The aim of permanent lip enhancements is to make thin or uneven lips fuller and plumper in appearance.
Most women – and in recent years even a surge of men – prefer luscious and full lips, but many are unaware of their options. Permanent lip enhancements are even available!
There are three popular types of permanent lip enhancements. All of them have a great effect, their own benefits and potential risks.
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Facial Fat Transfer
For this procedure, the tissue comes from the patient’s own body. Fat from the stomach or buttocks is rolled into a tube. Then, the surgeon insert this tube of fat is into a small tunnel in the upper lip.
The tube will stretch the skin and make lips appear fuller. In severe cases, larger portions of fat may be harvested and attached directly to the skin to create a new lip.
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GoreTex
This artificial alternative to collagen is a one-way breathable membrane that’s frequent in the manufacturing of waterproof clothing. However, it is also great for non-allergenic, permanent lip augmentation.
A string of GoreTex goes through small incisions on either side of the lip. Afterwards, the surgeons attachs the string. The porous material allows tissue to grow around and into it to better hold it in place. Keep in mind, it also allows the penetration of white blood cells.
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Alloderm
As an alternative to synthetic substances, Alloderm is skin tissue. It comes from carefully screened donors.
A thick, fiber-rich layer of the skin is removed from human corpses. Specialists purify them using a chemical wash before freeze-drying the tissue. Before use, surgeons apply a saline solution on the tissues. Finally, they are implanted in strips through small incisions at the side of the lips.
These inserts come form human tissue. Consequently, there is zero risk of allergic reaction and little chance of rejection. Furthermore, the implants act as a scaffolding for new blood vessels and cells from the recipient to form. However, these natural materials are more likely to be absorbed into the body over time and many patients will see some volume loss.
Most lip surgery procedures are performed under local anesthetic and will result in little to no scarring.
Fat grafting is most likely to result in small, crescent-shaped scars where the fat grafts were taken from the body. The effects of the procedures are permanent but, because the mouth moves a lot, patients should expect about half of their GoreTex or Alloderm implants to be absorbed, and about one third of fat grafts.
Sep 12th 2014