Enhance Your Sex Appeal With Lip Augmentation

The natural aging process, genetics, sun exposure and lifestyle including stress and smoking take a toll on the appearance of our lips. They lose volume, become disproportionate, and wrinkle. If this describes your lips and they are thin, wrinkled, lack volume or sex appeal, and are causing concern, minimally invasive lip augmentation can help increase your self-confidence by returning your lips to their natural, more youthful appearance.

Lip Rejuvenation Doctor Decision Making

Lip augmentation is a cosmetic procedure that refills depleted lips, improves symmetry, and restores balance with the goal of making you feel more confident in your appearance. The most important decision for you to make before undergoing lip augmentation is to locate a doctor who understands the normal anatomy and aging process and is experienced in restoring lips naturally. A doctor who is qualified and you can trust is Dr. Robert Buchanan, an American Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon.

Recommended Injectable Dermal Fillers

We can rejuvenate lips either surgically or by use of something to add volume and improve contours. By far, the most common method is the use of an injectable filler to the lips to restore volume that has been lost over time. The most common type of filler used, and the safest, is hyaluronic acid, a natural substance found in the body, and the precursor to collagen, the substance that makes up most of the tissues of the body. This is used to enhance lip volume, shape, and structure.

Dr. Buchanan uses the Allergan Juvéderm® family of fillers because they provide a selection of qualities to meet individual requirements and are the longest-lasting fillers on the market.  The fillers used in the lip are:

• Juvéderm Ultra Injectable Gel, a medium soft product that provides more volume enhancement than the actual amount injected.
• Juvéderm Vollure, a product similar in consistency to Ultra but lasting 11/2 times as long and allowing very precise correction.
• Juvéderm Volbella, a very soft filler that is excellent for finessing the shape of the lip and injecting wrinkle lines.

Lip Augmentation Procedure Basics

The lip is actually a part of the GI system. The main uncomfortable stimulus to this system is stretch.  Because injection stretches the mucosa of the lip, we generally try to numb the area so that nothing is felt during the injection itself. We first apply a topical numbing agent inside the mouth and then inject through this to numb the entire lip.

Basic procedure steps then begin:

• We mark the areas of concern.
• We use a blunt cannula to inject most of the filler in order to reduce the risk of bruising.
• Any residual lines on the lip are then injected to reduce them.
• Ice is applied to ease swelling and possible bruising.

Post-procedure recommendations:

• Do not apply firm pressure or rub the treated area for the first week.
• Do no pushing, pulling, lifting, or anything vigorous for 4-6 hours.
• Lipstick or other products can be applied after several hours.

Be Confident and Proud of Your Lips

Enhance your lips or regain your youthful appearance with lip augmentation. Contact the Center for Plastic Surgery serving the community of Highlands, NC, by calling 828-526-3783 to schedule your lip augmentation consultation with Dr. Robert Buchanan.

In the past several years, plastic surgeons have heard patients loud and clear. As effective as surgical procedures are, the vast majority of patients would like to address the signs of aging and other cosmetic objectives without setting foot in the operating room. We understand the draw of nonsurgical cosmetic treatments. We also understand the value of them, their safety, and what they can accomplish with little, if any, downtime. In our Highlands, NC office, we offer a wide range of nonsurgical treatments to refresh and improve your look. 

A Little Something to Keep in Mind

Nonsurgical anti-aging and cosmetic treatments are safe, effective, and convenient. With newer products and techniques many are lasting significantly longer than previously and some have even replaced more invasive procedures. More involved and generally surgical methods are needed if the problem is excess skin. However, a great deal of aging is from loss of dermal support and volume of fat, muscle, and bone. Both of these are treatable with non-surgical means. Let’s take a look at some of our most popular non-surgical treatment options for a younger, more radiant appearance.

Nonsurgical Facial Enhancement

Facial enhancements are performed both to correct the signs of aging and to bring more symmetry and proportion to the face.

In younger patients, most procedures are to improve inherited traits such as lip asymmetries or size or under eye depressions caused by low attachment of the muscles there. Some nasal problems are also amenable to filler correction.

In older individuals, we usually replace volume loss or treat wrinkles. The former is generally a filler off the shelf such as one of the Juvederm family or your own fat. Fat was initially the method of choice since it is quite long lasting when done properly. However, with the introduction of Radiesse in 2005, which could last several years, and later in 2015 of Juvederm Voluma, which can last many years, fat transfer became less popular. We treat wrinkles initially with Botox to stop the underlying muscles from causing wrinkles if stopping the muscle from functioning has no needed functional deficit. We now treat established wrinkles with the new less dense fillers and methods to stimulate collagen instead of lasers and deep peels.

We all use of these methods Today’s Liquid Lift, a customized treatment developed by Dr. Buchanan after years of performing facelift surgeries. The liquid facelift that he performs is tailored to correct the exact problems that one has with the fastest results and least invasion. This may include various injectables, fat grafting, and Botox as needed to fully refresh and rejuvenate the face with minimal downtime.

Your facial rejuvenation can begin now. Contact our Highlands, NC office at (828) 526-3783 to schedule your visit. earache

In recent years, we witnessed a tremendous increase in appreciation for full, pouty lips. People everywhere sought to create their very own Angelina Jolie or Kylie Jenner look. As social media posts went viral with Jenner’s famous lips, in particular, lip enhancement procedures soared. However, about this time last summer, Kylie’s lips took a major turn. The star shocked fans by having her lip fillers dissolved. Seeing that trends are influenced by popular celebrities, many people assumed that the whole lip filler trend would disappear. Has it?

The End of a Look isn’t the End of an Era

Kylie Jenner has been one of several celebrities to openly discuss her use of fillers or other treatments. Her change of heart about what had been her signature look for a few years took the world by surprise. However, that choice is not an indication of the wider trends in beauty. Instead of tossing aside the idea of fuller lips, what we’re seeing patients do today is strive for fullness without the pout. This trend mirrors that of other plastic surgery transformations, including more natural breast augmentation and subtle facial rejuvenation procedures. As many cosmetic procedures were originally intended, patients now agree more with the concept of looking like themselves, only better.

What Does All This Mean for Lip Fillers?

The end of the Kylie Jenner lip era has not had a huge impact on the lip filler market. Primarily, what has changed is technique. Hyaluronic acid products like Juvéderm Vollure continue to be incredibly popular. Patients still appreciate the instant results they can get from injectable lip enhancement, not to mention the natural-looking outcome.

Lip enhancement, though made more popular by celebs like Jenner, is not conducted only to achieve a luscious pouty mouth. Many of our patients who express interest in lip enhancement do so out of concern for the way their lips have changed with age. Naturally thin lips can all-but disappear as they lose what little volume they had. Fuller lips deflate as collagen and elastin break down in the skin. These are common concerns that can be immediately corrected with fillers.

The results of lip enhancement can make a big difference in a person’s life. A skilled provider can make small adjustments to particular parts of the lips to make a big impact on appearance. For example, a small amount of filler into the top lips can accentuate and shape the perfect “cupid’s bow.” Injections at the lip line can recreate subtle fullness that makes the lips look younger. Filling the lower lip can restore its normal proportion and eliminate lipstick bleed.

Schedule your Consultation

Lip enhancement treatment isn’t going anywhere because aging is continuous. To schedule your consultation for natural, younger-looking lips, call our Highlands, NC office at (828) 526-3783.

Historically, facial rejuvenation has required surgical lifting techniques. While procedures such as blepharoplasty eyelid rejuvenation continue to be popular, fewer people are undergoing full facelift procedures these days. Instead, they are choosing minimally invasive procedures that achieve subtle but beautiful results. Fat grafting is a prime example. We are pleased to offer this service in our Highlands office to help our patients feel better about their appearance as they age. Here, we discuss the various ways in which fat can be used to refresh the face.

What is Fat Grafting?

To understand how fat grafting can benefit your appearance, it helps to know the details of this process. It is the most natural and long lasting way to restore the fat that is lost over time and is responsible for much of the signs of aging. This cosmetic procedure may be performed in the office using local anesthesia to numb the area of the body from which fat will be harvested and the area where it will be injected. Depending on the amount of fat we need and the amount of body fat present, we may select the neck, abdomen, or thighs as a donor site. After the area has been numbed, a minor liposuction procedure is performed to obtain the necessary amount needed for injection. The tissue that is aspirated is processed to separate out the fat and stem cells from other tissue and blood. The prepared cells are then placed in a syringe and meticulously injected into the face to achieve the desired amount of contouring or wrinkle reduction.

Fat can rejuvenate the face by enhancing the following areas:

Cheeks

Rounded cheeks with higher cheekbones are an indicator of youthful beauty. With age, the bony structure may degrade. This exacerbates the natural loss of fat resulting flattening of the contours of the mid-face. The insertion of living fat cells across the mid-face restores height, projection, and triangularity to make the mid-face appear younger.

Forehead and Temples

Men and women over the age of 40 may struggle to pinpoint where their cosmetic frustration originates. This can be particularly relevant to the upper face, where the temples can hollow over time and the brow may drop below the bony ridge orbital rim ridge on which it once sat. Fat cells can be injected directly at the temple area to restore fullness to the outer area of the eyes. Injections can also be administered across the brow line to lift the brow without surgery.

Under Eyes

Non-surgical eyelid rejuvenation removing the hollows under the eyes has become one of the most common areas treated with a filler and can achieve outstanding results. Fat injections can achieve the same results but they last longer. Typically, fat is introduced to the area below the eye, not into the eyelid itself, unless absolutely necessary. When inserted into the tear trough it decreases the appearance of under-eye puffiness, and when into hollows it decreases dark circles.

Are You a Candidate?

Most healthy adults who do not have severe gravitational problems are good candidates for facial rejuvenation with fat injections. To learn more about this simple, in office procedure, schedule a consultation at our Highlands office by calling (828) 526-3783.

Wrinkles around the lips are caused by multiple factors. The first is thinning of the skin and loss of its elasticity. This happens partially with age as the body stops making collagen and elastic tissue continuously at about 30 years of age, and partially from sun exposure. Secondly, the underlying muscle acts to accordion the skin because of the loss of elasticity and the ability to contract without wrinkling. The more you like to talk or use the mouth expressively the more wrinkling you tend to create. Thirdly, the lip loses its subcutaneous support that separates the skin from the muscle. This also increases wrinkling. Once formed, there are a number of things that can be done to eliminate the wrinkles, depending on their severity. 

Skin Care

Occasionally, if the wrinkles are just beginning, all that is needed is what we call Basic Skin Care Plus. This is a good cleanser, an alpha-hydroxyl to remove the dead cells, a pH balancer and a good zinc oxide sunblock Plus effective retinol to add collagen and Obagi®’s ELASTIderm® to add elastic tissue. 

Lip Injection

The normal upper lip has a noticeable pout at the vermillion and defined philtral columns (the vertical lines on either side of the midline). As we age, both are lost and the lip becomes straight rather than concave. Occasionally, significant lines also appear. If this is the case, plumping the lip just back to normal can eliminate the lines and return the lips to a more normal appearance.  

Laser Resurfacing

If the lines are resistant to injection and other treatments or you wish for fast results, the final option is to flatten the lines using a laser. This essentially removes the top layer of the skin, bringing the elevated skin down to the level of the bottom of the wrinkles. In and of itself, this evens the surface of the skin. Additionally, it stimulates collagen production and tightening to further smooth the lip. 

If you have lip wrinkles that you would like gone, call our office in Highlands for an appointment to see what is right for you. Call us at 828-526-3783.

As you age, the definition and fullness of your lips diminish and fine lines appear. Smoking can increase the appearance of these changes by 15-20 years, If you think fuller, more well defined, smoother, youthful lips could improve your appearance and self-confidence, you may wish to consider lip enhancement.

At the Center For Plastic Surgery, Dr. Buchanan offers a variety of techniques from which to choose – all of which are performed in our surgical suite:
• Injectable Fillers such as Juvederm Ultra and Volbella offer immediate results. They can refill the areas of lost fat and fill lines. results lasts about ten to twelve months or longer but subsequent treatments are usually necessary because your body will absorb most of the filler material.
• Fat injections are another filler alternative – as the loss of fat near your lips is one of the main causes of thinning lips. This is a relatively permanent solution, but may take two sessions to achieve optimum correction, and, with time, the body may also absorb some of this fat also.
• A more permanent solution is a solid, silicone implant or surgical remodeling of the lips. Both have fallen out of favor because of the increased problems and the superb results from the injectables or fat
• At your consultation appointment, Dr. Buchanan will discuss your options and determine which procedure is right for you – based upon your problem and the results you desire.

Here are some things to consider as you decide on your lip enhancement procedure:

• Do you want temporary or permanent results? If you’re certain you want permanent lip enhancement, implants or fat may be a good choice, since other injectable fillers require repeated injections. If you’re not ready to commit to a permanent look, fillers are a great way to enjoy fuller lips and explore the results you’re happiest with.
• Are you willing to undergo surgery or would you prefer a minimally invasive procedure? Injectable procedures are much less involved than implant or remodeling surgery. Remember that no cosmetic or surgical procedure is entirely without risk, but the risks are smaller with filler procedures than with surgery. Although they are not a major procedure, implants are more invasive than fillers and may involve more recovery time.
• How much do you want to spend? Be sure to discuss your price range with Dr. Buchanan and learn what procedures are available within your budget.
• Could you be allergic to any of the injected materials? None of the present fillers or implants have any risk of allergic reaction.

If you would like to learn more, call for a consultation appointment, today: (828) 526-3783.

If there’s one cosmetic trend that’s taking the industry by storm, it’s lip rejuvenation. Here at The Center For Plastic Surgery, we use Juvederm Vollure, Ultra, and Volbella to help add more volume and contour lips while also eliminating any lines around your mouth in the process. This is done with each person’s age and desires in mind. Our general goal is to create natural lips consistent with one’s age unless you wish otherwise. After you get your Juvederm injections from our office, we have a few other tips that you can use to help take better care of your improved lips.

Keep Them Hydrated & Protected from the Sun

Having great looking lips can suddenly turn into something less than sexy if you aren’t keeping them hydrated. Make sure that you consistently use a hydrating lip balm that also protects them from the sun with clear zinc oxide. We recommend Jane Iredale lipsticks or her Lip Drink.

Get Regular Injections

The great news about lip injections is that they don’t require a lot of upkeep and work. On average, the different Juvederm products used for the lips last between 10 to 21 months, though most people retain at least 10% of what was injected permanently. This means you do not need as much injected on each succeeding injection to achieve the same result as before. To really keep your lips looking great, make sure that you schedule regular and consistent treatments at our office. If you want, once you know how long the injections last in you, we can schedule your next appointment far in advance so that you don’t miss a beat.

Are you ready to learn more about lip injections and whether or not they’re right for you? Schedule your consultation at our Highlands office today or call us at (828) 526-3783.

Getting lip injections from The Center For Plastic Surgery can make you look and feel sexier than ever before. By using a fillers like Juvederm Ultra and Volbella, Dr. Buchanan can add volume, shape, and texture to your lips or restore them to a normal youthful appearance in virtually no time at all. To take your results one step further, however, it’s important that you are taking proper care of your newly improved lips. From keeping them moisturized to using a lip scrub, this article will discuss three ways that you can make sure your new lips stay in the best shape possible. Read on to learn more.

1. Moisturize and Protect

Nothing is quite as unappealing to your significant other than leaning in for a kiss with lips that are dry, chapped, and peeling. And although warmer weather is right around the corner, it’s still cold outside which means that your lips are more prone to getting dry. Make sure that you are keeping your lips moisturized and protected with a protectant like Jane Iredale Lip Drink that uses a moisturizer and sunblock that protects from UVA. Though most moisturizers claim to have an SPF, this number indicates only protection from sunburn from UVB not whether it protects from the aging effects of UVA.

2. 2. Drink Water

This step may sound surprising, but did you know that the more hydrated you are, the less likely you are going to have chapped lips? If you grab for a cup of coffee the first thing in the morning, consider grabbing for a glass of water instead. Although caffeine is delicious and helps keep you awake, it can also dehydrate you and your lips.

There isn’t a lot of upkeep when it comes to taking care of your newly improved lips. However, by moisturizing and protecting them and hydrating, you can keep your full lips in the smoothest shape possible. To learn more about lip injections or to schedule an appointment, contact The Center For Plastic Surgery today!