Lip Augmentation

What is lip enhancement?

Lip augmentation is a type of cosmetic surgery performed to increase the lip’s fullness. More than any other cosmetic surgery, successful lip augmentation is dependent on the skill of the plastic surgeon.

As a Stanford-trained and board-certified plastic surgeon, I’m skilled in facial rejuvenation. The rejuvenating effect is obtained through augmenting the appearance of your lips and adjusting their character to best accentuate the face.

Patients of all ages look and feel their absolute best after their procedure.

Is lip augmentation permanent?

There are essentially two types of lip augmentation using injectables. One is more temporary, while the other has lasting results and is a more permanent lip augmentation.

Types of lip injections

There are a few techniques we can use to improve the appearance of your lips. You may have seen a local medical spa (or “med spa”) advertising injectables. However, for your safety and to guarantee the best outcomes, I must recommend only trusting your cosmetic procedures to board-certified professionals.

Dermal fillers

Dermal fillers are injections that typically last from six months to a year and plump up thin lips. The most common form of lip augmentation employs collagen or one of several hyaluronic acid fillers. You may know fillers by their better-known brand names such as Juvederm, Restylane, and HylaForm. The lips and surrounding area are numbed with a local anesthetic. Then, we inject lip fillers in and near the lips. The procedure is brief, between 15 and 30 minutes; patients are free to go home the same day.

 Fat injections

Fat grafting is a form of augmentation that takes fat from another part of the patient’s body and injects it back into the lips. With facial fat grafting, we take fat from the abdomen or any other desired area, purified, and then transfer it to the lips. While this option requires liposuction to obtain the fat, the results are permanent and typically do not require further touch-ups. The procedure is performed using lidocaine for numbing and takes between 30 and 90 minutes.

Upper lip lift

While an upper lip lift is not actually an augmentation procedure, it nevertheless smoothes out fine lines and creates the appearance of a fuller, more youthful upper lip. Sometimes known as a lip-flip, the in-office cosmetic surgery procedure shortens the space between the nose and upper lip. The procedure causes the lips to look fuller and increases how much your upper teeth show when the lips are at rest. It is performed using Botox or surgically for a lasting effect.

Lip Augmentation and Fillers Recovery

The exact length of your recovery will depend on what procedure you had.

Dermal filler recovery

Patients can resume most activities immediately, although I usually recommend refraining from intense physical activity for one to two days to reduce any swelling or bruising.

Fat injection recovery

The area the fat was extracted from will be sore and bruised for a few weeks. The face will be swollen for a week. Some patients prefer not to socialize until the face regains a more “natural” appearance If at all possible, we recommend taking about two weeks off of work while the face heals.

Upper lip lift recovery

There will be significant swelling in the lip for a few days after the procedure. Discomfort can usually be eased with prescription pain medication or over-the-counter pain relievers.

How much does lip augmentation cost?

The exact price depends on your procedure, but an approximate range is:

• Dermal fillers and upper lip lift: $650 – $4,000
• Fat grafting: $3,000 – $6,000

It is important to keep in mind that lip enhancement is a cosmetic procedure and rarely paid for by insurance.

Dr. Saber offers a sensitive, female perspective for patients of all ages, genders, and orientations.

Why it is critically important to choose a Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon

All surgeries come with some risk. But did you know that many doctors who perform plastic surgery are not board-certified plastic surgeons?

For a surgeon to become board certified, they must have at least 14 years of higher education including special intensive training in reconstructive and cosmetic surgery. 

This means that, in the very unlikely event of a complication, it can be handled quickly and efficiently. Because board-certified plastic surgeons have full admitting privileges at local hospitals. Non-board-certified plastic surgeons do not, thus they cannot even treat you outside of their own surgery center. Additionally, Dr. Saber always works with leading board-certified anesthesiologists during procedures to ensure patient safety. Unfortunately, this is not always the case with cosmetic surgeons.

Aren’t all doctors who perform cosmetic plastic surgery procedures board-certified?

Sadly, no. Many are not certified to do the cosmetic procedures they are performing. That can lead to significant problems for any patient who has complications. It can also mean that the surgeon who performed your procedure cannot even admit you to a hospital or provide any follow-up care at the hospital.

Dr. Saber’s extensive training, board certification, and experience as a noted reconstructive surgeon serve as an assurance that her approach to surgery is ethical, safe, and effective.

Why choose Dr. Saber for lip augmentation in the Los Angeles and Glendale areas?

Dr. Sepideh Saber, MD, FACS, offers a sensitive, female perspective for patients of all ages, genders, and orientations. Patients from all walks of life have praised not only their outcomes but Dr. Saber’s caring, thoughtful approach to all types of plastic surgery, appearance, and health-related matters.

Dr. Saber graduated from Stanford University’s world-renowned medical school and did her reconstruction and plastic surgery residency at the University of Southern California (USC). She then completed a fellowship at New York University (NYU) in the extremely challenging and delicate area of hand surgery, as well as microsurgery.

To request a complimentary consultation, call (877) 205-4100 or click here to schedule online.

The plastic surgery and aesthetics practice of Dr. Saber is located in Glendale CA and conveniently located for patients throughout Los Angeles and the surrounding areas, including Burbank, Pasadena, Encino, South Pasadena, Beverly Hills, San Marino, La Canada Flintridge, La Crescenta, Altadena, Alhambra, San Gabriel, Rosemead, Monterey Park, North Hollywood, East Los Angeles, Commerce, Huntington Park, West Hollywood, and Downtown Los Angeles.

Dr. Saber takes her patients’ safety very seriously. Her facility’s Covid-19 patient safety procedures exceed all CDC and World Health Organization recommendations. Masks are always required in our office.