POSTED UNDER Lip Implants Reviews
Permalip Implant, Too Subtle, Not Worth the Money - New Jersey
ORIGINAL POST
I was looking to enhance my upper lip because it...
$1,700
I was looking to enhance my upper lip because it was very thin, my bottom lip I am okay with. I had received fillers in the past, like juvaderm and radiesse, but they would only last about a month, if that. I wanted a more permanent solution because I couldn't afford to keep up with temporary injections.
I did a lot of research on Permalip, and figured it would be a better option for me since it is permanent (unless you get the implant taken out). I knew I wanted the largest implant, 5mm, because based on reviews, I heard the small and medium size didn't really make much of a difference, and a lot of people ended up upgrading to a large anyway.
The doctor I chose (was hard to find one that did this procedure in my area for some reason) told me that my upper lip "wasn't big enough" for the 5mm implant, and I needed to get the 4mm. And then if I wanted to upgrade later I could. He told me that the 4mm would look as though I had 1 full syringe of filler in my upper lip (which is what I had in the past and was happy with)..my gut instinct told me I should look for another doctor that would do the large immediately, but I unfortunately didn't listen.
The procedure itself wasn't too bad…the doctor told me he would give me medicine to calm my nerves before, but on the day of he didn't, he said "I would be fine"..I had tears in my eyes before we started because I was so nervous because I didn't know what to expect. His assistant was very sweet though, she held my hand during the numbing injections and made me feel better. The lidocaine injections do hurt a bit, but it's not horrible. The whole procedure only took about a half hour I think.
I was pretty swollen for the first 3 days, and had minor bruising, but I was able to go back to work by day 4-5. Two weeks into it, I noticed that the swelling went down so much that it wasn't even that noticeable that I even had anything done to it. Fast forward 3 months, and I was right…there was maybe a 5% difference, if that. Definitely NOT worth the money. I knew I should have gone with the 5mm.
I complained to the doctor and he agreed to replace it with the 5mm for a smaller fee than the price of getting it the first time. (thank goodness).
Well it is now 2 months since I had the upgrade to the 5mm, and it still hasn't made the difference I was hoping for. Permalip really needs to make a larger size than the 5mm! The only time I really see a noticeable difference is when I smile, the profile of my upper lip definitely has more projection. But when my mouth is relaxed, there isn't as big of a difference as I wanted. The implant also feels like it's not centered, it always seems more to the left side. When I spoke with the doctor about it, he said I could squeeze the edge of the implant to kind of force it more toward the other side..but it's not like it stays…I can still squeeze it and move it over to the side a little and it's been months. Not sure if it's even supposed to be able to move sideways like that :/
I guess if you want a SUBTLE enhancement, the 5mm would be okay, but I really don't think the 3mm or 4mm implants are worth it, AT ALL.
Looking back I wish I had gone with the Silikon 1000 injections, since they are permanent, less down time, and I could have received pretty much the exact size I was looking for.
Not sure if I am able to get Silikon injections now that I already have an implant in there…guess I will investigate that in the future, already spent enough money on my lip for now!
Again, I only got an implant in my top lip, my bottom lip is natural.
I did a lot of research on Permalip, and figured it would be a better option for me since it is permanent (unless you get the implant taken out). I knew I wanted the largest implant, 5mm, because based on reviews, I heard the small and medium size didn't really make much of a difference, and a lot of people ended up upgrading to a large anyway.
The doctor I chose (was hard to find one that did this procedure in my area for some reason) told me that my upper lip "wasn't big enough" for the 5mm implant, and I needed to get the 4mm. And then if I wanted to upgrade later I could. He told me that the 4mm would look as though I had 1 full syringe of filler in my upper lip (which is what I had in the past and was happy with)..my gut instinct told me I should look for another doctor that would do the large immediately, but I unfortunately didn't listen.
The procedure itself wasn't too bad…the doctor told me he would give me medicine to calm my nerves before, but on the day of he didn't, he said "I would be fine"..I had tears in my eyes before we started because I was so nervous because I didn't know what to expect. His assistant was very sweet though, she held my hand during the numbing injections and made me feel better. The lidocaine injections do hurt a bit, but it's not horrible. The whole procedure only took about a half hour I think.
I was pretty swollen for the first 3 days, and had minor bruising, but I was able to go back to work by day 4-5. Two weeks into it, I noticed that the swelling went down so much that it wasn't even that noticeable that I even had anything done to it. Fast forward 3 months, and I was right…there was maybe a 5% difference, if that. Definitely NOT worth the money. I knew I should have gone with the 5mm.
I complained to the doctor and he agreed to replace it with the 5mm for a smaller fee than the price of getting it the first time. (thank goodness).
Well it is now 2 months since I had the upgrade to the 5mm, and it still hasn't made the difference I was hoping for. Permalip really needs to make a larger size than the 5mm! The only time I really see a noticeable difference is when I smile, the profile of my upper lip definitely has more projection. But when my mouth is relaxed, there isn't as big of a difference as I wanted. The implant also feels like it's not centered, it always seems more to the left side. When I spoke with the doctor about it, he said I could squeeze the edge of the implant to kind of force it more toward the other side..but it's not like it stays…I can still squeeze it and move it over to the side a little and it's been months. Not sure if it's even supposed to be able to move sideways like that :/
I guess if you want a SUBTLE enhancement, the 5mm would be okay, but I really don't think the 3mm or 4mm implants are worth it, AT ALL.
Looking back I wish I had gone with the Silikon 1000 injections, since they are permanent, less down time, and I could have received pretty much the exact size I was looking for.
Not sure if I am able to get Silikon injections now that I already have an implant in there…guess I will investigate that in the future, already spent enough money on my lip for now!
Again, I only got an implant in my top lip, my bottom lip is natural.
Replies (5)
I live in NJ and had my PermaLip implants done by a plastic surgeon in Manhattan. Love the results. If you aren't ready to throw in the towel on PermaLip, and are able to travel to have this done, go to the American Institute for Plastic Surgery in the Dallas, Texas area. They are the absolute foremost experts on PermaLip in the world.
Thank you, my main issue is the size of the implant though..I wish they made bigger sizes so I could see a bigger difference in my lip:(
Hi I was wondering if you know people who have had it done in the dallas area. I see that you had yours done in Manhattan but are recommending dallas surgeons.
I'm sorry but I have to agree that the difference is not worth the money...will they remove and go bigger?
Unfortunately at this time the company does not make a bigger size implant :( I wish they did.. 5mm is like nothing! I hope in the future they will make bigger sizes that I can upgrade to
Can I just say....you have a beautiful mouth! Don't do anything else to it! It looks gorgeous and natural. So many women would love to look like that and adding to it could go wrong so easily. Be happy you look great! [RS bleep]
Well thank you I appreciate that!:)
I do see a difference, my husband always say, we are our worst critics, i think if you added more filling to the upper lip it would have looked too much like duckface, I think it looks gorgeous !
Thank you, I appreciate it! I need to put an updated picture because I think it looks smaller now:( it looks good with lip liner and lipstick but with nothing on it it doesn't look like very much of a difference. I wish they would just make a bigger size implant!
How are you're lips looking? Please post a picture really want to see:)
Thank you for sharing your experience on RealSelf. Please keep us posted on if you decide to go with the Silikon 1000 (I hear a lot of mixed reviews on this, so do your research).