Question

What are my options for permanent lip augmentation?

I had collagen in my lips and I loved it, but I cannot afford to keep  having injections.  I saw a web site that suggest Artecol or  silicone.  Do they do the same thing?


Asked by: Anonymous from Montpelier, VT

Answers (4)

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1
October 28, 2008

Saline lip implants

Sam Naficy, MD
Sam Naficy, MD
Board Certified
Facial Plastic Surgeon
Answer by Sam Naficy, MD

Artecoll or Silicone are not your best option for lips since they are very difficult if not impossible to remove if there is a problem.

Saline implants (made by Evera) are a great option for lips and have a number of advantages over the older Gore-Tex or Advanta implants.

For more information visit http://www.salinelipimplants.com

2
October 25, 2008

Verafil or Advanta Implants are the solution you are looking for

David Hansen, MD
David Hansen, MD
Board Certified
Dermatologist

You are like most people who love the way their lips look but don't want the repetitive pain and expense of temporary fillers.  Lip implants are the way to go. I've done a lot and they do really nice.  Advanta Atrium implants run $1500 per lip while Verafil implants run $2000 per lip.  The difference is that Verafil is a saline fluid filled implant that is softer because of the fluid in it.  Both are permanent and both are easy to put in under local anesthesia  and both are reversible or easily removed .  

The implants look natural and are much better than the Silicone or Artecol/Artefill injectibles which can get lumpy bumpy and cause problems down the line.  Fat injections have been done for many years but tend to last about 6-12 months, make you look like Donald Duck, and tend to look uneven or lumpy when the fat starts to dissolve away.

3
May 3, 2008

To be complete, Verafil is a lip augmentation option

Steven Weiner, MD
Steven Weiner, MD
Board Certified
Facial Plastic Surgeon

Just to make this discussion more complete, Verafil is an option.

Verafil is a small saline-filled implant that is placed in the lips with a minor surgical procedure done in the office in about 15 minutes. Supposedly, the body does not produce scar tissue around it, so it stays soft. I don't have any experience with this procedure. My gut feeling is that it has potential for creating scar tissue and might become very difficult to remove down the road, which ultimately might be a major problem.

If you can wait a while, Evolence Breeze will be FDA approved in 6-12 months, and should give you about 12 months of correction. I'd say that's pretty good.

4
April 8, 2008

Fat injection is safe for permanent lip augmentation

Julius W. Few, MD
Julius W. Few, MD
Board Certified
Plastic Surgeon

The largest experience with Artecol and silicone injections is outside the U.S. Neither is FDA-approved in the U.S. for cosmetic indications.

ArteFill is similar in principle to Artecol and is U.S. FDA-approved; it is used for filling deeper static facial creases, but is not recommended for the lips. The use of these products for lip enhancement has been described, but there have been several warnings for using these products in the lip enhancement area.

Over time, these products have been shown to be associated with a risk for "angry bumps" that develop and are difficult to correct. These bumps can cause difficulty for the patient, both in terms of their appearance and their ability to use the lips.

I currently have two patients in my practice, who had silicone injection to the lips years ago and now have a deformity that will require surgical correction. Fat injection is a safe and effective alternative to non-permanent fillers. Fat injection is very effective, lasting years in many cases, and without significant risk.

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