17
Oct
Options to enhance your lips: Lift vs. fillers
At Springs Aesthetics, Dr. John Burroughs and our Colorado Springs, Colorado, team understand that you want to add definition and volume to your lips without compromising a natural appearance that complements your features. We provide many options for natural lip augmentation based on factors such as your “starting point” or current needs, personal characteristics, and treatment goals.
How can you make my lips look better and more youthful?
Over time, the loss of collagen and elastin in your lips can cause them to appear deflated and less well-defined than they once were. Of course, we also have patients who have never liked the proportion or shape of their lips. Whatever the case may be, we get natural results with two key types of services:
- The surgical “lip lift”
- Injectable lip fillers
What is a lip lift?
This procedure involves shortening the distance between the base of the nose and the top, red vermillion border of the lip. Dr. Burroughs expertly removes the slightest bit of tissue to elevate the lip’s position and expose and define more of the vermillion border. This process not only boosts volume or recontours, but also provides a permanent solution for patients who have experienced noticeable thinning of their lips. The incision can be made to shorten the vertical upper lip, enhance the upper lip, or both.
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What are lip fillers?
Lip filler generally involves injecting Hyaluronic Acid (HA) to add volume to depressed or poorly-defined lips. HA is a naturally occurring molecule responsible for the skin’s moisture. When introduced as a filler, HA also has a “plumping effect” on tissues that have sustained volume loss. Fillers can make a noticeable difference in the size and shape of the lips, and the results can stay that way with repeated injections, as the HA wears off over time.
Get in Touch With Us
New Patients: (719) 749-3606 | Existing Patients: (719) 473-8801
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Am I a good candidate for a lip lift?
We won’t know for sure until we’ve evaluated your lips and discussed your concerns and goals. In general, this technique may be appropriate for patients who are:
- Looking for long-term results
- Seeking an alternative to lip fillers
- Wanting to shorten a long top lip
- Soften upper lip lines and wrinkles
- Looking for more definition, such as accentuation of Cupid’s bow or curve in the middle of the upper lip
- Wanting to correct laxity that occurs as a result of the aging process
Can I benefit from lip fillers?
Dr. Burroughs & Melissa sometimes use a cannula technique at Springs Aesthetics to ensure the utmost comfort and safety when injecting lip filler. At other times, a fine needle is used to fine-tune and increase the precision of the filler placement. Slow and very low-volume placement reduces the risks and, when combined with artistry and skill, provides improvements to volume, symmetry, and shape, and can even help with lip lines. The primary difference between the two treatments lies in their duration and capabilities. For instance, fillers require either “touch-up” injections or repeating on a 6-12 month basis. Such maintenance is not necessary with the surgical lip lift process. Additionally, while fillers are suitable for adding volume and enhancing shape, they do not adequately correct the pronounced distance between the lip and nose, which naturally increases with age. To achieve natural-looking and beautiful proportions, the lower lip often requires additional filler after an upper lip lift for optimal results.
To find the best option to perfect your pout, call (719) 749-3606 today to schedule a consultation in Colorado Springs, CO.
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John Burroughs, M.D.
Dr. John Burroughs specializes in eyelids, orbits, and faces and has performed over 20,000 related procedures. His role in oculofacial plastic surgeries has been highly appreciated.
He is an alumnus of the Air Academy High School, University of Texas, and Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine), Maryland. He later followed a transitional internship and ophthalmology residency in San Antonio, TX, and has decades of aesthetic treatment experience.
Dr. Burroughs is American Board of Ophthalmology-certified and is a Fellow of the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic Reconstructive Surgeons, the Oculofacial Society and the American Academy of Ophthalmology and a member of many other associations. He is a lifelong learner and teacher.