To quote Crash Davis from the movie “Bull Durham,” there’s nothing better than long, slow, deep, wet kisses that last three days. And when we’re partaking of these delights, the moment shouldn’t be interrupted by a sudden nagging voice in our heads wondering if the person we’re kissing has fake lips.

Yes, silicone and saline treatments have migrated north from mammaries to mouths. And with the advancements in lip augmentation, the procedures are only as permanent as you want them to be. The new saline or silicone implants are removable, because unlike their predecessors (Gore-Tex, SoftForm, AlloDerm, or your own fat), scar tissue isn’t supposed to adhere to their surfaces.

There are several options out there: Perma Facial Implants use silicone; VeraFil is a silicone shell that is filled with saline.

These implants are marketed as an alternative to injections (Juvederm, Restalyne, Collagen), with claims that they are more cost-effective (because they last longer), aren’t as painful and there’s less down time. Average recovery is 24-48 hours, with up to two weeks of tenderness. That alone would makes us pouty.

The implants are said to take about 30 minutes to place. A couple of incisions are made, the implant is slipped into the lip, and the incisions are closed. The science geeks here are fascinated by the saline implants, which are inflated to the patient’s specifications once implanted in the lip(s). Dr.  Joe Niamtu, out of Virginia has some good pictures of what they look like before and after inflation.

From what we could find, the cost for the implants is about $3,000 – or roughly the equivalent of 5 or 6 injection treatments. And if you don’t like them, another half an hour procedure, and they’re gone.

We still can’t help wonder if they don’t slide around a bit. Or harden. And what about the touch sensation?

Because if you lose that lovin’ feeling, a kiss really is just a kiss.

• Perma Facial Implant information can be found here.
• Smartplatsticsurgery.com has some great before and after pictures
• Here is a good news report with film on YouTube.