Lip Augmentation

Prepared from the collagen found in cow skin, collagen injections are used to temporarily augment the lips. Although it is purified, this collagen may cause allergic reactions in some people. For that reason, a sensitivity test should be performed before the actual lip augmentation procedure.

Collagen is injected into the lip with small needles. Because the body slowly absorbs the collagen, the results generally last between one and three months. The procedure may be repeated as needed.

Fat injections are also placed in the lips with small needles. The fat used is harvested from another area of the body -- most often the abdomen or the thighs -- and is purified before it is injected into the lips. An advantage to this procedure is that there is no possibility of an allergic reaction. As with collagen injections, results are temporary. The procedure is often performed more than once to achieve desired results.

Another injectable material, Artecoll, augments the natural tissue to create long lasting results. It is mainly composed of tiny synthetic beads (polymethyl methacrylate) that stay in the lips, and raise them. Only a few doctors have been trained in this procedure.

Another injectable, Autologen, is collagen extracted from the patients own skin, often from excess skin removed in a facelift. The results are relatively long lasting, and there is no risk of an allergic reaction.

Dermalogen is extracted from the skin of a human donor, and is inserted in the lip just like collagen. The donor material is screened and processed to avoid the spread of disease. The effects are temporary, and are similar to the effects of collagen injections.

There are three different substances commonly used in grafting. AlloDerm is a popular human-donor grafting material that is screened and processed to minimize the spread of disease. The standards by which it is processed are strict. (The risk of infection is only about 2%.)

Under a local anesthesia, the material is inserted through incisions made in the inside corners of the mouth. Stitches are used to close the incisions. The material is often absorbed, so that the results are only temporary, lasting from 6 months to a year.

SoftForm has recently replaced another lip implant material, Gore-Tex, because it has been shown to produce better results with fewer complications. SoftForm does not shrink and is never absorbed into the body. It also remains in place because scar tissue forms on both ends. This allows it to easily be removed if it becomes infected.

To insert SoftForm, a small incision is made in the inside of the lip. The material is then made into the shape of a small tube and it is inserted with an insertion trochar (needle). For the upper lip, this process is repeated three times, to implant three separate pieces in the lip. In the lower lip, two pieces are usually used.

Fat grafting produces lasting results in approximately half of the people who try it. Although it is possible that the body will reabsorb it, many people choose fat grafting because they are most comfortable with using the fat from their own body to enhance their lips. The fat is harvested from another area of the body, often the abdomen. It is then prepared and inserted with a needle into the lip from more than one point.

Local flaps bring material from inside the mouth outside to enhance the lips. Results are temporary. An incision may be made inside the mouth to push the tissue inside the mouth upward, and outward, into the lip, sometimes in conjunction with grafting. Or, an incision may be along the upper lip line. In this case, skin above the lip is removed, and the lip is then stitched along the line of the incision.

Lip Augmentation surgery usually takes about half an hour to two minutes, depending upon the technique, additional procedures, and the skill of the surgeon. Your surgery may take longer if other procedures are being performed in conjunction with your lip augmentation. Such as a lip lift, congenital deformity corrections or non lip-related procedures.

Whether or not an anesthetic is necessary depends on the lip augmentation procedure. Topical anesthesia is generally used before lip injections, so that the procedure involves no discomfort. Generally, local anesthesia is used in grafting procedures. This makes the procedure painless, although there may be some discomfort afterward.

After surgery the lips may swell and hurt. Cold compresses should be used for 48 hours to control the swelling. During this time, talking and chewing should be avoided as much as possible. Antibiotics may be given to reduce the possibility of infection.


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