Facial Procedures

More Information

For more information on dental implants or oral surgery in the Baton Rouge, Louisiana area, please give us a call at 225-927-3463.

Lip Augmentation

Gravity and age take their toll on most parts of the face including the lips, which tend to lose their bulk over the years, becoming thinner and recessed. This produces a much wider, less desirable gap between the upper lip border and the tip of the nose. Lip augmentation can significantly make a face look more youthful, softer and more sexy. The ideal candidate for lip augmentation are young patients who desire their lips to be larger and fuller to help enhance their facial features, young women who want to look more sensuous and feminine and highlight the mid portion of their face, and older women, who with age have noticed that their upper lip has not only become thinner but also droopier, allowing the space between the bottom of the nose and upper lip to lengthen.

Permanent Lip Implants (GoreTex AdvantaTM Implants) $2700*

ePTFE (or GORE-TEX®) is a highly bio-compatible substance used for many medical procedures and is now available for permanent lip augmentation. The implants consist of different size strands of ePTFE in either a round or oval shape. Dr. Akin can help you choose the best size based on your specific desires and anatomy but often prefers to first perform lip augmentation with a non-permanent option first. This helps to determine the appropriate size prior to permanent augmentation. IV sedation is an option for this procedure although it can easily be performed local anesthetic with or without nitrous oxide ('laughing gas').

Injectable Temporary Fillers $850-1250

There are two types of lip augmentation procedures Dr. Akin performs: injectable temporary fillers, and more "permanent" dermal fillers. Injectable fillers generally last anywhere from a few months to a few years after administration, depending on the individuality of the patient and the type of filler used. Temporary fillers include Restylane, Hylaform, Juvederm, and Radiesse (Radiance). The most important fact to remember about injectable fillers is that the results are not permanent. Injected material is eventually metabolized by the body. You should not expect the same long-lasting results that may be gained from cosmetic surgery.

Dr. Akin usually suggests to start with injectable non-permanent lip enhancement to determine ideal sizing when deciding upon a more permanent solution.

Dermal (Deep) Fillers $3350*

Another type of lip augmentation called dermal fillers includes dermis grafts and Alloderm grafts. These materials give more permanent soft tissue augmentation and are inserted into a deeper layer of the skin.

With injectable lip augmentation, the results may last only a few weeks; in others, the results may be maintained indefinitely. Researchers believe that age, genetic background, skin quality and lifestyle as well as the injected body site may all play a role in the injected material's "staying power." However, the precise reason for the variation of results among patients has yet to be identified. Although it's true that some individuals' bodies are more receptive to one substance than the other, others may find that neither substance produces long-lasting results. Sometimes one substance may work better than the other for a specific problem.

Deep Upper Lip Lines ('Smokers Lines') $3950**

People often use the words Smoker's Lines to describe the deep upper lip lines that seem to be caused by the activity of pursing the lips while smoking. Most patients do not realize that at least 50% of people with these lines are not smokers.

The lines are due to a number of factors and each of these probems are treated in order permanently erase the lines. The 3 treatments below for upper lip furrows are performed together with sedation.

1. Upper lip thinning - Treated with Injectables or Soft Lip Implants

2. Lip Wrinkles - Due to the thickness of the upper lip skin, the skin needs to be treated with laser resurfacing or dermabrasion to thin the skin

3. Overactive Muscles - Often patients with deep upper lip furrows have a very active or 'strong' lip muscle that needs to be lightly relaxed during the healing phase (4 units of Botox is used for this)

*Costs do not include intravenous sedation. Cost does include Facility Fee.

**Although older patients typically have better results with injectable materials (because they lead to a more age appropriate rejuvenation) cost will be higher if Lip Implants are used.