You deserve to feel confident about every single one of your features, including your lips. If you feel like your lips are a little too thin or you just want to give them a boost, a lip augmentation treatment could be for you. 

Lip augmentations are procedures that adjust or boost the lips by adding volume, correcting asymmetry, or erasing lip wrinkles. Different treatments do so in different ways, so we’ll explain all of your options in this guide. Read on to learn about all of the lip augmentation procedures, along with costs, aftercare, and more. 

What Is Lip Augmentation?

Lip augmentation is any medical aesthetic treatment that changes the shape of your lips. The goal is usually to enhance the shape of the lip or increase its volume. From dermal fillers to lip surgeries, there are many procedures with different aesthetic outcomes and healing times. 

As long as your lip augmentation is carried out by an experienced medical professional with a strong aesthetic background, the results should be customized and flattering to each patient. 

Common Types of Lip Augmentation

Each of these different types of lip augmentation procedures works differently. Choose the one that’ll give you your dream pout:

  1. Lip fillers are a minimally invasive option. Made of a hyaluronic acid gel with a soft, pliant texture, they volumize the lips and correct imbalances, with results normally lasting for up to one year. 
  2. Lip flips are done with a neurotoxin like Botox or Xeomin to relax the upper lip muscles, causing them to pull forward. This can correct a gummy smile or a “disappearing” upper lip. Lip flips are a minimally invasive option, with touch-ups usually needed every 3-4 months.  
  3. Permanent lip makeup is a tattoo that can enhance lip color and emphasize or adjust the lip line. Touch-ups are usually needed every few years. 
  4. Fat transfer is another surgical lip augmentation option, where fat is taken from the abdomen and inserted into the lips. Results can last for 5 years or longer. 
  5. Lip implants are a more invasive option. They’re usually made of flexible silicone that’s inserted into the lips by a plastic surgeon. The results can last for decades.

Lip lifts are a surgery where a plastic surgeon removes excess tissue above the lip, to lift the upper lip or the corners of the mouth.

lip augmentation types

What Is the Best Lip Augmentation Procedure

The best lip augmentation procedures will differ from person to person – some may prefer the lasting results of a surgery while others may want the customizability of lip filler or the subtlety of Botox lip flips. 

At SEV, our top choice is lip filler. Injectable fillers are amongst the safest lip augmentation options. They’re also incredibly versatile, so they’re an excellent solution for most clients. They can add volume, erase lip line wrinkles, and even help correct asymmetry. Unlike more invasive options, the side effects are minimal and don’t last for too long. 

While they’re not a permanent solution, you can always get touch-ups as your lip filler fades. The fact that they eventually wear away (and can be dissolved) is a bonus for some patients. 

Lip Augmentation With Juvéderm

No lip treatment beats the popularity of lip augmentation with Juvéderm. Juvéderm Ultra XC was amongst the first lip fillers on the market, and it’s famous for creating that Hollywood pout. With a pliant but controlled texture, it gives the lips plush, pillowy volume. Juvéderm can also be injected in a smaller amount to soften the nasolabial folds. 

There are other excellent lip fillers that can offer slightly different results, such as Restylane Kysse, our favorite for natural-looking lips with soft volume.

Lip Augmentation Before and After 

Know what to expect with lip augmentation before and after, including how to prep and what lip augmentation aftercare to follow. 

Preparing for Lip Augmentation

  • Go over the customer care instructions to ensure you’re a safe candidate for lip augmentation.
  • Ask your doctor if you’re taking medications like blood thinners or antibiotics, which may interact with your lip augmentation. 
  • For best results, hydrate and take good care of your body in the days before the appointment.

Lip Augmentation Aftercare

  • After the treatment, avoid touching or massaging your lips unless directed otherwise. 
  • If you experience soreness or swelling, an ice pack can provide relief. 
  • Avoid intense activities and exercise for as long as directed by your treatment provider. 
  • Take any painkillers or medications as directed by your medical provider.
  • Remember that your lip augmentation aftercare instructions will differ from treatment to treatment. 

Lip Augmentation Cost

Lip augmentation costs can vary dramatically depending on the type of treatment. Lip fillers normally cost $600-$1000 per vial, while a lip flip is quite affordable at $80 to $200 on average. More invasive surgical lip augmentations like fat grafts, implants, and surgical lip lifts cost between $2000-$6000, with $3000 on average. Check out our pricing page to learn about the lip augmentation cost at SEV. 

Does Lip Augmentation Hurt?

Most lip augmentation treatments include numbing or anesthesia to prevent pain. Juvéderm, for example, contains a small amount of lidocaine, so while the initial injection may sting, the filling process doesn’t hurt. Surgeries like lip implants usually include local anesthesia to numb the area. It’s also normal to experience some soreness afterward, depending on the treatment. 

Another question that often comes up is whether lip augmentation is safe. In general, more invasive options do come with more risks. Less invasive options like lip flip and Juvéderm lip augmentation are less risky and can be carried out by registered nurses or doctors. Either way, choosing a reputable provider and following all aftercare is key to ensuring your safety. 

Lip Augmentation Side Effects 

There are a few common lip augmentation side effects you should be aware of, although they’re not considered harmful or lasting. They include: 

  • Swelling
  • Bruising
  • Redness  
  • Soreness

You may also experience other lip augmentation side effects that are specific to the procedure you choose. The severity of your side effects and how long they last directly corresponds with the level of invasiveness of the procedure. 

Swelling After Lip Augmentation

It’s very common to experience swelling after lip augmentation, including in cases of less invasive options like filler. It’s part of your body’s natural recovery response and is no cause for concern. Depending on the procedure, the swelling may take anywhere from a few days to a month to go down. In most cases, you can use ice packs to calm the area.  

Recovery Time

Recovery from lip augmentation depends on the specific treatment. With Botox lip flips, lip fillers, and cosmetic tattoos, recovery takes a few weeks at most, but you can normally return to most daily activities right away. Surgical lip augmentation can take longer to heal, from one month up to several months depending on the procedure. 

Your Perfect Lip Augmentation at SEV

At SEV, our selection of lip augmentation treatments includes fillers from Juvéderm or Restylane, and lip flips with Xeomin, Dysport, or Botox. Our nurse injectors are aesthetic specialists, which means you can expect precise, stunning results every time. We’d love to have you for an appointment or consultation, so book at your nearest SEV.