From the luscious smackers of Marilyn Monroe to the bee-stung kissers of Angelina Jolie, full, pouty lips have captured the affections of many as symbols of sensuality and youthfulness. They are valued and exploited by those who have them, and relentlessly envied by those who have lost them, or never had them in the first place. Consequently, cosmetic surgeons have experimented over the last century with the objective of restoring lips whose luster has faded, as well as being able to provide for those who have not been genetically blessed. Today, thanks to their efforts, a wide variety of methods exists that are available to the general public for the enhancement of their lips.

The vast majority of lip enhancement procedures are non-surgical, requiring only the injection of a particular filler chemical directly into the lips. In the 1990s, collagen, a substance extracted from the hides of cows, was the most popular injectable material for lip augmentation, inflating lips to improve their plumpness and reduce line formation around their surface. Since the material is gradually absorbed by the body, the collagen treatment lasts anywhere from four weeks to three months. Moreover, the patient must undergo a test for allergic reaction to collagen, because it is derived from animals. Other substances introduced at this time included Dermalogen, a substance similar to collagen that was derived from processing extracted skin from the patient, and Radiance, a bone and gel hybrid that provided results lasting about two years on the average, with minimal reported side effects. While the resilience of Radiance to being eventually absorbed by the body is commendable, it is not recommended for first-time patients considering lip augmentation, because the process is difficult to reverse for those who are unhappy with the results, who will then have to live with the error for a few years.

In the last decade, hyaluronic acid fillers were introduced, offering a couple of advantages over previous filler products. Firstly, as their primary ingredient naturally occurred within the body, allergic reactions are rare. Secondly, they last about six months on the average, longer than many other injectible fillers, so repeat sessions are not as frequent. Restylane, Hylaform and Juvederm are examples of more popular premium products of this type.

Some lip augmentation requires surgery, either to harvest a substance from the body to be used in the augmentation, or to permanently implant an enhancement device in the lip area. Fat transfers are a common surgical technique, removing deposits from other parts of your body, and then processing the fat to be injected directly into the lip. Device implantation involves using polymer-based or other synthetic material and inserting it into the lip through incisions, which will then fill out the lip and provide permanent support. Yet another surgical method takes a flap of tissue from inside the mouth and grafts it into the lip.

The recovery period for lip enhancement varies with the procedure chosen. Patients who have opted for non-surgical injectible fillers are usually able to resume all form of normal activity within one to two days. Patients who have undergone surgery, on the other hand, may require several days of rest, and it could take up to two weeks for the lip to heal enough for the person to be presentable in public. Swelling, bruising and itching are all common side effects, which should vanish within a few days.

It is important for a patient to understand that lip augmentation is a relatively subtle procedure. While it can enhance the glow of lips, provide a better shape and reduce wrinkles and lines that have formed around the lip region, drastic or excessive changes may make the patient look ridiculous or deformed, and are to be avoided.