PROLONGING POUTS

To compensate for a rather flat nose, perhaps Thais have been blessed with having fuller lips compared to pointy-nosed and thin-lipped Caucasians. That's the way God designed us and no one gets the perfect face otherwise doctors wouldn't have nose jobs and lip enhancement to keep them busy.

Even with lush lip genes, your sexy pout won’t last forever. Picture courtesy OF SHU UEMURA

Dermatologic and laser surgeon Kittisak Suthamjariya MD noted that women seeking lip augmentation at his clinic are mostly Westerners. " Asians don't really need it unless they want a plumper pair of lips or to be an Angelina Jolie lip-alike," he said.

Even with lush lip genes, your sexy pout won't last forever. With ageing and due to a drop in collagen, hyaluronic acid and fat, mature lips lose their fullness, shape and sensuality. Thus 50-something Thais may start seeing their lips deflating and thinning out.

How can we puff up the puckers? Lip augmentation by injecting filling substances, fat transfer or lip implants can all do the job, which can provide temporary, semi-permanent or permanent effects. The availability of numerous injectable fillers has allowed more options and the cosmetic procedure only takes around 15 minutes to get younger-looking lips. But are you ready for the needles?

"To counteract signs of ageing, more Thais are seeking cosmetic procedures," Dr Kittisak said. "They have become familiar with laser for skin rejuvenation and if they have already braved Botox shots to erase wrinkles, then they might be interested in fillers for lip augmentation."

Filler substances plump up lines and depressions, with the hollowing of cheeks as one example of a need for filling in the flaws of an ageing face. Likewise, they restore voluptuousness to lips to make them look fresher.

Collagen injections, which last for three to six months, is commonly used for this procedure. A drawback is that there may be possibility of developing an allergic reaction, particularly when using bovine (cow) collagen. In recent years, hyaluronic acid has become more popular because there's little chance of an allergic reaction. Claimed to be identical to the hyaluronic acid found in the body, it blends naturally into the tissue and lasts for six to 18 months.

"With many options available for lip augmentation, women need to discuss the risks and benefits of filling substances with a dermatologic surgeon," said Dr Kittisak, adding that it's not a painless procedure. Thus it is performed under local anaesthesia or sedation. There may be momentary bleeding at the injection site and often swelling follows for a short period of time. Other risks include infection, lumping, scarring, numbness, cold sores, and if the doctor is not an expert, you may have to smile with asymmetrical lips.

Currently, lip augmentation can cost up to 10,000 baht or more depending on the amount of filler needed. So women may prefer cheaper cosmetics to expensive procedures. Lipcare products and lipsticks may contain collagen, hyaluronic acid and other ingredients like Maxi-Lip, claimed to deliver long-lasting moisturisation and plumping results.

The ingredients don't get into the lips, said Dr Kittisak, and so they offer a cosmetic effect that washes off whereas lip augmentation can give you a bigger beam much longer.