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Before	After
Before	After

WHO IS A CANDIDATE?

Men and women who lack lip height (inverted dimensions), have poor lip definition, have thin lips, and those with congenital deficiencies are all candidates for lip augmentation. In addition, those patients with normal lips who wish additional lip fullness are also candidates for lip augmentation.

Before

After

WHAT MAJOR IMPLANTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR LIP AUGMENTATION?

1. Collagen – a nice first choice, but is temporary, usually lasting from 6 to 8 weeks. This procedure also requires a skin test, and cannot be done on patients allergic to this product.

2. Fat – may be useful is some patients. The main disadvantages of this procedure include its temporary nature, lasting approximately 3 to 4 months, and it requires harvesting from another body site. It also may become lumpy, and bumpy in the lip area, which can lead to scarring.

3. Gore-tex – my preference for lip augmentation. The major advantages include its relative ease of insertion, and its permanence. It is very useful for augmenting the red-white lip junction (vermilion) border of the upper and lower lip. This area is generally where most lips age, and almost all lip augmentation procedures are necessary here.

4. AlloDerm- often used in conjunction with Gore-tex. This material may be placed into the red lip itself, allowing a matrix for the body’s own collagen to replace and fill the bulk of the red lip, increasing "poutiness".

HOW IS THE PROCEDURE PERFORMED?

Lip augmentation with collagen or fat is performed with a needle and syringe. Augmentation with Gore-tex and AlloDerm is performed under local anesthesia or light sedation, with a needle and catheter. No large incisions are made, and dissolvable sutures are used at the entrance, and exit sites of the catheter.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS?

The benefits of lip augmentation are increased lip size, better definition of the lips, a more youthful appearance to the lips, and correction of preexisting lip deficiencies.

WHAT ARE THE RISKS?

The risks include bleeding, infection, lip asymmetry, allergic reaction to the implant, migration, and extrusion of the implant. These risks are very small. Patients undergoing augmentation with Gore-tex and AlloDerm are given antibiotics to take preoperatively, and postoperatively.

WHAT IS THE RECOVERY PERIOD?

The recovery period for lip augmentation generally is 3 to 4 days, but may take up to 7 days for the swelling from the surgical procedures to resolve before lipstick or lip liner may be used.