Improve your lips, correct lip lines, and increase facial symmetry.

Whether you have always had thin lips, or you want to return your lips to the shape and fullness they had when you were younger, a lip procedure may provide you with the look you want. If you are dissatisfied or self-conscious about your lips, lip fillers can open up new possibilities for you to change your appearance and self-image with full, voluptuous lips.

During the consultation, you will have the opportunity to talk with Dr. Clevens about the changes that you’d like to make in your appearance. He will explain the different options available to you. Some of the options are temporary in nature while others are long-lasting.

It is important that you explain the results that you would like. Bring photos to show Dr. Clevens what you like and what you don’t like. He will be able to tell you if you are a good candidate for lip augmentation. Think about whether you would like a temporary result that can be achieved with an injectable material like Restylane, Juvederm, Fat or Radiesse or a long-lasting option that can be achieved with a minor surgical procedure.

Dr. Clevens is considered an ‘expert’ in lip surgery. He is a frequent invited lecturer and teacher of lip rejuvenation at national and international plastic surgery meetings. He was asked to create a teaching video for the American Academy of Facial Plastic Surgery demonstrating his lip surgery techniques.

Most lip filler injections take less than fifteen minutes. Most lip implants and procedures take less than one hour for Dr. Clevens to perform. Sometimes procedures take longer than others. Dr. Clevens will be able to tell you how long your procedure is likely to take.

Injections are performed in the office. Procedures are performed in the office under local anesthesia, perhaps with light sedation as well.

Whether or not an anesthetic is necessary depends on the procedure. Topical anesthesia is generally used before lip injections, so that the procedure involves no discomfort. Generally, local anesthesia is used in grafting procedures. This makes the procedure painless, although there may be some discomfort afterward.

Immediately following lip augmentation, the lips may swell and hurt. Cold compresses should be used for 48 hours to control the swelling. During this time, talking and chewing should be avoided as much as possible. Oral pain medications may be used to control the discomfort.

Antibiotics may be given to reduce the possibility of infection. To help avoid infection, it is also important to keep the lips clean.

Most people report little discomfort in the days after lip augmentation. However, grafts and flaps usually involve more pain during recovery, and a longer recovery period, than lip injections.

Injections: Most people return to normal, public activities within a couple of days or less of an injection procedure. Bruising and swelling may last as long as a week.

Grafts: People often wait between 5-7 days after graft procedures before returning to their normal routine. During that recovery time, they may experience some problems with drooling. Grafting also may leave the lips feeling unnaturally stiff for 2 to 3 months after the procedure. Any non-dissolving stitches may be removed about 7-10 days after the procedure.

Significant complications from aesthetic lip lift procedures are rare and Dr. Clevens has extensive experience with this type of procedure. As with any surgical procedure, however, there is always a possibility of infection, or reaction to the anesthesia. Other possible complications include: numbing, scarring, swelling, and stiffness in the lip.

To reduce the risk of complications, it is important to follow all the instructions you receive from your surgeon before and after the procedure.