Lip Augmentation Cost and Procedure Guide

Dreaming of lips that are pillowy, full and defined? Pillowy lips have been in fashion for some time now, and you can achieve that pouty look with temporary, minimally invasive lip augmentation treatments — or go all the way with a permanent solution such as lip implants.

Whether you’re considering temporary fillers, fat transfers or permanent implants, the right lip augmentation can enhance your lip volume, shape and definition. This guide breaks down the procedure options, costs and what to expect before and after treatment.

What Is Lip Augmentation?

Lip augmentation is the process of enhancing the overall size or thickness of your lips using surgical or non-surgical treatments.¹

Lip augmentation can treat naturally thin or flat lips by either exposing more of the pink surface of the lip (lip flip) or creating more fullness in the lips. You’re a good candidate for lip augmentation if enhancing your lips would balance your facial features — or if you’re simply dissatisfied with your natural lip appearance.

Types of lip augmentation

A board-certified plastic surgeon can suggest various techniques for achieving the lip look you want. Popular forms of lip augmentation include:

• Lip fat transfer (grafting)
• Lip filler (hyaluronic acid injections)
• Lip flip treatment using BOTOX^®
• Lip implant surgery
• Lip lift surgery

How Much Does Lip Augmentation Cost?

The national average cost* for lip augmentation in the United States can range from $190 to $6,175, depending on the specific procedure and other factors, such as your location.² The final price may also vary if you choose to have lip augmentation performed in conjunction with other enhancements, such as a facelift.

Average cost of lip augmentation by procedure

The cost of lip augmentation can vary greatly by type of procedure:²

Is Lip Augmentation Covered by Insurance?

No matter the type of procedure, lip augmentation treatments are considered to be cosmetic (not medically necessary), so they are not covered by health insurance. However, since lip augmentation is one of the most affordable types of cosmetic procedures, you could plan ahead to cover the costs involved.

How Does Lip Augmentation Work?

The process for lip augmentation varies greatly, depending on the type of procedure you choose to enhance your lips.

Lip fat transfer (grafting)

Fat transfer injections use your own fat cells to plump up your lips. For this procedure, you may receive sedation or even general anesthesia while your plastic surgeon uses liposuction to harvest fat cells from another area of your body, such as your belly. Once the fat cells are harvested, they are processed in a centrifuge and then injected into your lips. Facial fat transfer can last for many years.³

Lip fillers (hyaluronic acid injections)

With lip fillers, you will receive injections in your provider’s office, after which you can go home. Your provider will inject a solution containing hyaluronic acid directly into your upper and lower lips. This solution will temporarily plump up your lips.⁴

Dermal fillers eventually dissolve, so you will need to undergo the procedure about every six months to maintain a lasting look.⁴

Lip flip

You simply arrive at the provider’s office, receive injections of BOTOX to the area directly above your upper lip and head home. After a few days, BOTOX relaxes the muscles between your nose and lip, causing the upper edge of the lip to lift up slightly, exposing more of the surface area below. This makes your upper lip look larger.⁵

Lip flip is temporary — if you love the effect, you will need to redo the injections every few months.

Lip implants

Considered a permanent lip augmentation procedure, lip implant surgery involves placing silicone pads or a meshlike structure made of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) in your upper or lower lips (or both).⁶ If you’ve previously had lip augmentation using dermal fillers and loved the look, then lip implants can be a way to achieve that look without requiring injections twice a year.

Lip implant surgery is performed under oral or intravenous sedation and employs one or more small incisions to the sides of the mouth through which your surgeon will insert the implants. After the procedure, you can go home when your doctor medically clears you to do so.⁶

Lip lift

In this surgical procedure, your plastic surgeon will make one or more incisions between your lip and the base of your nose. Your surgeon will remove skin and fatty tissue to reduce the distance between your nose and mouth and, if desired, expose more of the upper lip.⁷

One common technique is called the bullhorn lift, which uses a concealed scar around the nostril.⁷ Although this is a surgical procedure, you likely will not need general anesthesia, only oral or intravenous sedation coupled with numbing injections. The procedure can be completed within an hour, and you can go home afterward.⁷ A lip lift is considered permanent.

Is Lip Augmentation Safe?

Lip augmentation procedures are generally considered safe for most people. Allergic reactions to substances like BOTOX, hyaluronic acid fillers, silicone pads and ePTFE are very rare.⁸ With any type of lip augmentation treatment, you may experience side effects such as discomfort, swelling and scarring, but these usually resolve over days to weeks.⁶

Before you undergo any type of lip augmentation treatment, you should discuss any potential side effects or adverse reactions with your doctor. They will take into account your complete health history, current medications and known allergies before recommending a lip augmentation procedure to you.

Lip Augmentation Recovery Tips and Timing

To achieve the best lip augmentation results, it's important to follow your provider’s post-procedure instructions. Your recovery instructions will vary, depending on the type of procedure you had. For example, you may be told to avoid taking over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) medications after a lip augmentation treatment, as these can lead to bleeding or bruising.

In general, recovery from injectables is quick. BOTOX injections, for example, result in minimal discomfort or swelling, and you probably can return to normal activities immediately following a lip flip procedure.

Dermal filler injections may cause slightly more discomfort, so your provider may tell you to rest and apply cold packs to the injected areas for a period of time.⁴ You may also notice some discomfort from chewing during the hours immediately following treatment.

Lip lift and lip implant surgery can cause swelling that takes weeks to months to fully go away.⁶ Be patient during this time. If you have any concerns about your postoperative appearance, contact your doctor.

Enhancing Your Smile With Lip Augmentation

Having a lip augmentation procedure to enhance the appearance of thin lips can give you a confidence boost. Best of all, you can choose to start with a temporary procedure like dermal filler injections to try on your new pout before you fully commit to a permanent lip augmentation procedure like lip implants. Whether you want a subtle enhancement or a more dramatic transformation, there are options to suit your aesthetic goals. Understanding your options and the process of lip augmentation can help you achieve natural-looking, beautiful lips that complement your features.

Frequently Asked Questions About Lip Augmentation

Thinking about lip augmentation? Whether you're curious about the procedure, recovery or results, here are answers to your most common questions.

Financing Lip Augmentation With the CareCredit Credit Card

When getting lip augmentation or another cosmetic procedure, the CareCredit credit card can help you pay for costs not covered by insurance.** Use our Acceptance Locator to find a doctor or cosmetic specialist near you that accepts CareCredit. Continue your wellness journey by downloading the CareCredit Mobile App to manage your CareCredit account, find a provider on the go and easily access the Well U blog for more great articles, podcasts and videos.

In addition to cosmetic procedures, you can also use your CareCredit credit card for dentistry, pet care, vision, hearing, health systems, dermatology, pharmacy purchases, spa treatments and so much more within the CareCredit network. How will you invest in your health and wellness next?

Author Bio

Elizabeth Hanes, R.N., has substantial clinical experience and diverse expertise including critical care, plastic and reconstructive surgery, heart health, nutrition and senior health. For over 20 years, she has blended her clinical background with writing for leading healthcare publications, such as WebMD, Anthem, Healthgrades and Modern Healthcare, among others. She is committed to creating exceptional healthcare content that informs and educates both patients and health professionals.