Permalip vs fat transfers to lips?

Question

What is better? What are the pros and cons for each? Does fat transfers fade away after a while?

Manish H. Shah, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello Undeadxxragdoll,Thanks for your question.Surgisil permafacial lip implants (Permalip) are wonderful soft solid silicone implants.  They vary in thickness from 3-5mm.  They are permanent, easy to place, and feel quite natural.  The drawbacks are that they are palpable in most cases, they can get infected, they can move unnaturally in thin lips, and they can change how your lips move in subtle ways.  Also, with a maximum thickness of 5mm, there are real limits on the amount of augmentation a patient will experience.Fat grafts or fat transfers to the lips are also a great option. They are natural and soft.  They are made from your own fat and can't be rejected.  It is easier to customize the lip shape with fat.  There is less of a size limitation in the augmentation because you can always add a little more fat.  The downsides are that fat doesn't like to be in moving parts of the face as much as it likes to be in quiet, low motion areas of the face. Also patients may lose up to 50% of the fat cells injected after the first 6 months requiring early touch up fat grafting.  You need a donor site and the donor site is typically sore and bruised when the lips are not.  Finally, weight fluctuations in your face will show in your lips more. Most patients choose injectable fillers like Juvederm, Restylane, and Belotero because they are easy, economical and they work well in the lips.  Another option is the use of Alloderm tissue implants that integrate into your own lip tissue over time.I suggest that you find a specialist in lip augmentation in your area to discuss all these options.I hope this was helpful.Dr. Shah

Amir Nakhdjevani, MBBS, MRCS, FRCS(Plast) · Answer

Hi UndeadxxragdollThanks for your question.Fat transfer and permalip are permanent. The benefit of permalip is that its consistent in length and width so you will have a smooth natural appearance. The down side is that you will have a foreign body in your lip which can get infected or at a later date, may need to be removed.With fat the benefit is that it is your own fat which is injected to volumize your lip. The downside is that you may need more than one procedure to get the desired affect cos it relies on blood supply and also with fat transfer it may make the lip look irregular and uneven.Do your homework. However you may want to get fillers to start, so you can work out what size and shape you are looking for as these are not permanent.

Jason Emer, MD · Answer

They each have their pros and cons, I think you should consult with an expert to determine what is best.  Dr. Emer.

Robert M. Tornambe, MD · Answer

Good question! I have removed too many permanent lip implants placed by other doctors over the years to recommend them, and I stopped doing them myself because they looked and more importantly felt fake. A better option is fat transfer which is more permanent. It is done under local anesthesia and fat is usually taken from the lower abdomen or thighs. Studies show that at least 1/3 of transferred fat last forever. Seek out a board certified plastic surgeon in your area, Good Luck!

Steven Wallach, MD · Answer

I do not like the idea of putting a permanent implant in the lips. I prefer the reservable fillers or fat.

Permalip vs fat transfers to lips?

Answers (7)

Answer: Lip Augmentation Options

Answer: Lip Augmentation Options

Answer: Permalip vs fat transfer

Answer: Permalip vs fat transfer

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Permalip vs fat transfers to lips?

Answers (7)

Answer: Lip Augmentation Options

Answer: Lip Augmentation Options

Answer: Permalip vs fat transfer

Answer: Permalip vs fat transfer

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