One of the most effective ways to achieve a more friendly and inviting look is through non-surgical lip enhancement. At Rejuvena, we utilize advanced dermal fillers such as Juvéderm and Restylane to help achieve a more alluring look in a short period of time. We can also help reverse a downward smile, add volume to thinning lips, slightly lengthen the mouth, and smooth out vertical lines that extend from the lip border (smoker’s lines) or that extend downward from the corners of the mouth (marionette lines) – all non-surgically.

Or…if you are simply seeking a more voluptuous, sexy appearance with more lip volume, this can be achieved virtually overnight.

Lip Contouring

We can enhance your lips without making them look bigger, or we can give your lips more volume, as you desire. To create a more pronounced mouth and fuller lips, a dermal filler is injected into the inside of the upper and/or lower lip. This is often combined with enhancement of the contour of the lip by injecting the gel along the lip border (the vermilion border).

Redefining this edge leads to a more appealing look. It also prevents lipstick "bleeding" into the small lines around the lips.

To further enhance the effect, the lines that go up towards the nose (philtrum ridges) can be defined by injecting the dermal filler into them, as well. To achieve the optimal result, a combination of these steps is often used. This is a procedure where experience is of great importance. To avoid an unnatural look (the “duckbill look, or an unbalanced lip), your choice of injector is paramount. Always choose a doctor who has performed many (preferably hundreds) of lip enhancement procedures. It is important that the doctor not only listens to what you hope to achieve, but has an artful eye as well.

We do not use silicone or fat injections when contouring lips because in clinical studies risks of uneven results and migration of the products (which is difficult to control or predict) can lead to an odd, unnatural look in some instances.

In addition to lip contouring, we can correct wrinkles around the mouth area. Facial volume loss, decreasing facial laxity or environmental factors such as smoke and other pollutants may lead to vertical ‘smoker’s’ lines around the lips. You may have never smoked, but have these lines nonetheless, which can be caused by other things, including the use of a drinking straw or just the way you talk.

In addition to smoker lines, some individuals suffer from marionette or puppet lines. These are lines that extend downward from the corners of the mouth, creating a puppet-like appearance.

To correct either condition (smoker lines or marionette lines), we will generally use a dermal filler in combination with small amounts of precisely placed Botox Cosmetic or Fraxel II (or perhaps another laser procedure). Dr Hardt may also suggest a combination of these, depending on the severity of your problem and how much correction you desire.

Frown Correction

As discussed above, lines extending downward from the corners of the mouth--known commonly as marionette or puppet lines--are another issue that may contribute to an angry, tired, or simply unnatural appearance, over time.

Also, the corners of the mouth (oral commissures) deepen over time as volume is lost from the face. This may be present along with the marionette line, or by itself. These conditions cause you to look unhappy even when you’re not and are one of the biggest contributors to an aged appearance.

Marionette lines and deep oral commissures are treated much the same way. Precisely placed dermal filler, in the area below the corners, and in the corner of the lip itself, will soften or eliminate the problem. This can be done without changing the volume of the lip, if that is your preference. A small amount of Botox Cosmetic, placed in the muscle that pulls downward on the corner of the mouth may be recommended as well, depending on the patient. The result is a happier, less tired, more natural looking appearance.

Joan M. Hardt, M.D. combines science and art to help optimize your lips for a natural, healthy look. Her years of experience and hundreds of lip enhancement procedures contribute to her artistic technique and your beautiful smile.

At Rejuvena, we do not charge for consultations. To schedule your free consultation, please email or call us at (405)842-1100.