Orange County Register

See ‘ENHANCED LISA RINNA’ slide show

Photo: Lisa Rinna on the “Today” show last month. (AP photo)

HIGH RISK, LOW REWARD

Actress Lisa Rinna, 45, was taking a risk when she tried to make her lips permanently plump. The result was a perpetual pout that has been the object of widespread scorn.

“Silicone injections can be a nightmare,” says plastic surgeon Dr. John Di Saia of San Clemente, but that’s what Rinna had injected into her lips.

“Permanent fillers are associated with more scarring,” Di Saia said. To minimize the risk, he advocates absorbable, temporary lip fillers.

Rinna has been fessing up about her history of cosmetic injections as she promotes her new book, “Rinnavation.”  Her next book signing is scheduled for 7 p.m. today at a Samuel French bookshop in Los Angeles. (See details below.)

Rinna has previously said she regretted having Juvederm injected into her cheeks, but she insists that she doesn’t regret having silicone injected into her lips, even though it wreaked havoc there.

In an interview with Access Hollywood’s Nancy O’Dell, Rinna said:

Back 23 years ago, my girlfriend and I saw “Beaches” the movie and Barbara Hershey went and had collagen put in her lips and we thought that that was — as silly as it may sound — the coolest thing ever.

So we did and we had some collagen put in. Well, collagen doesn’t last, so I got the brilliant idea to have some silicone put in because it lasts forever. …

My lips don’t go up and they don’t go (down).

They can soften it with cortisone and I’ve had to do that because it gets scar tissue and it gets hard.

Do I regret it? I don’t regret it, no. It’s like a tattoo though. You can’t get rid of it. You can’t really change it.

Plastic surgeon Dr. Tony Youn discussed Rinna’s face and breast procedures in his blog:

Like injectable silicone often does, it got hard and she’s had to have steroid injections to the upper lip to soften it up. … I [previously] speculated that she had a Gortex implant in her upper lip, which is another type of permanent implant like silicone. Unfortunately, the only way to remove liquid silicone is to cut it out. Ouch.

The former star of “Days of Our Lives” and “Melrose Place” has also had breast implants and is a fan of Botox. She says she has the shots every three months because “in my family, it’s hereditary to have scowl marks between the eyebrows.”

Youn said her use of Juvederm injections is obvious: “The Juvederm is especially evident in the obliteration of her nasolabial folds - the lines between the corners of the mouth and sides of the nose- and her plumped up cheeks.”

Where is Lisa Rinna’s book signing tonight? Her Web site says it will be at the store at 7623 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood. Phone: (323) 876-0570. The Samuel French Web site says it will be at their location at 11963 Ventura Blvd., Studio City. Phone: (818) 762-0535.

Related links:

• ‘Many ‘best breasts’ are fake, but not all
• Lisa Rinna admits she overdid it
• Botox confessions from Brooke, 12 more celebrities
• Lisa Rinna admits she overdid facial injections
• 12 Hollywood stars who reject plastic surgery
• Tyra Banks’ nose, Charity Hodges’ breasts, Liv Tyler’s lips

Slide shows:

• Top celebrity slide shows of all time
• Tara Reid’s career as she copes with bad breast surgery
• Cindy Crawford’s enduring appeal
• Angelina vs. Halle vs. Ava

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