Selfies and picture taking have become a large part of American culture. Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and magazines flood American lives with a tremendous amount of photos. We’re currently seeing a steady increase in the amount of people who desire to alter their appearance through the use of cosmetic surgery. More specifically, the rise in popularity of lip implants has reached unprecedented levels. Many believe that this is due to photos creating a strong desire to achieve a certain level of physical attractiveness.
Statistics
The American Society of Plastic Surgeons states that over 27,000 lip implants took place last year. This can be broken down into one lip implant surgery occurring every 20 minutes. The record number is a 50% increase from 2000, which makes it the second fastest growing facial procedure behind only dermabasions.
Evolution of Lip Enhancement Procedures
Lip enhancement procedures aren’t a new thing. For years, millions of women have flocked to cosmetic surgery clinics for Botox injections that provided them with younger looking, full and healthy lips. The introduction of new lip replacement techniques has taken things to an entirely different level. Botox injections often leave patients with lips that are too full or thick and can make a patient feel undesirable. With lip replacement procedures, patients can get the exact lips they want and desire. Recent poles have shown that people prefer lips with a much more natural look. When rating celebrities with the best lips, those with more natural lips like Jennifer Lawrence, Scarlett Johansson, and Jennifer Garner were rated higher than those with thick, full lips like Angelina Jolie, Kylie Jenner, Beyoncé, and Lisa Rinna. Thus, lip replacement surgery now caters to a larger audience than Botox injections. Even international models have gone the lip replacement route and been satisfied with the results. The before and after pictures have given them increased confidence and a youthful appearance.
The Lip Replacement Procedure
The general approach to lip replacement involves the lifting of the upper lip to create a more youthful shape. The distance between the nose and top lip is shortened by removing skin and closing the gap. Natural, synthetic, and solid implants provide a variety of implants for patients to choose from. A mixture of fat, skin, and soft tissue can also be used. This is known as a dermal fat graft. The advantage of this type of implant is that it is uses actual living tissue. This decreases the risk of infection and allergic reactions. The results when using this are great and patient satisfaction levels are high. The full effects are usually seen in the short time frame of 2-3 weeks.
Statistics have shown that lip enhancement surgery numbers are on the rise. The evolution of lip enhancement surgery, specifically the development of lip replacement surgery, has created a situation where patients can be assured they a getting youthful, more natural appearing lips. The lip replacement procedure is relatively easy and convenient, as downtime is minimal. In the end, the decision is ultimately the patients, but it’s important to know that lip replacement surgery is an option.
