What is it?

Lip surgery refers to a set of procedures designed to shape and sculpt the lip. This could be done by a number of ways including surgical procedures and injection of fillers. Fillers have been of two types. Those that are from your own body such as fat and those that are not from your own body such collagen or Restylane. Fat Injection has been used for many years and has recently gain popularity. With this procedure you can sculpt or shape an area of the body with the use of your own fat and with minimal incisions. The advantage of fat grafting over other tissue fillers is that the fat is your own and thus cannot be rejected by your body. The advantage of other tissue fillers such as collagen and Resytlane is that is they are easy to do and need minimal recovery time.

What does it accomplish?

Fat injection is method used for shaping the body. Virtually any area of the body can be sculpted into the desired shape with the use of fat grafting. For example, if you want fuller lips, fat can be placed in the lip to achieve that shape. Tissue fillers can be used to shape the lip in a very precise manner. Vertical lines crossing the vermillion of the lip can be effaced. The lip can become more plump and sensual. Surgical procedures such as lip advancement and mucosal flaps take advantage of knowledge gained in reconstructive surgery to shape the lip for cosmetic reasons. These procedures are of course more invasive and most physicians do not use such procedures unless it absolutely indicated.

What happens during the first consultation?

In the first consultation you will get a chance to discuss your concerns with our patient care coordinators and Dr, Marefat. We will tell you what you need to know about your procedure and will help you determine what is best for you.   You will receive information booklets and pricing on the procedures.

How is it done?

Fat grafting is done by first removing appropriate amount of fat your own body. The liposuction is done through a small puncture hole that is hidden in a natural fold of the body. The incision itself can be as small as an eighth of an inch. The area to be suctioned is then infiltrated with a solution containing medicines that cut back on bleeding and postoperative pain. This fat is then processed for injection. With minute incisions the fat is placed in the desired area. Amounts of injection vary according to area and the amount of augmentation needed. With the new techniques of fat grafting most of the fat survives and gives long lasting results. Sometimes however, it may be necessary to re-inject an area with more fat. If this is necessary it can be done 2-3 months after the first procedure.

Tissue fillers are easily injected into the lip with a syringe. It is as simple as getting a shot. The lip is numbed and the filler is then injected in the lip in such a way as to get the desired shape. Today we have many choices for fillers; some of these can last for quite a long time.

Surgical procedures on the lip utilize the methods of reconstructive surgery to enhance the shape or volume of the lip. The location of incisions may vary. Some can be hidden in the mouth while others are on the outside of the lip. Generally the surgeon tries to avoid such visible incisions.

Procedure: Lip Surgery continued

What can I expect after surgery?

Recovery time: Your recovery will depend on the type of procedure done. With fat injection you will need to rest for the first two or three days, but most people are up and about shortly after surgery. The area of fat injection may swell for 1-2 weeks after surgery. We generally recommend our patients to take off 10-14 days from work. With tissue fillers the recovery time is negligible.   With one or two days most of the swelling resolves and you can cover any minor bruising with makeup. Surgical procedures on the lip will have more swelling and bruising. These procedures require between 7-10 days for recover. You will be on a soft diet for this period of time. Heavy lifting and exercising should be avoided in the first two weeks. You body will tell you when you are ready to get back into your regular exercise routine,

When are the sutures removed?

There are very few sutures in Fat Injection procedures in general. These usually come out in the first week. There are no sutures with tissue fillers. If you have an incision for you lip procedure they come out in one week. Sometimes you may have absorbable sutures that do not need to come out.

How many visits do I have after surgery?

We like to see our patients frequently after surgery. You are seen by the Doctor or nurse within 2-3 days of surgery. Then the normal routine is 1 week, 1month, 3 months, 6months, and 12 months. Of course if there is a need you may be seen more. We encourage our patients to come for routine follow-up visits every 3-5 years.

When can I wear make-up?

Yes. You should be able to wear makeup if you have had lip surgery. We do not recommend your putting makeup on your incisions however, because this may result in tattooing of the skin by the pigments of the makeup.

Am I a good candidate?

You are a good candidate for lip surgery if you have moderate amount of rhytids (wrinkles), loss of volume of the lip, good skin tone, good general health, and realistic expectations. This does not mean that you cannot perform lip surgery if you do not meet these criteria.

Procedure: Lip Surgery continued

What does the surgery cost?

The cost of surgery varies but here are some guidelines that will help you determine roughly what you could expect. Remember that these are only rough estimates . These estimations include the cost of the operating room and the anesthesia. The fee may be subject to change without notice. The best way for you get an accurate cost analysis is to see a doctor.

Lip Surgery $500 - $5,900

How do I pay for surgery?            

You can pay for surgery by certified check, Credit card, or cash. Payments for cosmetic surgery are expected prior to the procedure. If you are scheduling several weeks in advance of surgery you can pay by personal check.

Are there scars?

If you are having injection of fat or tissue fillers you will not have a scar. With lip surgery, the visibility of the scar will depend on what is being done. Some scars may be visible on close inspection. However these scars usually heal very well. After several months these scars fade and are difficult to see when covered with makeup.

Does it hurt?

The pain involved with injection of fat or tissue fillers is very tolerable. We have heard our patients describe it as minor 'soreness'. Surgical procedures on the lip may have more discomfort but are still easily controlled with oral pain medication. Many patients do not finish the pain medications prescribed to them for pain relief. But having said that remember that pain is very subjective, and it is not easy to predict what degree of pain you will have.

Will I be awake during surgery?

If you are having just having injection of fat or tissue fillers you will be awake. However if you are having a surgical procedure you will most likely be done in an outpatient facility under general anesthesia,

Where is the surgery performed? (i.e. office suite or hospital)

The surgery can be done either in the office or the outpatient facility depending on what is being done. For example if you have fat or tissue filler injection it is quite feasible to do this in the office under local anesthesia. On the other hand, if you want to have a surgical procedure then you are much more likely to be done in the outpatient facility. We rarely see the need to perform lip surgery in the hospital setting anymore. Only in rare situations in which the patient may have risk factors does Dr.Marefat suggest the hospital environment for surgery.

Are medical photographs taken?  

Yes. In all cosmetic and reconstructive cases medical photos are taken. Photographs are mandatory because this is the only way for us to compare you before and after results. Photographs in plastic surgery serve much the same role that x-rays serve for orthopedic surgery.

Date Revised: 12-7-04

 Copyright © 2004.
  To report any corrections, please contact the webmaster.
  Sitemap