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Surgisil Needs to Revise the Shape of the PermaLip Implant - Tulsa

ORIGINAL POST

I’m getting real close to 50 yrs old. I have...

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auraofbeauty
WORTH IT$2,500

I’m getting real close to 50 yrs old. I have wanted a permanent lip implant for years but have not been satisfied with available options so just kept waiting. After seeing a couple of nice examples come out of the plastic surgeon’s office down the hall, I shot in like a rocket. That was three weeks ago. I have mixed feelings about it now. The Perma Lip Implants don’t look as good on my aging, southbound mouth as they did on the younger women that I saw. There is still some swelling and soreness so I will give it more time, but right now I think I look like a duck billed platypus.

Last week I searched for pictures of the PermaLip Implant and read reviews. A few people mentioned that the corners of their bottom lip drooped, and one person said she looks like a fish. Each week my lip looks better but I can see definite room for improvement on the design or shape of the implant for the bottom lip. I have no complaints for the upper lip implant. I’ll try to explain this as short & simple as possible. I am posting a few pictures to assist my explanation, but don’t want to put my before & after pics until I have given it enough time to know for sure what I am ending up with.

Looking at the picture of the Surgisil PermaLip Implant, It is mostly the same thickness the entire length except for a short length of tapering at the ends. Unless your lips have that natural pout or hammock slope in the bottom middle, this implant puts too much thickness too far out to the sides when it should have been tapering in much sooner. Also, when it does taper in, it does so too quickly. It needs a smoother transition. As a result of this unwanted thickness in the last half inch or so near the mouth corners, my mouth looks more down turned and my husband said it looks like I am frowning all the time. My bottom lip looks fine if I am smiling – which picks up the corners and stretches the length so it doesn’t look the same thickness end to end. I’m thinking ahead for options in case this look doesn’t improve after a couple of months. Options might be a lip corner lift, but that looks awkwardly lifted if you have a face-lift after that. I plan to have an endotine facelift in the future but don’t need it yet. I could make the shape look a little better with lipliner or permanent makeup, but I want to fix the real problem, which is the shape of the implant. I could ask the plastic surgeon to sell me a replacement for the bottom, but before inserting it hand me sterile gloves and sissors so I can shape it myself.

It would be great to speak with someone at Surgisil about design improvements for lower lip implants. They could even offer options for people that have one side of their mouth thinner than the other. I am an artist, permanent makeup artist, and plastic surgery nurse. It is my passion to know how something should be shaped, and what can be done to get it that way.

auraofbeauty's provider

Paul Howard, MD

Replies (42)

October 11, 2010

Hi auraofbeauty,

Thanks for the great post. It's been a few days any change, how are you doing?

-Britt

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January 8, 2011
Thanks for your comments. I'm doing better, but I'm scheduled for a re-do in 3 weeks. That will be nearly 4 months post-op. I'm still not sure if the problem is the length, or the placement (possibly not same depth all across) so I'm not sure what "fix" he'll use...which makes me extremely nervous! I do NOT want to do this a third time. Anyone out there had similar problem?
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October 13, 2010
Give it several months and the sagging corners will improve. Mine did. It doesn’t go away completely but enough to settle with the ordeal. Is still better than the alternative of the way it was before. I had the upper implant removed because it slid all the way to one side. My doc tried to reposition it but it just went back over to the left and the other tail end was poking at the front of my lip. The bottom implant only slides a teeny bit over sometimes and I just press on the far end of it to move it over. I have to do this a few times a day.
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October 21, 2010
I put a lot of these implants in and possibly you would have done with a shorter size. I love mine and I have the down turned mouth and the aging lips. A shorter one will have less fullness as you go to the sides.
October 21, 2010

Hi Ibennack,

Are you a PS?

-Britt

November 30, 2010
Dear Auraofbeauty,
I had the lip procedure done for the exact same reasons as you and have been extremely happy with my results. I remember my doctor telling me that placing the correct width and length were key for the success of the procedure. I actually wanted the largest width; however, my doctor obviously knew better than I. I had the medium(width)implants placed in both my upper and lower lips. Do you think that possibly the implant that you are unhappy with is both too large in width and length? I strongly believe that there has to be some reason why you are experiencing this - I've recommended this procedure to so many of my friends who have all been elated with their results. I'll be anxiously waiting to hear what you find out. Bryana
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December 21, 2010
I had the Permalip implants 9 weeks ago and I'm still very uncomfortable, swollen and tight. They don't seem to fit right. How can I know if my doctor has done something wrong, like put in the wrong size? I haven't been able to find much info on these things. What's normal??
December 21, 2010

Hi Nancy,

Good question you should post it in our Dr. Q&A for an answer. Hope that helps and please keep us posted.

Thanks,

-Britt

September 12, 2012
To my knowledge there is only 3sizes and the Dr. Measures your lip, then the size of implant that measures closest, he uses.
January 12, 2011
I had PermaLip implants one week ago and the left side of my mouth is not right My top lip ,on the left side is lifted like I am snarling. The bottom left side is sagging a bit. It is not too bad when I wake up , but gets worse as the day goes on. I think my PS either positioned it incorrectly, or the size is too long. I got the 4 mm. They are comfortable - just a bit firm. I am going back tomorrow to see if they have to be repositioned. I hope I don't have an ongoing problem . The right side looks nice.
February 1, 2011
Hi Cystal,

I did a lot of research before having my PermaLip procedure. The best information that I received was from SurgiSil. I spoke with a woman named Lee Ann who was able to answer all of my questions. After speaking with her, I decided to definitely have the procedure. I'm extremely happy and I love my lips! I strongly suggest you give her a call. Without a doubt, she will have the answers to your questions. I'll be thinking about you. Please update me once you have spoken with her. Bryana
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May 8, 2013
LeeAnn is great...shes a friend of mine and we both had 4mm lip implants then went back for the 5mm!!!
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May 8, 2013
And then Leann went back to the 4 mm I still say they looked okay felt hard nobody noticed that I removed them (lol)
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January 18, 2011
Hi Cystal01,

I'm having my re-do surgery in February, 4 months after my originally got my implants (5mm). I posted a question like yours on Surgisil website and got a phone calls from 2 of the doctors who trained my doctor how to do them. They were wonderful, and contacted my doctor to make sure my re-do is perfect. I suggest you get in touch with Surgisil.