How do I prepare for lip augmentation?
Your healthcare provider will give you specific instructions on how best to prepare. A few weeks before the procedure, you’ll need to stop smoking and taking blood-thinning medication, which can worsen bruising. Avoid pain relievers like aspirin and herbal supplements like multivitamins and fish oil.
What happens before lip augmentation?
Your plastic surgeon will likely use local anesthesia to numb the area so that you don’t feel any pain. You’ll be awake for the procedure. If you’re having multiple cosmetic surgeries, you may receive general anesthesia and be asleep the entire time.
What happens during lip augmentation?
Here’s what to expect according to the type of lip augmentation procedure you have:
Lip fillers
When getting lip injections, your healthcare provider uses a fine needle to inject the filler into your lips. The injections typically take 10 to 30 minutes.
Fat transfer
If the injected substance contains fat from your body, you’ll have liposuction to remove the fat, usually from your belly area. After the fat is purified, your plastic surgeon injects it into your lips. The entire procedure takes about 60 to 90 minutes to complete.
Lip implant
This procedure usually lasts about 30 minutes. During lip implant surgery, your plastic surgeon:
- Numbs your lips.
- Makes a tiny incision in each corner of your mouth.
- Creates a tunnel by inserting a clamp through one incision and threading it to the other side.
- Pulls the implant through the tunnel using the clamp.
- Closes the incisions with stitches.
Lip lift
This procedure typically takes about an hour. During a lip lift, your plastic surgeon:
- Numbs the area.
- Makes an incision under your nose.
- Removes a small strip of skin.
- Lifts your upper lip.
- Closes the incision with stitches.
In another type of lip lift, the surgeon makes two small incisions on each side of your mouth and removes a bit of skin from those areas.
What happens after lip augmentation?
You’ll receive instructions for helping your lips heal and optimizing your results. The plastic surgeon may suggest:
- Eating soft foods for the first few days.
- Elevating your head during sleep.
- Not moving your lips excessively.
- Using an ice pack on your lips for several days.
FAQs
But you will really start to see results as the swelling and bruising begin to disappear and that typically occurs two weeks after the procedure. After three to four months, the fat will begin to settle and the surviving fat cells will have adapted to their new environment.
What's the worst thing that can happen with lip fillers? ›
Infection. Tissue death (vascular compromise), which can occur if lip filler is injected into or around an artery.
Can facial fat transfer go wrong? ›
Facial fat grafting can lead to complications such as infection, asymmetry, over or under correction, and in rare cases, fat necrosis. It's crucial to choose an experienced surgeon to minimize these risks.
What to expect after fat transfer? ›
Immediately after fat transfer surgery, some patients feel groggy or nauseous. These feelings normally subside by the next day. You will probably be very sore for the first week. Bruising is normal and will mostly subside in 2-4 weeks.
What are the drawbacks of fat transfer to lips? ›
Cons:
- Fat transfers are associated with 10 to 14 days of social recovery time, due to bruising and swelling.
- Fat transfers require an anesthetic. It is typically performed using light sedation and local anesthesia.
- Fat transfers are not very useful for filling in the fine lines around the mouth.
ACTIVITY AFTER FAT TRANSFER TREATMENT
Avoid bending, lifting, or straining for one to two weeks. Be extremely careful if wearing any “pull-over the head” clothing.
What are the bad results of fat transfer? ›
Roughly up to 50-60% of the initial volume inserted may be lost and a touch-up procedure may be required. Common side effects of a facial fat transfer are bruising and swelling, a feeling of numbness or altered sensation in the fat-filled areas.
What happens if you don't have enough fat for a fat transfer? ›
Ho offers several solutions to this challenge: Evaluating multiple donor sites: Fat can be harvested from various areas of your body, including the abdomen, thighs, and back. Combining donor fat: If necessary, fat from multiple sites can be combined to accumulate enough for the transfer.
Can your body reject a fat transfer? ›
Can your body reject fat transfer? No, a person's body will not reject its own fat cells. However, not all of the transferred cells will typically survive. Sometimes, the cells that do not survive may form oil cysts or scar bumps known as “fat necrosis.”
How long is downtime for fat transfer? ›
Some people can return to work and regular activities after a week, while others need two weeks or more. Talk to your plastic surgeon about recovery and what to expect for your specific fat transfer procedure.
Post-Op Care
For the first week, sleep with your back elevated using pillows for support. We want your grafted fat to stay in a perfect position during the initial healing process.
How long after fat transfer can I sit? ›
While this may seem like a long time, the recovery time is to allow for the best possible fat grafting to occur. Some patients are able to sit down after only two weeks, but most experienced surgeons suggest that patients avoid sitting down for six weeks after surgery.
Does fat transfer to lips look natural? ›
Fat grafting can define the borders of the lips and recreate the desirable Cupid's Bow. It can also effectively plump the lips in a way that look and feel natural.
How long does it take for fat transfer to soften? ›
The breasts will look nice immediately after surgery. They will be larger than the expected final size. They continue to soften and improve in feel and appearance over the next 2-3 months. By around 2-3 months the volume is stable.
How long does lip migration take to dissolve? ›
FAQ: Filler Migration and Dissolving with Hylenex Treatments
Yes, most lip fillers, especially those based on hyaluronic acid, naturally dissolve over time as the body gradually absorbs them. This process can take several months to a couple of years, depending on the type of filler used and individual factors.
How long will I be sore after fat transfer? ›
How long are you sore after fat transfer? The swelling, bruising, and soreness can last for a week, both in the face where the fat grafting was performed and in the area from where the fat was harvested.
