Fuller lips: how lip enhancement works

Aaaahhhhh, fuller, younger and fuller lips. Full lips are definitely a sign of “youth”, but what happens to our lips when we start to mature? The lips become thinner, less attractive and very soon, one could stop using lipstick because the upper lip practically disappears, especially when smiling. When this shrinking act is evident in the mirror, generally vertical lines begin to invade the lips making a mature woman appear positively elderly.

Women aren’t the only ones who want softer, fuller lips. Men whose lips are thin and hard can represent an iron attitude in the boardroom; however, men with fuller lips look more attractive, youthful, and younger.

Lips are soft tissues, and as a man or woman begins to mature, the volume dissipates, which means that the tissue shrinks.

There are many ways to revitalize the soft tissues of the lips; the old recourse: bovine collagen, Zyderm® and Zyplast® have competition. Restylane®, CosmoDerm® and ComoPlast® (collagen {cadaver} human), Radiance®, Artecoll® and others have entered the “fillers” market. These new fillers do not require skin testing for allergic reactions and are all injected. The procedure time varies from 3 to 10 minutes and some patients report that these types of injections can be painful. These services can be relatively expensive because they are not permanent solutions and these injections must be repeated every few months to keep lips full. The most common side effect, as with any injection, is redness, bruising, and swelling at the injection site that generally last less than three weeks.

A more permanent lip procedure that is widely used is Gortex. Strips of Gortex (threads of foamy material) are inserted into the lips; the lips become somewhat larger after the procedure is complete, but some users complain that their lips feel hard, not soft, and pliable. Some of these implants cannot be removed if a problem arises because lip tissue grows in and around the implant. Possible complications include infection, migration or extrusion of the implants and asymmetry of the lips is a concern.

Another somewhat permanent solution is fat injections; Typically, the patient’s own fat is removed from the abdomen or buttocks, washed, and then injected back into the lips. While this is probably a fairly safe modality, the fat tends to be reabsorbed fairly quickly, deflating the lips.

Recently, over-the-counter glosses, lipsticks, and other types of topical preparations have been introduced that promise fuller, fuller lips with more definition and volume. Many cosmetic companies have jumped on this bandwagon by promising users that their special ingredients will produce full, luscious lips after just a few weeks of use. In fact, more than 200 new products have been introduced to the market in the last two years with prices ranging from $ 6.99 to almost $ 40. Instead of traffic stopping the lips, some of these topical products have produced burns, mouth sores and empty bags.

Some cosmetic companies use natural ingredients in their formulas, but some of the formulas can be misleading. No product can offer the look of a collagen injection on a topical basis. The operation of these products is through the use of an irritating ingredient such as niacin, cinnamon, caffeine or peppermint; These ingredients can cause some temporary swelling through dilation of the blood vessels along with mild inflammation, giving the illusion of fullness. Some preparations require the user to vigorously rub the lips for several minutes and this friction results in some temporary swelling.

Many women and men want fuller lips because fuller lips make them feel sexier and more attractive. Consumers are willing to spend a lot of money to have “the look”; But not everyone agrees that the topics deliver what they promised. Dr. Sam Most, Chief of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the University of Washington in Seattle, asked seven women to use a certain topic whose website says their product increases lip volume and contour by an average of 40.7 percent; Dr. Most said, “In subjects who used the product as directed for an extended period, there was no visible change on the lips.”

Is there a real difference in using topical applications that promise full, full lips or is lipstick and liner enough? Maybe Yoki Ono, a saleswoman at a Madison Avenue designer boutique, quoted in the NY Times, has the answer: “You should buy some extra hot buffalo wings and eat them.”

Or better yet, save yourself a ton of money and brush your lips with a baby toothbrush and petroleum jelly for about a minute, your lips will be fuller and softer, guaranteed!