Tissue Removed During Facelifts Can Be Used for Lip Augmentation

Tissue Removed During Facelifts Can Be Used for Lip Augmentation A recent study carried out in the U.S suggests that those who use plastic surgery to lift up sagging cheeks and jowls may be able to use some of the tissue removed during the surgery to plump up their lips.
The study found that five years after receiving a facelift followed by lip augmentation using leftover tissue patients still had significantly fuller lips than they did before the procedure. However, the results weren’t as pronounced as they were at three months or one year.

The lead author on the study, Dr. Matthew Richardson, said that the technique gives those having a facelift a way to use their own tissue which would otherwise normally be discarded with minimal risk of complications. However, usually those who have already had a facelift cannot undergo the procedure as the tissue used for lip augmentation is normally removed during the first facelift.

The study focused on a procedure that plumps up the lips with tissue taken from what’s known as the superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS), a layer of tissues under the skin of the face.

In order to measure the long-term safety and effectiveness of the procedure researchers tracked 60 people for five years examining photos to see how plump lips stayed over time and which, if any, complications arose.

Just two patients had complications that required additional treatment, one to relieve swelling and the other for nodule removal.

According to an analysis of photos from a subset of 26 patients at three months, one year and five years both the upper and lower lips were fuller compared to before the facelifts and lip augmentation.
However, the authors did note that some people were missing at least one picture and others had to be excluded as they’d received additional cosmetic lip procedures during the study.

Those interested in undergoing the procedure should also be aware that it is unlikely to be covered by insurance and in most instances will cost something in the region of $5,000 to $8,000. Nonetheless, those interested can be reassured by the study as it showed that the procedure can be carried out safely and with long last effects.