What treatments would correct fat transfer to lips? Will steroid injections help bring the previous shape back?

Question

Really regretting this and want this corrected. The previous shape was prettier just tiny. Lip fat transfer 8 weeks ago. 12 ccs total injected (6cc per lip). Lips now look shapeless. Bottom lip looks like its hanging. Weird bump to left side that wasnt there before. Questions: Is this still swelling we are seeing? How much more will it reduce and what shape will it hold? What treatments would help reduce the fat transfer to lips? Will steroid injections help bring the previous shape back?

John L. Burns Jr., MD · Answer

Steroids can be locally destructive and erode normal, viable tissue with the end result being much worse.  I would recommend giving it time and aggressively massaging your lips to help smooth and disperse the fat.  I would not pursue any treatments for at least 6 months.  My guess is that with simple massage you'll see gradual dissipation of the fat.

Zoran Potparic, MD · Answer

Fat grafting to the lips, except in very rare indications, is not very predictable procedure. It takes considerable time, up to 1 year, for result of fat grafting to mature and become stable. Only at that point I would recommend revision which can be attempted with direct excision or liposuction with small cannula. Good luck.

Andrew M. Ress, MD · Answer

Any surgical procedure requires time to mature and settle out. Lips swell very easily. I would wait at least six months and possibly up to a year followed by selective removal of the fat by direct excision under local anesthesia.

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

There is no treatment that can reduce previously injected fat. Anti-inflammatory steroids reduce inflammation but that isn’t an issue at the moment.

This is something I wish patients would think about before considering having facial fat transfer.

This is a permanent procedure and you Now have grafted fat in your lips. It is very very difficult to remove this fat.

At eight weeks your results are now final or very close to final

Discuss with your provider.

Best,

Mats Hagstrom, MD

Csaba L. Magassy, MD (in memoriam) · Answer

Unfortunately you have to give it some time for the  fat  to gradually reabsorb, and it will happen. Then you can think of the available options to improve the contour of your lips , such as fillers (not fat)  and possibly a lip implant.

What treatments would correct fat transfer to lips? Will steroid injections help bring the previous shape back?

Answers (6)

Answer: Reducing previously grafted fat

Answer: Reducing previously grafted fat

Answer: Large lips

Answer: Large lips

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Facial Fat Transfer

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.

What treatments would correct fat transfer to lips? Will steroid injections help bring the previous shape back?

Answers (6)

Answer: Reducing previously grafted fat

Answer: Reducing previously grafted fat

Answer: Large lips

Answer: Large lips

Browse related questions

Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Facial Fat Transfer

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.