LIP AESTHETICS

Do you know why we like plump lips? Because plump and lively lips are a symbol of beauty as well as one of the indispensable elements of youth, attractiveness, fertility, sexuality, femininity and most importantly beauty. The beauty of the lips, which is one of the most important complementary elements in facial beauty, is very important in terms of completing the integrity of the face. The size, fullness, thinness or thickness of the lips should be compatible and proportional to the other elements of the face, namely the nose, cheeks, eyes, eyebrows, chin and teeth. Thick and full lips are an expression of youth, while thinned and relaxed lips are an expression of old age. Lips have a very important place in the aesthetic appearance of the face. For this reason, the lively and plump appearance of the lips strengthens the expression of youth and health on our face.

Lips are thin and indistinct in some people congenitally, that is, genetically. In some, they become thinner and lose their fullness and liveliness by wrinkling due to the melting of tissues due to aging. The decrease in the fragility and fullness of the tissues is a result of the decrease and melting of the skin, muscle and fat amounts in the face. The facial skin and other structures with it, cheeks, neck skin, eyelids, eyebrows and of course lips sag downwards with gravity. With the sagging of the lips, the lower teeth become visible when these types of patients smile and talk, and the visibility of the lower teeth (dental show) is an expression of old age. In young people, on the contrary, when they smile and talk, the upper teeth are more visible and the lower teeth are not visible. This is a young facial expression.

Lip aesthetics is preferred by those who have structurally thin lips or who have thinned over time, who want to strengthen the expression of youth and beauty on their face with thick and full lips, or who want to have more lively and fuller lips. As well as those with thin and wrinkled lips, thinning surgeries are also performed in those whose lips are thicker than normal, such as patients from the black race, for example. In addition, in patients who have to have a part of their lips removed due to lip cancer, surgeries are also performed to rebuild the lips, and these types of lip repair surgeries are of great importance in terms of function as well as aesthetics.

How is it done?

The aim is to thicken the lips and make their contours more prominent, reduce wrinkles and plump them. However, preserving a natural look is one of the main goals. There are many methods to thicken the lips and plump them by correcting wrinkles. We can examine these methods in 3 main groups.

1. Foreign Filling Materials

Liquid Silicone and Silicone Oil

Its use by injecting it into facial tissues became popular in the 1960s and 70s.¹ Liquid silicone and silicone oil, which have been used for years in lip augmentation, are no longer used today due to the negative effects they contain and the various complications they cause in the patients to whom they are applied. Its sale as an aesthetic filler by the American Food and Drug Administration FDA and direct injection into the tissue has been banned and is not used. The application here is different from the one made in breast surgeries. In breast surgeries, gel silicone is placed under the breast in a thick sheath and can be removed when desired. It does not contain any harm. However, when it is injected into the lip, this silicone, being liquid, spreads between the tissues and it becomes impossible to remove it. It causes inflammation in the lip tissue and also leads to deformity in patients because it constantly changes place. In our country, some unauthorized people secretly perform this type of silicone filling in some hotel rooms, houses and some beauty salons. For these reasons, it should be careful and should definitely not be done. In our country, no plastic surgeon applies liquid silicone or silicone oil injection to the face.

Temporary Filling Materials (Collagen)

They are harmless materials consisting of substances such as hyaluronic acid. Collagen is obtained from cowhide. Its use has almost stopped with the emergence of mad cow disease. In addition, since it is an animal protein, there is a risk of allergy, it is not used without testing. Hyaluronic acid, which is also applied to correct wrinkles on the face, is the most widely used material. When Restylane®, a hyaluronic acid that is injected with a needle, is used, the application is very simple and the patient immediately returns to his/her normal life. It remains permanent for 4-6 months after application and needs to be repeated at the end of this period. It is obtained chemically and does not cause allergies, it is risk-free. These substances are injected just inside the skin. They are used to straighten and define the lip edges. They are insufficient in cases where more thickening is required. It is dissolved and removed from the body within 4-6. In other words, its effect is temporary and it needs to be done every 6 months.

There are many chemical substances that are made with this type of needle and are not removed from the body, that is, provide permanent correction. They can stay in the body for 4-5 years. Such injection-type applications are extremely simple. Immediately after it is done, the patient can continue his/her normal daily life.

2. Filling with the Patient’s Own Tissues

Fat Cells: Fat cells taken from the patient’s own body by drawing them are injected into the lips and other wrinkles if necessary after being carefully processed. 20-30% of the placed cells remain after 3-6 months. Effective lip thickening can be achieved when the procedure is repeated several times. It has no harm, it does not contain risks such as allergies, etc. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia. Swelling goes away in a few days. It is an extremely easy application. It is quite effective in cases requiring more fullness.

Skin Cells: Subcutaneous tissue and fat cells taken from the patient’s own body, for example, from the skin that comes out during abdominal or breast reduction surgery, or from the scar tissue that comes out of the scar tissue that has remained in the body before, are mixed and injected into the lips in the form of a tissue cocktail. In this method, it is necessary to repeat it 2-3 times because a part of the placed cells is eroded. It is one of the harmless and best methods. There is no risk of allergy.