UK Guide to Lip Enhancement

Lips can be made larger or fuller in many ways - some of them permanent, others temporary.

The most common material used for temporary enhancement is collagen, for which an allergy test is required. Collagen needs topping up every 3-6 months.

Alternatively, a fat injection can be performed. The patient's own tissue is used, thus eradicating the risk of an allergic reaction. The fat is usually taken from the abdomen or the buttocks, and can be stored in the fridge for many months if it is required for later use.

If a permanent effect is prefered, a substance called Artecoll is widely available in Europe, which can be injected without anaesthesia. It gives a soft result, and does not dissolve away.

Permanent lip enhancement can also be caried out using the patient's own tissue. Dermis (the deeper layers of the skin) is harvested as a by-product of another operation where it would otherwise be discarded (eg abdominal reduction, face lift, etc). The outer skin of the lips is removed and the shaped dermis threaded through from one side of the lip to the other.

For further information about cosmetic surgery please visit one of the organisations featured below: