Lips. They occupy a position in the central column of the face. They are used for expression in so many ways—not just for talking, but for smiling, pursing, frowning, and tightening. They are sensual and are an instrument for enjoyment—food, drink… kisses.
When we are engaged in conversation with another human they are mainly observing our eyes and lips; they are mainly looking at that central column of our face. For this reason, subtle changes to the areas of the eyes and lips have major impact on our appearance in general.
As we age, we make less collagen in the skin everywhere, which decreases the structural support of the skin, allowing skin to sag and wrinkle. In the area of the lips and philtrum, collagen loss means volume loss. The entire area around the mouth loses volume and becomes more recessed. Anti-aging maneuvers are often all about collagen building, or structural enhancement, or volume enhancement. This can be achieved by stimulating and increasing our own collagen production or by adding structure and volume by using an injectable filler, or even by surgically implanting a shaped object (although this has largely fallen out of favor for the lips, thank goodness.)
Youthful lips are full, sensual lips that are smooth and “juicy” (plump) looking. Thin, tight lips are a reliable sign of anger. Most people do not want to appear angry or upset when they are not—this is not considered beautiful. What can we do about it? There are some lip products that stimulate collagen production; exfoliating peels and laser treatments can be used to increase collagen production; but one of the easiest, quickest and most effective ways to enhance the lips/philtrum area is with the use of injectable fillers. This results in a soft and natural appearance to the lips that is long-lasting, semi-permanent or permanent, depending on the filler chosen. Small changes to this area can greatly enhance the youthfulness of the entire face.
The fillers can better delineate the outline of the lips, create greater smoothness to the lips, and increase the volume of the lips. Another effect noticed by patients after lip enhancement is that they have more freedom in the type of lip make-up they can use. Before lip enhancement many have stopped wearing strong, bold colors of lipstick, as well as minimal lip gloss looks because of lipstick “bleeder lines” and because their lips appear small and anemic. Once the clock has been turned back and lips are fuller, better defined and poutier, patients can wear any type of lipstick effortlessly.
Many different fillers are commonly used for lip/philtrum enhancement, but only Restylane is FDA approved for use in the lips as of late 2011. Our favorite material for lip enhancement at Youthologie is Silikon 1000. This is a medical, sterile, non-reactive, non-allergenic permanent injectable filler that is clear in color and becomes incorporated into the tissues where it is injected. It has a very soft and natural appearance, and can be used in small increments; so that there is a gradual building of the lip/philtrum structure over time until the desired effect is achieved. I have been using this material for lip enhancement since 1999, and I have never seen a complication with it, nor have I ever had an unhappy patient. The only complaint is usually, “I want more!” It is very common for patients to undergo 2 or 3 sessions as they proceed with caution and gradually create the lips they have always wanted. Your perfect lips are yours forever!
