Rediscover Youthful Lips Lip Enhancement Options at The Maas Clinic™

The fragile skin of the lips can be one of the most vulnerable areas of the aging process. You may notice changes around the mouth earlier than other places on the face, making you appear older than you feel. Alternatively, you might feel your lips could be better shaped or more voluminous. If those signs have become apparent to you and a cause for concern, the good news is there are many ways to change them. Dr. Maas offers a variety of lip augmentation treatments in San Francisco, from quick office procedures to more permanent surgical solutions.

Brunette woman with blue eyes

Your Changing Lips

There are different reasons why you may see your lips change over time. One of the biggest culprits is collagen loss. This essential protein supports the dermal structure, producing a smooth, supple look to the skin. Over time, your body produces less collagen, which results in skin laxity and the formation of wrinkles. Collagen depletion also leads to thinning lips, giving you a perpetually angry or aged appearance. Sun exposure can also damage the skin, resulting in fine lines and skin tone that has lost its luster. Too much sun also causes lips to become dry and cracked, further exacerbating the aged look. Certain motions of the mouth can contribute to aging symptoms as well, such as when you suck on a straw or laugh.

The Fine Art of Lip Rejuvenation and Enhancement

Dr. Maas understands that lip enhancement is a much more intricate, artistic process than merely restoring or adding volume to the mouth with a few injections of fillers. He breaks down the aging or thin lip into categories that include the pink portion of the lip (vermillion), the white area, and the border between the two. He aims to enhance the lip border, eliminate the fine lines in the white portion, and achieve appropriate fullness to the entire lip without producing too much projection.

When you seek lip enhancement from Dr. Maas, he will first assess what needs to be addressed, whether it is the lips' volume, shape, or contour. He will then evaluate the condition of the skin's surface to identify any wrinkles or fine lines that might need to be treated. The third step is to ensure the correct anatomic configuration of the lip, which entails a determination of the optimal lip height and an appropriate proportion between the white and pink areas of the lip. By carefully considering each step, Dr. Maas produces lip enhancement that is natural, beautiful, and youthful.

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Non-Surgical Lip Volumizing Treatments

The most common non-surgical treatment for aging or thin lips is a dermal filler injected directly into the lip to restore youthful volume and smooth away lines. However, some patients shy away from this approach because they have seen overdone lips resulting from this treatment, also known as "duck lips." Dr. Maas assures all his nervous patients that the result appears natural when fillers are done correctly, and most people won't even realize you had a treatment performed. The aim is to give you an attractive look you could have been born with.

Dr. Maas prefers hyaluronic acid fillers for lip enhancements, particularly products in the Restylane line. He also uses Juvederm and Belotero when appropriate. He likes these fillers best for the lips because they are reversible and adjustable.

They also produce soft, natural results for patients. Often, it is not the type of filler used but his specific injection technique that is most crucial in creating beautiful outcomes for his patients. During your in-person consultation with Dr. Maas, he will be able to provide you with a range of options that will suit your needs and all the information you need to make an educated decision.

Because Dr. Maas uses a topical numbing cream as a standard step with all of his injectable procedures, patients can rest assured the treatment will be quick and comfortable, with results that should last for many months. As a general rule, Dr. Maas does not recommend permanent fillers for the lips, such as silicone and Bellafill. He has written papers to this effect after treating patients who have suffered side effects like granulomas. These inflammatory nodules can be challenging to manage and may become a permanent fixture on the lips, creating an unattractive and unnatural appearance. For patients who want a long-term lip enhancement solution, Dr. Maas offers surgical techniques that produce much better overall results.

Surgery for Permanent Lip Enhancement

Surgery offers permanent enhancement for lips, and with various techniques, Dr. Maas will customize your procedure to your precise needs and the look you hope to achieve. Options include:

  • Lift to the corners of the mouth, creating a more youthful shape to the mouth overall
  • Direct lip lift, focusing on enhancing the border by advancing the red part of the lip
  • Subnasal lip lift that elevates the red portion of the lip while minimizing the white area
  • Insertion of ultrasoft lip implants to produce a fuller shape with a natural look and feel

No matter which technique is used for your lip enhancement, the procedure will likely be performed as an outpatient surgery using local anesthesia. Dr. Maas carefully places incisions where visible scarring will be minimal. In some instances, there will be no external scarring left behind. The recovery process is generally short, with most patients back to regular activities within a few days.

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Say Goodbye to Lip Wrinkles

While dermal fillers are a popular choice for smoothing away fine lines around the lips, Dr. Maas also recommends laser skin resurfacing, intense pulsed light (IPL), and chemical peels for this purpose. In addition to reducing the appearance of wrinkles, these treatments improve color differentiation, managing the entire spectrum of lip aging in a single office treatment. If changes to your lips contribute to an aged appearance, many treatments can help reverse these changes and rejuvenate your look.

If you wish to improve the shape and contours of thinner lips, Dr. Maas can also help sculpt a naturally beautiful look for you. Contact The Maas Clinic™ today to find out which treatment may be right for your aesthetic needs.

Corey S. Maas, MD, reviewed the information about lip augmentation. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us using our contact form on the sidebar.

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