“Gortex lip implants do not look or feel natural ”
Lip augmentation: NOT worth it
Cost: $1,000
Pain: Uncomfortable
Pain: Uncomfortable
Lip augmentation satisfaction: Poor
Over 10 years ago I had a procedure I now regret. New at the time but no longer used, gortex strip implants for lip augmentation. I was told they would be soft kissable and not noticeable to myself or others (as in kissing or eating) but that’s not true. Since then they have formed very hard, unnatural capsules consisting of the gortex and scar tissue, and you can see the corners of the strips poking out.
Other people have commented on the visibility of them. I’m told by drs to go back to the original dr but he lives in another city so I wanted to know my options at least as far as my rights. By the way he did my rhino and I’m happy/would go back to him, just not for this.
Jul 11, 2009Comments and replies (4)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
This review is the subjective opinion of a RealSelf member and not of RealSelf, Inc.
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1417 posts
12 Jul 2009
Thanks a bunch for posting your review.
I've heard of Gortex nasal implants being removed. Curious to see if the same holds true for lips.
1080 posts
19 Jul 2009
Dear Ccscissors, Hindsight is always 20/20. Goretex has been around for many years. Some of the best man-made vascular conduits for reconstructing the aorta and major arteries in bypass surgery were made from this material. When it became available for facial reconstruction and cosmetic surgery, many of us used it based on good science. But - time makes liers of many. As time passed, this material has slowly shown itself not to be as well tolerated by the body as we thought and we most of us stopped using it.The problem I have is with doctors who fail to know the history and persist on using outdated technology. The most challenging location for implant placement has been the lip. The requirements for lip augmentation are that the implant be essentially undetectable, impalpable and pliable / soft. NO implant has EVER filled this role and this holds in spades for implants which the body never incorporated but instead walled off with scar tissue. The vast majority of Goretex (PTFE) implant placed in the lip look artificial, are palpable and had to be removed for these reasons as well as complications such as capsule and infection. The ONLY positive attribute with Goretex lip implants is that the body cannot really invade them with scar tissue and assimilate them. This makes them VERY EASY to pull out. Any plastic surgeon can do it. I suspect no one wanted to do it for fear that they will be then held responsible for any lip deformity you MAY HAVE which may be unveiled once the Goretex implant is removed. This is a potential consideration NOT a definite fact. Hope this helped. Dr. Peter Aldea