosmeticsalacarte.com
Skin Medica’s TNS Lip Plump System: The system utilises two products. The Lip Renewal treatment cream combines Skin Medica’s patented growth factor blend TNS and collagen-filling spheres to enhance fullness. The Lip Plumper is a clear gloss containing niacin to increase blood flow to the lips and enhance colour.
£38/www.skinbrands.co.uk or call 020 8997 8541
gloMinerals gloLip Plumper: Infused with spheres of Atelocollgen, which plump the lips by trapping water and swelling, thus providing volume. Apply alone or before your lip colour.
£11.50/orders@wigmoremedical.com
Know your Lips
- The skin of your lips is composed of up to five cellular layers, compared to the 16 layers of the skin on your face, which is why they need to be taken care of
- The blood vessels are very close to the surface, which gives lips their blush colour and is why they turn blue in the cold
- The edge of the lip is
called the ‘vermilion
border’
- Lips express a woman’s fertility as fuller lips indicate higher estrogen levels
- The lips can temporarily swell to indicate sexual attraction
- Lips have no sweat
glands or sebaceous
glands as they have no
built-in protection they
need constant moisture
to keep them soft
Next big thing
In the next issue of Cosmetic
Surgery & Aesthetics Guide,
leading aesthetics expert Dr
Bob Khanna explains how
to get the Angelina Jolie
effect with his innovative new
treatment... The Heart Lip
