Lip Augmentation
Who doesn’t want fuller, juicier lips? According to relevant research (Gunn et al., 2009), women who look young for their age have large lips.
However, enhancing and shaping the lips is an artistic and technical challenge, that demands solid knowledge of lip and face anatomy, and meticulous mastery of injection techniques. The use of Dermal fillers and/or Autologous fat transfer can restore or enhance the volume and fullness of the lips.
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Dr. Alexandre Dionys M.d., Ph.d.
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Overview
The most widely used way to shape your lips and give them the pout, thickness and size that you wish is by placing dermal fillers directly into the lips. Most soft tissue fillers have a temporary effect, because they contain materials that are absorbed by the body over time. Some soft tissue fillers also contain lidocaine, which is intended to decrease pain or discomfort related to the injection.
A longer lasting option is fat grafting to your lips. By obtaining fat through liposuction, filtering and processing the fat, then carefully placing the fat into your lips, your lips can be shaped. Fat grafting typically lasts for years, making this the most durable option for lip enhancement.
Hospital Facilities
Our state of the art facilities are designed for premium plastic surgery services, making use of advanced technologies and enabling the application of innovative techniques.
Our patients benefit from the latest advancements in aesthetic surgery procedures, which ensure minimal downtime and optimal results.
Our facilities are equipped with cutting edge technologies and provide a comforting environment, focusing on delivering not just transformative plastic surgery solutions but also a superior patient experience. The dedicated staff, from the doctors to support personnel, is committed to maintaining the highest standards of patient care, making Dr. Alexandre a top choice for high-quality plastic surgery services in a sophisticated setting.
Before the procedure
There is no need for special preparation. For women, it is recommended to come without any make-up or to remove it just before the injection. From a general point of view, don’t hesitate to mention to your physician any health problem you may have, to allow him to counterbalance the indications and get optimal results.
The procedure
The treatment consists of a series of injections. Pain at the injection site may be ameliorated by use of anesthetic ointment to numb the skin – Eutectic Mixture of Local Anesthesia (EMLA) cream 5%, or injection of local anesthesia with Lidocaine
Injection usually takes only a few minutes. The process of injecting, massaging, and evaluating the result is performed, and additional filler added as needed. Although the area may feel a bit tender for a day or two, it is usually not painful enough to require any medication.
In case lip augmentation with autologous fat transfer is preformed, a “donor area” must be determined (such as the abdomen or buttocks) and liposuction is used to extract the fat. The suctioned fat can then be transferred to the face, as a graft. This is a minor surgical procedure that can be performed in the surgeon’s treatment room or in an operating room.
After the procedure: the follow-up
Usually, the after injection period is uneventful. The patients can go back to their normal life after the injections. Some undesirable but transitory effects may occur, such as a) redness and swelling at the injected points, rarely persisting more than 3 to 6 days; b) palpable lumps or hard areas at the injection sites.
In case of lip augmentation with autologous fat transfer additional discomfort in the donor area is involved. When your own fat is the injected filler, the healing process is longer and may take a few weeks
Most conditions can be alleviated with topical icing and massage and will improve within a matter of hours or just a few days. Some reactions may require more aggressive treatment with medications or injections. Be sure to discuss your recovery and treatment plan with your plastic surgeon.
The result
The expected results of lip augmentation are apparent immediately and in most cases are impressive. Using crosslinked hyaluronic acid fillers will allow your lip results to last longer, typically 6-12 months.
When the patient’s own fat is the injected “filler”, most of the transferred fat usually survives, but typically, multiple fat transfer procedures will be needed to achieve permanent results. The grafted fat then has to redevelop a blood supply in order to survive. About 50% of the fat injected will survive, and the surviving fat will last forever.
