From gloss to surgery: Every lip augmentation option ranked

For perfectly pumped-up lips, you have plenty of options. From lip glosses that promise to plump your pout to injectables and surgical procedures, there are a lot of options available that will make you smile. Which one is right for you depends on your aesthetic and budget.

ASPS Member Surgeons rank lip augmentation procedures, providing patients with a baseline from least to most invasive.

Plumping lip gloss

First, let's start with the basics. There are lip products and glosses on the market today that promise to help plump your lips, giving them a glossy, dewy, pumped-up finish. These products are technically the least invasive because they are applied topically to the lips and can be picked up at any drug or beauty store.

Typically, these lip products contain ingredients that are mildly irritating to the skin, such as cinnamon, ginger extract, mint or capsaicin. Capsaicin is the chemical compound in chili peppers that gives them their spicy heat. These ingredients work by irritating the skin on the lips, increasing blood flow and causing swelling. Added ingredients, such as hyaluronic acid, can help the lips retain water, enhancing the plumping effect. Additionally, the "shine" of the gloss reflects light, enhancing the appearance of lip volume and fullness.

For some people, these plumping glosses can give just the right amount of oomph at a reasonable price, without a trip to the plastic surgeon's office. However, results are limited and temporary.

Lip flip

ASPS Member Surgeons Anureet Bajaj, MD, and Michele Shermak, MD, both list the lip flip as the least invasive way to enhance the lips.

"Several small low-dose Botox injections at the lip line help unfurl the upper lip to allow enlargement," said Dr. Shermak. "It's the most conservative, but can lead to some weakness around the mouth, like smiling and using a straw."

A neuromodulator relaxes the muscles around the upper lip, helping it appear fuller, making a lip flip an excellent option for patients who want a natural-looking enhancement with minimal recovery time. It may also be a good option for patients who want to see what they look like with an enhanced smile, without a significant time commitment. With a neuromodulator, results typically last between two and three months.

"With a lip flip or lip filler, you may have some swelling but can get back to your normal activities quickly," said Dr. Bajaj.

Lip filler

One of the favorite minimally invasive options for enhancing the appearance of the lips is lip filler. Fillers are injectable products that add volume and fullness to the lips, enhancing shape and definition. By far, the most popular type of lip filler is hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring acid that attracts moisture. Drawing in and increasing moisture retention plumps the lips, enhancing volume and fullness while also helping smooth fine lines and creases.

Recovery can be minimal, but patients may experience some swelling or discoloration after injections, and the filler may take time to settle fully. If you want to boost volume before an event or special occasion, talk to your plastic surgeon and allow time for healing.

Fat grafting to the lips

Next on the list, from least to most invasive, is fat grafting to the lips. Fat grafting is a surgical procedure that involves removing fat from one area of a patient's body and transferring it to the lips.

Typically, fat is harvested from a patient via liposuction from one area of their body, often the abdomen or thighs. The harvested fat is purified to separate healthy fat cells from other components before being injected into the patient's lips. The procedure is more invasive, and recovery is longer because liposuction is the key component.

Using a patient's own fat, lip fat grafting can last from five years up to indefinitely in some patients. Fat cells that survive the procedure establish a blood supply in the lips and become a permanent part of the patient.

Lip lift

The most invasive way to add volume to a patient's lips is the lip lift. This is a surgical procedure that doesn't temporarily add plumpness to the lips. Instead, it surgically repositions the lips, shortening the space between the bottom of the nose and the top lip. It can also help enhance the cupid's bow of the top lip.

One of the popular lip lift options, according to Dr. Shermak, is a subnasal lip lift. This technique involves making a bullhorn-shaped incision below the nose. Next, a surgeon brings up the center and sides of the upper lip.

Surgical technique, cost and recovery time make the lip lift the most invasive procedure for enhancing the appearance of the lips and mouth. Additionally, because it is a surgical procedure, the results of a lip lift are permanent.

Choosing the right option for your perfect pout

Lip augmentation options are numerous. The trick is finding the one that delivers the aesthetic results you want within your budget and recovery timeframe.

This list of procedures, from the least to most invasive, lays the groundwork for patients. Your next step is a consultation with a skilled, board-certified plastic surgeon who can help you weigh your options and narrow down the procedures that can deliver optimal results for your aesthetic goals.

To find a qualified plastic surgeon for any cosmetic or reconstructive procedure, consult a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. All ASPS members are board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, have completed an accredited plastic surgery training program, practice in accredited facilities and follow strict standards of safety and ethics. Find an ASPS member in your area.