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Enhance Your Smile With Natural-Looking Lip Augmentation

While the lips represent just a small area of the face, they are often the first of the features to begin showing signs of aging. Thinning lips, vertical lip lines, and wrinkles around the mouth are telltale signs of maturity. Fortunately, a strategic lip augmentation procedure can beautifully enhance your smile, providing you with plumper, fuller lip contours and improved self-confidence.

What is lip augmentation?

There are several different methods of augmenting the lips, and the best way to decide which one is right for you is to come into our offices for a private consultation. We will perform a physical evaluation during this initial session and discuss your goals for lip augmentation in depth. Some clients will prefer a longer-lasting solution such as lip implants, while others will opt for a more temporary fix such as hyaluronic acid-based lip fillers. Whatever your choice, our team will go the extra mile to ensure a seamless, beautiful outcome for your procedure.

What are the different methods of augmenting the lips?

Lip lift

During a lip lift, your surgeon will shrink the space between the nose and the top of the lips (the philtrum). By increasing the red-colored lip vermilion, the procedure can help create a fuller and more youthful lip appearance. It can also help reveal more of the upper teeth, which many women find incredibly alluring. When used in combination with lip fillers that can combat volume loss, a lip lift can revitalize the smile and create a more feminine aesthetic. If the corners of the mouth appear downturned, a corner lip lift can help correct this problem. The two lip lift procedures can be performed together to rejuvenate the lower face completely.

Lip fillers

While a lip lift is a more permanent solution, lip fillers offer temporary relief from age-related volume loss and lip lines. Lip fillers are typically formulated with hyaluronic acid, an important compound found naturally in the human body responsible for the skin's hydration, suppleness, and resilience. As we age, our supply of HA begins to diminish, necessitating a cosmetic intervention. Lip fillers can help reverse depleted lip contours and give the lips a more youthful and perky appearance. In some instances, they can also improve the lip texture and color. One of the significant benefits of lip fillers is that they are non-invasive and non-surgical, meaning minimal discomfort or downtime to contend with. Although some clients may be concerned about overfilling, our expert nurse injectors can create nuanced, natural-looking results that you will be thrilled with.

Silicone lip injections

Silicone lip injections can improve the lip contours and create a fuller, plumper look overall. These injections are a safe alternative to hyaluronic acid-based fillers such as Restylane and Juvederm. High-quality medical-grade liquid silicone is added to the lips sparingly to recreate the natural curves and volume found in a youthful smile. Results are long-lasting and rewarding. Silicone lip injections should not be performed by just anyone, however. Only a qualified, experienced medical professional should administer your treatment to ensure the highest artistic standards are met.

Lip implants

Lip implants provide permanent and dramatic lip augmentation. They are typically made from silicone or expanded polytetrafluoroethylene, both of which are approved for safety. Of course, there are some requirements for undergoing a procedure with lip implants. The patient must have somewhat symmetrical lips as well as enough lip tissue to camouflage the implants. The procedure is usually performed using a local anesthetic to numb the lips. An incision is made on either corner of the mouth, and the lips are clamped open so that the implants can be precisely placed. Once the implants are properly situated, the incisions are closed, and the client is placed in the recovery suite. The entire procedure takes less than an hour.

Fat transfer

A fat transfer lip augmentation procedure is performed using fat taken from the patient's body. The fat is typically harvested from the thighs, stomach, or buttocks using liposuction. After the fat has been carefully sterilized and purified, it is then strategically injected into the lips to create more attractive contours and amplified lip volume. Unlike with lip implants, there is no risk that the body will reject the transferred fat. Results typically last between 6 and 12 months. A fat transfer lip augmentation procedure can help address sagging lip skin, depleted lip contours, a compromised lip shape, and lips that have shrunk in size.

What are the benefits of lip augmentation?

  • Fuller, thicker and more youthful lips
  • Enhanced satisfaction with one’s smile
  • Safe procedure approved by the FDA
  • Treatment can be tailored to your wishes and goals
  • It helps jumpstart your self-confidence
  • It helps to minimize lines and creases around the mouth
  • Corrects vertical lip lines
  • Reduces volume loss related to aging

Who makes a good candidate for lip augmentation?

People struggle with depleted lips for different reasons. Sometimes volume loss in the lips is due to aging, while other times, it is caused by genetics or sun damage. Lip augmentation can correct and enhance the smile regardless of the reason for your lip imperfections.

If you are undergoing a surgical procedure such as a lip lift or lip implants, you will need to be a non-smoker in excellent health. For any cosmetic lip augmentation procedure, you must have realistic expectations for what your results can accomplish. This is based on a private consultation with our team, during which we can assess the best path forward for enhancing your smile.

What happens after my procedure?

Recovery time will be based on the type of lip augmentation procedure you undergo. Those clients receiving lip injections can typically return immediately to work or school after their session. Patients who have experienced a lip implant procedure will need closer to 1 or 2 weeks of downtime. Our team will provide you with clear instructions after your procedure, and we will follow up with you regularly to ensure you are content with your results.

Why choose Dr. Funcik?

Dr. Funcik is a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon serving Charleston, SC, and beyond. He is the former President of the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ABFPRS). From his world-class skills to his compassionate demeanor, Dr. Funcik aims to set every patient at ease through personalized attention and active listening.

Our immaculate, accredited facility is home to among the most advanced, cutting-edge technology on the market, helping to expedite your treatment and its recovery. If you are interested in innovative lip augmentation techniques that deliver naturally beautiful results, call Dr. Funcik in Charleston today!

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Alternate Phone: (843) 884-3277

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Dear Beloved Patient,

I am writing to share that I will be transitioning toward retirement from my facial plastic surgery practice in the near future. This has been a thoughtful and gradual process, and many of you will begin to see this transition take place within the practice.

From performing more than 10,000 facial procedures to building lasting relationships with patients who have traveled from across the country and around the world, I am deeply thankful for the trust you have placed in me.

One of my highest priorities throughout this process has been ensuring that my patients continue to receive the exceptional care they deserve. With that in mind, I am pleased to share that Dr. Jason Ulm is now leading the practice. I have complete confidence in Dr. Ulm, whose commitment to excellence, innovation, and patient-centered care closely reflects the values that have guided my work throughout my career. Like me, he prioritizes natural results, thoughtful collaboration, and a dedication to each patient’s individual goals.

Over this transition period, I have been working closely with Dr. Ulm and the team to ensure continuity of care and a seamless experience for all patients. Whether you are considering surgery, maintaining your results, or exploring non-surgical treatments, you can feel confident that you are in capable and trusted hands.

No action is needed for your medical records to remain here at the office.

While stepping away from clinical practice is bittersweet, I am excited for the opportunity to spend more time with my growing family. My grandchildren live in Costa Rica, Kauai, and Greensboro, and I look forward to being a more active part of their lives and creating memories together beyond our Zoom calls.

I have greatly valued our patient-physician relationship and wish you continued health. If you have any questions or need assistance in the future, Dr. Jason Ulm and the team at Ulm Plastic Surgery would be happy to help. Please feel free to call the office at 843-884-3277. You can also learn more about the practice and available services by visiting www.ulmplasticsurgery.com or www.greatface.com.

Sincerely,

Thomas Funcik, MD

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