5mm Permalip...Very Happy with my Decision! - Troy, MI

Hello Real Self-ers! I will begin this with saying that I am no stranger to plastic surgery. I have had a rhinoplasty, 450 CC breast implants (which I am SO happy with), liposuction under the chin (again, a great decision), fat transfer to my lips, and multiple Juvederm injections in my lips. The last two procedures have been seriously disappointing. The fat that was injected into my lips 100% reabsorbed, and the original surgeon overfilled my lips to accommodate the inevitable fat reabsorption (which happens during every fat transfer); therefore I looked like a duck for approximately 2 weeks. Juvederm does NOT last very long for me, as my body must metabolize it faster than most (within 3 months). It is for these reasons that I decided to get Permalip. I got 5mm implants in both my upper and lower lips, and I am very happy that I decided not to go smaller.

I will summarize by saying that I am 110% thrilled with my decision; however it was (surprisingly) the most painful procedure that I have ever had. Yes, despite the fact that I have had more invasive surgery, and liposuction under only local anesthetic, this ranks as #1 on the pain scale. I did this under local anesthesia with Dr. Schenden, who was so kind and gentle. I am seriously happy with my decision to visit him, and recommend him to any Metro Detroiters who are looking to get lip implants. His nurse was INCREDIBLY sweet, and she really helped calm my nerves. Because I did not go under general anesthesia, Dr. Schenden administered dental blocks to numb my mouth. I truly believe that this is what caused the pain, as they were understandably stronger than what you get at the dentist (or what some plastic surgeons give you before regular hyaluronic acid fillers). The procedure was about 45 minutes, and my case was a little bit trickier because I had fat transfer to my lips in the past, thus creating scar tissue (it is much more invasive than people think). Once I was done, I was given an antibiotic and prescription painkillers, which I was dependent on for the first 48 hours. The residual nerve pain from the dental blocks was killer, but beauty is pain!

I slept upright and regularly iced my lips, which made a huge impact! If you are employed, I would recommend taking off at least 5 days (or one full business week) for recovery. My third day of recovery was on Christmas, and I was still very swollen. My lips were firm, and my speech was impaired due to these variables. Needless to say, I was awfully quiet at my family Christmas party! My speech was completely normal by week one, and my speech and lip movement vastly improved by day 5. I am now almost 2 weeks post-op, and my speech is 100% normal. My lips are now really soft and move naturally again. There are some irregularities in my upper lip due to scar tissue from continuous lip fillers, but it is not noticeable in person and does not disrupt the symmetry of my face. I love how fuller lips can make the surrounding features look smaller and softer. In summation, I would recommend this procedure to all of those who are sick of getting lip fillers. It is a great investment, and they can be easily removed if you are not happy with the results.

New pics added....very happy! I can speak, eat, and move my mouth normally.

Thought I'd post a full pic so you can get an idea of what my lips look like in proportion to my face. I am happy with the size...there is nothing less attractive than someone who gets lips that do not fit their face. Sometimes bigger isn't always better :)