4 ways you can get fuller, sexier lips!

Looks speak more than words an adage the present generation lives and survives on. Be it high cheek bones, shaped eyebrows, a chiseled and well-defined jaw line or those pouty lips, they want it all to be perfect. Gone are the days when actresses and models alike, our epitomes of beauty and trends, used to line lips with lipliners beyond the actual lip margins to make their lips look voluminous. This is the age of lip fillers and lip plumpers. Recently, Anushka Sharma was under the scanner for undergoing a lip job which she denied saying it was a temporary treatment and the use of make-up. (Read Anushka Sharma’s response about her alleged lip job). But if you too wish to experiment and change the shape of your lips, you can do so with these available options. These treatments are done to get a pout, better define the lip shape, get a cupid’s bow, or to remove the vertical wrinkles around the mouth and define the smile or correct lip asymmetry. Dr Jaishree Sharad, a leading cosmetic dermatologist, lists out a few lip augmentation techniques. Also Read - Beware! Covid-19 vaccine may cause swelling and inflammation in people with face or lip fillers

Also Read - Summer beauty guide: Say goodbye to chapped lips with these DIY lip balms

Lip plumpers Also Read - Say goodbye to dry, peeling lips with these magical home remedies

If you desire to achieve fuller, sexier, healthy looking glossy lips and needles scare you to death, then a lip plumper is the answer! One of the biggest trends in modern era, lip plumpers provide a natural solution for creating a voluptuous pout.

How they work

Matted or clear, in the form of a gloss, balm, stick, gel, or pot, traditional lip plumpers fatten the lips temporarily. When applied, they induce an inflammatory reaction on the lips, resulting in a swelling which leads to a pout. These plumpers have ingredients like menthol, cayenne pepper, hot pepper (commonly labeled as capsaicin), caffeine with niacin (a B-vitamin), ginger and cinnamon, wintergreen, jojoba oil and honey which dilate the blood vessels of the lips. They also give a slight burning sensation and that can be the cause of discomfort experienced by some. The effect of these fades off in a few hours as it is just a reaction, and hence they are not a permanent solution for fuller lips.

With new advancements, there’s a new variety of lip plumper which lasts for two-four days. These contain palmitoyl oligopeptides (marine collagen/dead, dried fish) which may be present as tiny microspheres. With continued use, this lip treatment smoothes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles while enhancing the lip’s natural colour.

It stimulates the collagen in the lips and causes an increase in size, and change in shape and texture. This added with regular ingredients like cinnamon, ginger and menthol (all home remedies) helps the lips to plump up immediately and stay like that for about 3-4 days.

Beware

Some lip plumpers are fortified with alpha lipoic acid to provide superior antioxidant function. These ingredients work to foster a moist and full lip contour. But the after-effects of this treatment include lips getting dry and dehydrated. All these ingredients can cause lips to lose moisture and become dry and chapped due to multiple and excessive use. People who have sensitive lips may develop a lip allergy or contact dermatitis.

Lip fillers

Many of us desire high cheek bones or a narrow and straight nose, an oval face or full lips and do not know what to do about it. The solution is hyaluronic acid fillers. Hyaluronic acid based fillers are extremely safe. Fillers give you an instant result, with no downtime, which could last up to 2 years. Over the past 10 years, there has been an impressive array of new FDA- approved fillers that not only fill lines and wrinkles, but actually help re-contour, rejuvenate, volumise and restore the face. These do not require skin testing, have much greater longevity, and are very safe when performed by properly trained dermatologists.

How they work

HA filler is gently injected into the skin in small amounts with a very fine needle. Hyaluronic acid is a substance of natural origin which is safe and completely biocompatible and completely biodegradable with no risk of allergy. The effect is instantaneous for a younger and refreshed look.

The filler substance is injected beneath the surface of the lip thus plumping and defining the margins. Fuller lips, a poutier look or enhancement of the lip border can be achieved. The cupid’s bow can be perfectly created with fillers. The area around the lips may also be treated for an optimal look and the results are immediate.

Beware

There are permanent fillers available in market too. Aquamid is a permanent variety of filler which lasts for 4-8 years. It’s a polyacrylamide gel, which re-contours the desired area. But the disadvantage is that once the shape is taken, it cannot be changed. Sometimes lumps, bumps are formed due an inflammatory reaction. The only way out is to cut the area and remove the filler. This can leave a permanent scar.

Sometimes there may be redness and swelling which lasts for about 1-2 days and then the final results are seen. If there is a bruise, it may take up to 7-10 days to completely resolve. HA filler continues to deliver results as it stimulates your body to produce new collagen which may result in fewer office visits for re-treatments and results may last a year or more in many patients.

Fillers look unnatural when too much of the substance is filled. Adequate dosage will give you a natural look. Advantage of HA filler is that if it is wrongly placed or with an unpleasing end result, hyaluronidase enzyme injections can dissolve it in 24 hours.

Laugh lines, smile lines and lines which droop from the angle of the mouth giving the impression of a perpetually sad face can be corrected with hyaluronic acid filler. Fillers are priced from Rs 14,000 onwards and considering their longevity, are very affordable.

Since results may vary, it is important to discuss your expectations with your doctor.

Many patients achieve their desired result after just one treatment. To ensure satisfaction with the treatment, visit the doctor for a follow-up where a touch-up treatment might be recommended if required.

Autologous fat injection

In this procedure, fat is taken from other body parts, harvested and then injected into the lips. But this is a permanent treatment and the major drawback is that the fat can shift or change shape. Also, infections are quite common and the results aren’t that predictable.

Make-up techniques

You may have noticed how make-up artists mostly prepare the lips before make-up by rubbing them with a nubby washcloth. Lip exfoliators are the modern counterpart of this old technique. Lip exfoliators use easily available ingredients like sugar or poppy seeds or mild acid exfoliants to remove away dry skin. This gentle scrubbing amplifies the natural color of lips and provides a smooth, crease-free surface so that the application of a plumping lip gloss creates an even more heightened illusion of voluptuous lips.

Another tried-and-tested formula is enhancing lips by applying lip liners above the actual lips and filling it up with lipstick to create an impression of fuller lips. Also, the shade and type of lip cosmetics used also have an impact on the final appearance of one’s lips. (Read how to choose the right lip colour). Make-up artists play with these techniques to enhance one’s lips.

You may also like:

Dr Jaishree Sharad is one of India’s leading cosmetic dermatologists. She is the VP of the Cosmetic Dermatology Society of India and CEO of Skinfiniti Aesthetic Skin & Laser Clinic, Mumbai. She is a certified trainer for Botox and fillers and pioneers in microneedling, radiofrequency skin tightening and Exilis body contouring in India. Dr Jaishree has conducted many training workshops on Botox, fillers, peels, dermaroller and dermatosurgery all over India and abroad for dermatologists , post graduate students and cosmetologists. She is a skin consultant to various Bollywood celebrities. Follow her on twitter @jaishreesharad.

For more articles on beauty, check out our Beauty section. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for all the latest updates! For daily free health tips, sign up for our newsletter. And to join discussions on health topics of your choice, visit our forum.

Published : February 28, 2014 11:15 am | Updated:August 5, 2014 6:35 pm

Is hair around a woman's nipples normal?

Is your beauty routine environment-friendly?

About The health Site

Useful Links