eMedicine Specialties > Plastic Surgery > Head/Neck

Lip Augmentation: Follow-up

Author: Jorge I de la Torre, MD, FACS, Professor of Surgery and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Residency Program Director, Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham; Director, Center for Advanced Surgical Aesthetics
Contributor Information and Disclosures

Updated: Nov 12, 2008

Outcome and Prognosis

Outcome is generally good. Adequately informing patients of the expected postoperative course, possible complications, and required postoperative care is essential.

Future and Controversies

All available techniques of lip augmentation have advocates and critics. To date, a single most effective technique has not been identified, partly because of the wide variety of individual cosmetic complaints. Research in long-lasting injectables will likely lead to improved results.

The use of silicone oil injections has long been condemned in the United States because of the high rate of complications and tremendous difficulty in correcting the problems seen in patients who have undergone these procedures. Although this technique is not recommended in the United States, silicone oil injection has been reported as safe and successful outside the United States. The accuracy and long-term outcomes of these studies remain to be seen.15,16

The future of soft tissue augmentation of the lip may be the use of combination therapies. Using the strengths of multiple injection materials could offer off-the-shelf convenience with safe and long-lasting results. For example, using hyaluronic acid (Restylane) in conjunction with calcium hydroxylapatite (Radiesse) minimizes complications seen with the latter when used alone and offers improved outcomes. In any event, any injectable material combination will be measured against the longevity and safety of dermal fat grafts.

 
Acknowledgments

Acknowledgment to Mario Diana, MD for the initial version of this article.



More on Lip Augmentation

Overview: Lip Augmentation
Treatment: Lip Augmentation
Follow-up: Lip Augmentation
References
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References

  1. New Image. Lip Plumpers. NewImage.com. Available at http://www.lipaugmentation.com/lip_plumpers.htm#34. Accessed 6/18/08.

  2. Godin MS, Majmundar MV, Chrzanowski DS, et al. Use of radiesse in combination with restylane for facial augmentation. Arch Facial Plast Surg. Mar-Apr 2006;8(2):92-7. [Medline].

  3. Kanchwala SK, Holloway L, Bucky LP. Reliable soft tissue augmentation: a clinical comparison of injectable soft-tissue fillers for facial-volume augmentation. Ann Plast Surg. Jul 2005;55(1):30-5; discussion 35. [Medline].

  4. Sclafani AP. Soft tissue fillers for management of the aging perioral complex. Facial Plast Surg. Feb 2005;21(1):74-8. [Medline].

  5. Bagal A, Dahiya R, Tsai V, et al. Clinical experience with polymethylmethacrylate microspheres (Artecoll) for soft-tissue augmentation: a retrospective review. Arch Facial Plast Surg. Jul-Aug 2007;9(4):275-80. [Medline].

  6. Ersek RA, Beisang AA 3rd. Bioplastique: a new biphasic polymer for minimally invasive injection implantation. Aesthetic Plast Surg. Winter 1992;16(1):59-65. [Medline].

  7. Gryskiewicz JM. Alloderm lip augmentation. Plast Reconstr Surg. Sep 2000;106(4):953-4. [Medline].

  8. Seymour PE, Leventhal DD, Pribitkin EA. Lip augmentation with porcine small intestinal submucosa. Arch Facial Plast Surg. Jan-Feb 2008;10(1):30-3. [Medline].

  9. Trussler AP, Kawamoto HK, Wasson KL, et al. Upper lip augmentation: palmaris longus tendon as an autologous filler. Plast Reconstr Surg. Mar 2008;121(3):1024-32. [Medline].

  10. de Benito J, Fernandez-Sanza I. Galea and subgalea graft for lip augmentation revision. Aesthetic Plast Surg. May-Jun 1996;20(3):243-8. [Medline].

  11. Niechajev I. Lip enhancement: surgical alternatives and histologic aspects. Plast Reconstr Surg. Mar 2000;105(3):1173-83; discussion 1184-7. [Medline].

  12. Mutaf M. V-Y in V-Y procedure: new technique for augmentation and protrusion of the upper lip. Ann Plast Surg. Jun 2006;56(6):605-8. [Medline].

  13. Wilkinson TS. Lip enhancement. In: Practical Procedures in Aesthetic Plastic Surgery: Tips and Traps. 1994:117-44.

  14. Guerrissi JO. Surgical treatment of the senile upper lip. Plast Reconstr Surg. Sep 2000;106(4):938-40. [Medline].

  15. Jacinto SS. Ten-year experience using injectable silicone oil for soft tissue augmentation in the Philippines. Dermatol Surg. Nov 2005;31(11 Pt 2):1550-4; discussion 1554. [Medline].

  16. Barnett JG, Barnett CR. Silicone augmentation of the lip. Facial Plast Surg Clin North Am. Nov 2007;15(4):501-12, vii-viii. [Medline].

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Further Reading

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Keywords

lip augmentation, lip filler, lip fillers, lip injection, lip injections, collagen, collagen injection, restylane, restylane injection, radiesse, lip rejuvenation, lip implant, lip reconstruction, lip roll, lip lift, lip advancement, lip enlargement, lip enhancement, lip surgery, lip plastic surgery, cosmetic lip surgery, plastic surgery lips, lip plumper, dermal filler

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Contributor Information and Disclosures

Author

Jorge I de la Torre, MD, FACS, Professor of Surgery and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Residency Program Director, Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham; Director, Center for Advanced Surgical Aesthetics
Jorge I de la Torre, MD, FACS is a member of the following medical societies: American Association of Plastic Surgeons, American Burn Association, American College of Surgeons, American Medical Association, American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery, American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery, American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons, American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Association for Academic Surgery, and Medical Association of the State of Alabama
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Medical Editor

Lawrence Ketch, MD, FAAP, FACS, Head, Program Director, Associate Professor, Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic Surgery, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center; Chief, Pediatric Plastic, The Children's Hospital of Denver
Lawrence Ketch, MD, FAAP, FACS is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Association for Hand Surgery, American Association of Plastic Surgeons, American Burn Association, American Cleft Palate/Craniofacial Association, American College of Surgeons, American Society for Surgery of the Hand, American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons, American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Association for Academic Surgery, and Plastic Surgery Research Council
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Pharmacy Editor

Francisco Talavera, PharmD, PhD, Senior Pharmacy Editor, eMedicine
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Managing Editor

R Edward Newsome, MD, Program Director and Chief of Plastic Surgery, Henderson Chair in Surgery, Assistant Dean for Graduate Medical Education, Tulane University School of Medicine
R Edward Newsome, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American College of Surgeons, American Medical Association, American Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, American Society of Plastic Surgeons, and Louisiana State Medical Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

CME Editor

Nicolas (Nick) G Slenkovich, MD, Practice Director, Colorado Plastic Surgery Center at Swedish Medical Center
Nicolas (Nick) G Slenkovich, MD is a member of the following medical societies: American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, American College of Surgeons, American Medical Association, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, American Society of Plastic Surgeons, and Colorado Medical Society
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

Chief Editor

Deepak Narayan, MD, FRCS, Associate Professor of Surgery (Plastic), Yale University School of Medicine; Chief of Plastic Surgery, West Haven Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Deepak Narayan, MD, FRCS is a member of the following medical societies: American Association for the Advancement of Science, American College of Surgeons, American Medical Association, American Society of Maxillofacial Surgeons, American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Indian Medical Association, Plastic Surgery Research Council, Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, and Royal College of Surgeons of England
Disclosure: Nothing to disclose.

 
 
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