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POSTED UNDER Lip Implants Reviews

5mm Permalip Implants with Vermilion Advancement - Indianapolis, IN

UPDATED FROM jgibson90
13 days post

Implants are out! Thank god!

jgibson90
$5,700
Implants were removed about an hour ago. I feel and look a million times better. The vermilion advancement on the bottom even looks more minimal Bc it isn't being all stretched out so maybe I won't need a revision of the bottom after all. The suture lines on the bottom also look less pronounced Bc they aren't being so stressed.
So, what happened is that the implants were too long for my lips (the surgeon should have measured my lips rather than just using the longest implant) and so the bulges on the sides were not the ends of the implants, but were actually places where the implant had buckled because it was too long and could not lay flat. So you can imagine how painful that was. The top one seemed to be fine. My surgeon was reluctant to remove it, but to me they just seem like a ticking time bomb and also did not feel natural to the touch so out they came.
For the removal in case anyone else wants to have permalip implants removed at some point: very easy. Took about twenty minutes including the time it took the numb me. Surgeon cut a very small incision on the inside of the middle of each lip (unlike in placement where I had four incisions in he corners of my mouth, top and bottom. I have one dissolvable stitch in each lip. They are not visible with my mouth closed. My lips are still swollen from the initial procedure but they are also stretched out from having the implant inside. As I heal, they will go down. The surgeon said it's possible I will have scar tissue inside my lips from the implants which would cause them to be larger than before. Well, that's just fine with me.
I will continue to update, but weekly I think and eventually do a six month check in. At this point, I would say, do not go to Dr. Eppley for lip implants. The procedure for the implants is that you measure the length of the patients mouth. This was never done. You cannot use the longest size implants for the very reason of what happened to me. Additionally, his "fixes" for the buckling implant were to go in and snip out a portion of the middle of the implant so it would bend more easily. He also said (after the implants were already in) that he always orders the longest size and then just cuts off the ends of they need to be shorter. This is not what you are supposed to do (and if you read some reviews on here about permalip there are a few where the doctors cut the implants shorter and it caused a bunch of issues).
I am upset because I basically threw away $3500 for the implants. Also more than that because I had my initial plane ticket and then my emergency removal ticket. Plus hotels and rental cars. The ordeal ended up costing me thousands of dollars. While I do think the vermilion advancement will turn out well and I think Dr. Eppley did a good job with that, I could have saved a lot of money just doing that alone. So that is really disappointing. All in all, I am so relieved to have the implants out and no longer look and feel like I'm disfigured.

jgibson90's provider

Barry L. Eppley, MD, DMD

Barry L. Eppley, MD, DMD

Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

Replies (5)

June 22, 2016
Are you happy with how Dr Eppley handled the situation? I am strongly considering him for lip lift (without implants) and cheek implants. I understand that results are never a 100% certainty, but it's important to me to have a surgeon who can admit to his failures & clean up accordingly.
June 22, 2016
To be honest, it bothered me how he dealt with it. He did not admit fault and just said he was sorry I didn't like them when I really feel that the implant was sized wrong which caused most of the issues. So more shifting the "blame" to me. Of course I didn't get my money back for this either. We will see how the advancements turn out. I will say thought, I was always wary of lip lifts because they seemed to change the shape or angle of the nose.
June 22, 2016
That is def a concern for me too--'How will you prevent the lip lift from widening my nostrils?' is #2 on the list of questions I'm currently asking prospective surgeons (#1 is 'if you [RS bleep] up, what happens then?'). So thank you for answering this one on behalf of Dr. Eppley, because he would probably give me an...overly rosey answer.
June 23, 2016
I just wanted to say that I would KILL for your "before" lips. Seriously. They are so beautiful!! Just go with them, you are so lucky. I think I can see why these implants are not improved in Canada. Guess I'll have to just do fillers, but my body metabolizes that stuff like crazy.
June 23, 2016
I meant to say "approved" in Canada. . .
June 23, 2016
You can always do silikon 1000 micro droplets. I've done those. Had them for three or fours years now. No side effected.
June 25, 2016
yes my body laps up the fillers in no time also, I so wanted to get these implants but not sure now, plus I am from Australia and if anything went wrong I would be in trouble
June 25, 2016
never heard of that lol
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July 6, 2016
Fantastic review. Sorry to see it end up this way. Your before lips are my dream lips!
October 17, 2016
Did the doctor charging you for having them removed?
October 18, 2016
No
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October 18, 2016
How are you doing now ?
October 18, 2016
I am ok. I have hypertrophic scarring on one side of my bottom lip. The other bottom side turned out beautifully. The top lip is another story. I have noticeable scars a good few millimeters from my actual lip line. I am very unhappy with that and will be getting a revision. The bottom will need to be revised as well.
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October 18, 2016
Oh ok I thought about having the vermillion done but maybe not keep us posted on how everything turns out
UPDATED FROM jgibson90
11 days post

Day 11

jgibson90
Going back to Indianapolis Friday to have both implants removed. By this time enough swelling has gone down to show that the lower implant is protruding on both sides. I have attached a picture looking downwards to show how lopsided and lumpy my lip is. I decided to have the top removed as well Bc since most of the swelling subsided I can move it from side to side slightly and feel that that can only mean complications like the bottom in the future. Also, they do not feel natural at all. The top one is placed properly- at the wet dry border- but even if it softens in the future, I do not see this feeling natural. To me, it would be obvious that there is something in the lip, and who wants to have to worry about that when they're kissing someone? FYI- the protruding edges are painful- if I smile at all I get sharp pains where the ends are.

Replies (3)

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June 15, 2016
Ouch! It is certainly visible from this angle, no question. What will happen to the lip advancement on the borders? Are you happy with that part of the surgery?
June 16, 2016
It's hard to tell with the implants stretching everything out- he used the longest length implants so I think they're making my mouth even wider. I think I'm happy with the top. It's slightly uneven as I mentioned in an earlier post but when healed I don't know if that will be noticeable. But I think the lower lip will need a reduction. So, I'm pretty upset that this was almost a total bust. Hopefully my lips will eventually be what I want and I'll have something to show for all the money I spent and this traumatic experience.
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June 16, 2016
If it makes you feel better a lot of people have issues with them. I asked my surgeon about them and he said he didn't do them anymore, too many infections and complications. You have beautiful lips to begin with so I know you will eventually get your lips exactly the way you want them. Hang in there.
June 17, 2016
Thanks. I completely agree. There are just too many variables with these things. Is the tunnel even from side to side? Is the depth appropriate? Are the implants the correct length? There are only three lengths so they aren't a custom fit so there's the possibility of sliding. To be honest, even tho I'm really bummed I wasted the money and had all that stress, I'm kind of glad I tried it Bc otherwise I would've kept wondering and wanting to do it. Now I know they aren't for me and I can also give other people an honest opinion of them. Thanks for your continued support.
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June 16, 2016
sorry it didn't work out how disappointing
June 16, 2016
Yeah, it is really disappointing.
June 16, 2016
Can you please take a pic from the front? Wan't to see how the bottom lip does look now
UPDATED FROM jgibson90
9 days post

Before and immediately after

jgibson90
Received these photos from my surgeon and thought they may be useful as they show my lips (without any makeup) before the procedure.

Replies (4)

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June 14, 2016
Thank you so much for continuing to update! I'm following you closely. It's really hard to find any doctor who does this procedure in the Midwest
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June 14, 2016

Thank you for your awesome updates! You are going to have one luscious pout!

June 14, 2016
Omg girl your 'before' makes me want to cry; they're so pretty and exactly what I'm going for--if I end up with your 'before' lips I will be ecstatic! Not hating tho--if you're dissatisfied with your body & want something changed, then your opinion is the only one that matters (well, yours and your surgeon's). Thank you for posting such detailed updates along with your pics!
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June 15, 2016
how are you doing I am intersted on implants too