Lip
augmentation procedures increase
the size of the lips to make
them fuller and more attractive.
The procedure is used to help
women and men of all ages. The
upper or lower lip may be
treated singly, or both upper
and lower lips may augmented at
the same time.
Lip
augmentations have become
increasingly popular in recent
years. Some types of lip
augmentation involve the
insertion of natural or
synthetic materials.
Other
surgical techniques bring tissue
from the inside of the lip to
the outside. Some of these
procedures are permanent, while
others provide only temporary
results.
If
you're considering lip augmentation,
the following information will provide
you with a good introduction to the
different lip augmentation procedures.
For more detailed
information about how this procedure
may help you, please schedule a
consultation with Dr. Kremer.
What
are some of the most common benefits
of this surgery?
Whether
you have always had thin lips,
or you want to return your
lips to the shape and fullness
they had when you were
younger, a lip augmentation
procedure may provide you with
the look you want. If you are
dissatisfied or self-conscious
about your lips, this surgery
can open up new possibilities
for you to change your
appearance and self-image.
During
the consultation, you will
have the opportunity to talk
to Dr. Kremer / Dr. Zettl about the
changes that you’d like to
make in your appearance. He
will explain the different
options available to you, the
procedure itself, and the
risks and limitations involved
as well as the
anesthesia required. Be sure to
as all the questions you have
about the surgery. Learning
everything you can about your
options, risks and benefits is
the key to making an informed
decision.
It is important that you
explain the results that you
would like. Bring photos to
show Dr. Kremer / Dr. Zettl what you like
and what you don’t like. He
will be able to tell you if
you are a good candidate for
lip augmentation.
Injections
involve filling the lip with a
soft substance to create a
fuller appearance.
Collagen and fat are
the most widely used
injectable substances.
Hyaluronsäure ist eine
biotechnisch hergestellte,
gelatineartige Substanz aus Hahnenkämmen,
die nach heutigem Wissen keine
Allergien oder sonstige Abstoßungsreaktionen
auslösen kann. Hyaluronsäure wird in
die Lippe mit einer kleinen Nadel
eingespritzt. Weil der Körper langsam
die Hyaluronsäure abbaut, halten die
Resultate im allgemeinen zwischen fünf
und sechs Monaten. Das Verfahren kann
je nach Bedarf wiederholt werden. Nach
wissenschaftlichen Erkenntnissen soll
der Körper durch die Behandlung zur
Produktion eigener Hyaluronsäure
angeregt werden.
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 guaranteed by the
manufacturer to be BSE-free.
Collagen is injected into the
lip with a small needle.
Because the body slowly
absorbs the collagen, the
results generally last between
six and seven months. The
procedure may be repeated as
needed.
Fat injections are also
placed in the lips with small
needles. The fat used is
harvested from another area of
the body - most often the
abdomen or the inner 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 injections,
results are temporary. The
procedure is often performed
more than once to achieve
desired results.
There
are several different substances
commonly used in grafting.
SoftForm™ has
recently replaced another lip
implant material, Gore-Tex™,
because it has been shown to
produce better results with
fewer complications. SoftForm™
does not shrink and is never
absorbed into the body. It
also remains in place because
scar tissue forms around it. This allows it to easily
be removed if ever desired
later or if it becomes
infected.
To insert SoftForm™,
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 an insertion
trochar (needle). For the
upper lip, this process is
repeated three times, to
implant three separate pieces
in the lip. In the lower lip,
two pieces are usually used.
Dermal fat
grafting produces lasting
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 to enhance
their lips. The fat is
harvested from another area of
the body, often the abdomen,
or during another procedure
like e.g. a facelift. It is
then prepared and inserted
into the lip through small
incisions in the corner of the
mouth.
Local flaps bring
material from inside the mouth
outside to enhance the lips. 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.
Most
lip augmentations take a half
hour to two hours. Some
procedures take longer than
others. Dr. Kremer / Dr. Zettl
will be
able to tell you how long your
procedure is likely to take.
If
you have no medical problems,
the procedure can be performed
on an outpatient basis under
local anesthesia with light
sedation. You will probably be
allowed to return home within
a few hours of the surgery.
Whether
or not an anesthetic is
necessary depends on the lip
augmentation procedure.
Topical anesthesia may be used
before lip injections, so that
the procedure involves minimal
discomfort. Generally, local
anesthesia is used in grafting
procedures. This makes the
procedure painless, although
there may be some discomfort
afterward.
Immediately
following the surgery, the
lips may swell and hurt. Cold
compresses should be used for
48 hours to control the
swelling. During this time,
talking and chewing should be
avoided as much as possible.
Oral pain medications may be
used to control the
discomfort.
Prophylactic antibiotics will
be given to reduce the
possibility of infection. To
help avoid infection, it is
also important to keep the
lips clean.
Most
people report little
discomfort in the days after
lip augmentation. However,
grafts and flaps usually
involve more pain during
recovery, and a longer
recovery period, than lip
injections.
Injections: Most people
return to normal, public
activities within a couple of
days of an injection
procedure. Bruising and
swelling may last as long as a
week.
Grafts: People often
wait between one and two weeks
after graft procedures before
returning to their normal
routine. During that recovery
time, they may experience some
problems with drooling.
Grafting also may leave the
lips feeling unnaturally stiff
for 2 to 3 months after the
procedure. Any non-dissolving
stitches may be removed about
7-10 days after the procedure.
What
is the long-term outcome like for most
people?
Some
of the procedures offer
permanent results, and some
are temporary. If you want to
experiment with a new look,
you may want to begin with a
temporary method. Scars from
incisions, if any, are rarely
perceptible.
In
general, the best candidates
for lip augmentation are:
Men
and women of all ages.
In
good physical health.
Psychologically
stable.
Informed
about the healing process.
Understanding
and accepting
of any limitations.
Free
of allergies to the
implant material used.
Realistic
in their expectations for
the outcome.
The
above is only a partial list
of the criteria that Dr. Kremer / Dr. Zettl
will consider in determining
whether or not this procedure
is appropriate for you.
Significant
complications from aesthetic
lip enhancement procedures are
rare. As with any surgical
procedure, however, there is
always a possibility of
infection, or reaction to the
anesthesia. Other possible
complications include:
numbing, scarring, swelling,
and stiffness in the lip.
To reduce the risk of
complications, it is important
to follow all the instructions
you receive from Dr. Kremer / Dr. Zettl
before and after the
procedure.
Tell
Dr. Kremer / Dr. Zettl about any
allergies you have (to
foods, drugs,
environmental elements).
Tell
Dr. Kremer / Dr. Zettl if you have a
history of bad scarring,
such as keloids.
Tell
Dr. Kremer / Dr. Zettl about all
medications you are taking
(both prescription and
non-prescription).
Carefully
follow any instructions Dr. Kremer / Dr. Zettl
gives you regarding eating
and drinking, smoking and
vitamins.
Avoid
aspirin and
aspirin-containing
medicines for two weeks
prior to surgery.
Arrange
for someone to drive you
home after surgery if
local anesthesia is used
during the treatment.
Inform
Dr. Kremer / Dr. Zettl if you
experience any fever-like
symptoms or signs of
infection after the
procedure.
Use
ice packs to decrease any
discomfort and reduce
swelling after the
procedure.
Avoid
strenuous physical
activity in the first few
days following the
procedure.
The
information on this web site
is only intended as an
introduction to this procedure
and should not be used to
determine whether you will
have the procedure performed
nor as a guarantee of the
result.
The
best method of determining
your personal options is to
schedule a personal
consultation with Dr. Kremer / Dr. Zettl.
He will be able to answer
specific questions related to
your situation.
