What is involved in the lip augmentation procedure?
A. In the case of microfat grafting, the fat is harvested from different areas of the body, processed, and then injected to the lips. With biological tissue fillers such as Restylane or Captique, a pre-packaged syringe is used to inject the material into the lips. With soft synthetic implants (Gore-Tex, Advanta, Alloderm) a tiny incision is made into the corner of the lip, and the implant is threaded into position. Fat injections are used when the patient wants to use their own tissues. It takes longer to be completed then tissue fillers or synthetic implants. There will be some initial shrinkage of the fat during the first 3 months, thereafter the result is usually permanent. Swelling and bruising may last 2 weeks.
