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Information, costs, and side effects
Basic procedures and techniques
Anesthesia: Local
Location: Office or surgical center
Surgery time: 30 minutes - 2 hours
Lip augmentation procedures increase the size of the lips. The upper
or lower lip may be treated alone, or both upper and lower lips
may enlarged at the same time.
Lip augmentation can be achieved by injecting or surgically implanting
materials into the lips. Some procedures are temporary, others are
permanent.
The
average cost of lip injection
Lip injection can range from: $300-$5,000
Cost per procedure:
Collagen injection $333
Lip augmentation (other than injectable materials) $1,570
Average Total Cost : $2,000
Surgeons fee: $1,600
Facility fee: $400
Collagen injections - 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 - Fat can also be injected into
the lip. The fat is harvested from another area of the body (often
the abdomen or 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, results are temporary
but usually lasts longer than collagen injections.
Artecoll injections - Artecoll is composed mainly
of tiny synthetic beads (polymethyl methacrylate) that stay in the
lips, and raise them. This technique lasts longer than fat or collagen
injections.
Autologen injections - Autologen is collagen extracted
from the patient's 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 injections - Dermalogen is extracted
from the skin of a cadaver. 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.
Fascia injections - Fascia (white connective tissue)
extracted from a cadaver can be injected or surgically implanted.
HylaForm injections - Tissue made up of a molecular
component of the human body. Extracted from a cadaver.
Restylane injections - Restylane is a clear gel;
the hyaluronic acid in Restylane is similar to that naturally found
in the body.
Surgical Procedures
AlloDerm: Alloderm is the most popular material for lip
augmentation. It is a natural collagen sheet harvested from cadavers
and is screened and highly processed. The standards by which it
is processed are very strict. The risk of infection is approximately
2%.
Under a local anesthesia, the material is inserted through tiny
incisions made in the inside corners of the mouth. Stitches are
used to close the incisions. AlloDerm eventually becomes integrated
with the natural tissues of the body. The material can be absorbed,
so the results are only temporary, lasting from 6 months to a year.
Synthetic Implants: Gore-Tex, SoftForm and soft ePTFE are
other synthetic options with permanent results. They do not shrink
and are never absorbed into the body. They also remain in place
because scar tissue forms on either end.
To insert the implant, 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 a small needle.
Synthetic implants are foreign substances and may become infected
or be rejected by the body. If this occurs, the implants can be
removed.
Fat grafting: This procedure has permanent 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. 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 flap grafts: 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.
Initial
consultation
At the initial visit, your doctor will likely ask you to describe
in detail what you would like improved. Be specific about what you
would like done. Bring photos that show what you like and don't
like. If your surgeon fully understands your expectations, they'll
be able to determine whether your goals are realistic.
Tell your doctor:
- If you have any allergies
- If you have a history of bad scarring, such as keloids
- About any medications you are taking
You are at increased risk for complications if you have diabetes,
poor circulation, heart, lung or liver disease, smoke, have a family
history of blood clots, etc. You'll want to discuss your medical history
thoroughly with your physician before you choose to undergo surgery.
Recovery
Pain Level: Mild discomfort. 0-2 days of pain medication
Swelling and Bruising: 3 days-1 week
Work: 1-2 days
Exercise: Wait 2-3 days
For faster recovery:
- keep ice packs applied to your lips for the first 48 hours
- talking and chewing should be limited during the first 48 hours
- limit smiling and laughing for the first week
- sleep in a semi-upright position for the first week
- avoid unnecessary swelling or bleeding, do not bend over, strain,
exercise or do any other activities that could increase pressure
to your lips
- avoid strenuous activities for 1-3 days
- keep the lips clean to avoid infection (antibiotics may also
be dispensed)
Source: www.plasticsurgery.org
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 is painless. Local anesthesia is normally
used during grafts and flaps. The procedure is painless during the
operation, but there may be some discomfort afterward. It takes
longer to recover from a surgical procedure than an injection.
Injections: Recovery takes about 1-2 days after an injection. Bruising
and swelling may last as long as a week.
Grafts and flaps: Recovery takes about 1-2 weeks after surgical
procedures. During this time, you may experience some drooling.
Your lips may also feel unnaturally stiff for 2-3 months after the
procedure.
Risks
and complications
Significant complications from lip augmentation are rare. With any
surgical procedure, there is always a possibility of bleeding, infection,
reaction to the anesthesia, slow healing or an unexpected result.
Other possible complications include asymmetrical lips, cold sores,
numbing, scarring, swelling, and permanent stiffness in the lip.
Implant material may move to a new location within the lips and
it may also protrude unnaturally. Allergic reactions such as itching,
redness, and swelling may occur. Fat injections can cause lumping
or scarring. Any implant that is a foreign substance (such as SoftForm)
may become infected or be rejected by the body.
Scars
If there are complications that create heavy scarring,
your physician may choose excision or steroid injections. Although
rare, there are times when it is impossible to improve an unsightly
scar.
For more information, view lip
injection before and after photos.
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