A few questions about fat transfer to the lips (for a male)

I suggest seeing a facial contouring expert who treats a lot of men. In my practice we often do a small amount of fat transfer and PRP and then touch up with fillers.  It is best that you find someone who is conservative and does a lot of men and lips.  Best, Dr. Emer.

Fat transfer could be used to augment areas of the face including lips. However, to perform a "subtle" lip augmentation in men with fat transfer could be difficult and difficult to achieve.Fat transfer can be safely done under local anesthesia in both male and female patients. However, it is well known that fat could reabsorb about 50 to 90%. Therefore, overcorrection is usually recommended to achieve good volume augmentation once the fat that is going to be reabsorbed reabsorbs. Additionally, fat transfer surgery is associated with prolonged downtime due to swelling of the area there the fat is transplanted.Subtle lip augmentation in men could be achieved with over the counter fillers like Juvederm. This hyaluronic acid based filler can be injected into the lips in the office setting without the need of surgery. The downtime is usually minimal and the results could last up to a year. In my practice men seeking subtle lip augmentation prefer augmentation with fillers like Juvederm rather than fat transfer.Patients interested in subtle lip augmentation with either fat transfer or fillers like Juvederm should make a consultation with a Board Certified Plastic Surgeon specialized in cosmetic procedure of the face.

John Mesa MD
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
New York City (#NYC) & New Jersey (#NJ)

Fat grafting works perfectly well for man. Fat is taken from any area of the body that is convenient. Fat grafting is usually slightly over grafted, but whatever remains after six months after fat grafting remains as a permanent fat graft.  

I would recommend conservative lip augmentation with Hyaluronic Acid, like Juvederm plus to see if you like the look. Another 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

Fat transfer to lips is a viable option. We have a technique to break down the fat into a very smooth paste so it is less viscous so it is more accurately placed with less clumping. In theory, it should increase the amount of fat staying behind, however, that needs to be determined by studies. We usually recommend fillers initially, however, since you have tried it already, fat is an option. Best of luck. Dr. Michael OmidiAn in-person exam with a board-certified plastic surgeon is the best way to assess your needs and provide true medical advice.

I perform fat grafting multiple times each week. It can be performed alone or in conjunction with other surgery. I must disagree with the surgeons who suggest that fat grafting needs to be "over-corrected" It is true that some fat may be reabsorbed, but in some cases it does not reabsorb. The over-corrected "look" is a look we can all identify. That is not a look most people want.  Look at dozens of before and after photos soon aftera  fat grafting procedure and then a year or more after, as evidence of efficacy and to be certain the surgeon you select shares a similar aesthetic ideal. In your case, a natural look. Having said that, I do not over-correct in the lips or anywhere else. I do regularly perform fat grafting to the lips. However, the lips swell more than any other area of the face and therefore, the downtime is more significant. I generally perform fat grafting of the lips in conjunction with fat grafting to other areas of the face while patients are experiencing a downtime / recovery period.  When performed by a nurse injector with considerable experience and a light hand, the results of Juvederm to the lips can be very natural looking.   Whether you are have a fat grafting surgery (yes, it is surgery, check your surgeon's credentials carefully including hospital privileges) Or Juvederm. the result is due to the provider, not the product. Some nurses are masterful with Juvederm, others simply are not. Look at lots of photos, ask questions, have a consultation first with no treatment, look at the lips of other staff members and take your time finding someone you can trust with your appearance. 

Fat injection to the lip can be performed. Yes it can be done for men.  Fillers are also an easy option that you can try.

The fat can actually be taken from just about anywhere the abdomen, hips or thighs are common places. And yes fat grafting can be done so that you get a subtle volume enhancement as well as improvement of the lip borders and any fine lines that you may have. It is actually difficult to get 

Dear jay7032,

Thank you for your clinical
post. Fat grafting to the face for soft
tissue facial shaping is extremely common.
Lips are commonly injected with fat and have the advantage of being of
your own tissue and if they pick up a blood supply can last for many many
years. However, there is some risk for
resorption and as the lips are quite animated the risk of resorption with fat
grafting to the lips is higher than if rather more stable unanimated areas of
the craniofacial skeleton. The other
disadvantage of fat grafting is somewhat more swelling due to the presence of
inflammatory mediator such as free fatty acids when compared to simple lip
augmentation with Restylane or Juvederm.

One can combine the fat grafts and
the adipocyte derived stem cells with PRP, which may or may not increase the
viability intake. It is a high probability
if you like the result you may come back in a year and do another session to
optimize the staple soft tissue augmentation.

It’s very important you meet with a
certified specialist with a lot of experience in fat grafting techniques. I would take the time to visit a couple of
physicians to get some advice.

I’ve been performing fat grafting to
the face for over 20 years and to find out more please visit the link below.

R. Stephen Mulholland, M.D.

Certified Plastic Surgeon

Yorkville, Toronto