Lip augmentations are generally fairly non-invasive, quick procedures that can make a world of difference. There’s a multitude of different ways to enhance the lips, including:
• Injectable fillers such as Restylane, Juvederm, or Belotero
• Fat grafts
• Lip lifts
• Dermabrasion
• Lip implants
• Botox around the mouth
But this doesn’t necessarily mean they are always performed without error or issue.
Palm Beach facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon, Jean-Paul Azzi, M.D., specializes in reconstructive procedures of the face, nose and neck and he’s one of the country’s most highly regarded facial plastic surgeons in the area of revisions.
In fact, Dr. Azzi commonly fixes the work of other doctors or medspas that have botched a lip procedure or simply have not given the patient their desired outcome.
Dr. Azzi explains that there are a handful of reasons why patients come to his South Florida offices wanting an adjustment, or revision, to a previous procedure. The list includes the appearance of lumps in the lips, uneven textures, lack of symmetry, an unnatural and puffy appearance or even shifting of the injectable. In some extreme cases, patients visit Dr. Azzi after another doctor or medspa used products to plump the lips that are not meant for lip augmentation – like silicone.
While the initial process of enhancing the lips is fairly simple from a procedural perspective, there is a lot of skill and artistry that patients don’t generally see. Variables like facial symmetry, lip symmetry, top lip to bottom lip ratios, desired fullness, and more - all need to be taken into consideration by the doctor prior to any kind of augmentation.
Dr. Azzi's #1 piece of advice is to always trust your face to a specialist, like a facial plastic surgeon. But in the event that a revision is needed, the original type of augmentation will ultimately dictate how the revision is performed.
LIP FILLER REVISION:
“Oftentimes, in the case of bad fillers, the lips can be fixed with an enzyme called hyaluronidase, and the filler can be redone a number of days later,” said Dr. Azzi. "Again, my advice here is to do your homework prior to getting fillers to begin with. Make sure you're going to a specialist -- facial plastic surgeons are your best bet."
LIP IMPLANT or SILICONE REVISION/ EXCISION:
In other cases, however, when products like lip implants or silicone are used, a surgical excise might be necessary to remove the material and also possible granulomas, or small bumps, that have formed around the injected material," said Dr. Azzi. "In these cases, tiny incisions can be made inside the lips so there aren’t any visible scars."
REVISION LIP LIFT:
A Revision Lip Lift is a highly specialized procedure," said Dr. Azzi. "We have patients fly in from all over the country for revision lip lifts. During a revision lip lift, the “old” scar is revised and the deep structures of the lip are suspended to allow for correction of the previous lip lift. Before performing the lip lift revision, I always discuss the desired amount of lip lift the patient prefers in the mirror and all measurements are made to the millimeter before anything is done. This ensures symmetry and a beautiful and natural lip lift result."
Sometimes, patients visit Dr. Azzi because they simply don’t feel like there was enough improvement with a procedure from another doctor. If you are paying for a service, you should certainly ensure the doctor has achieved the desired results. In these situations, Dr. Azzi first examines the lips to determine if the desired results can even be achieved through injectables or surgical procedures. In many cases, doctors jump right to injectables because patients are the most comfortable hearing that this will be their “solve”. What Dr. Azzi finds is that sometimes injectables aren’t the best course of action – sometimes a lip lift would be the best procedure, especially in older patients.
If you’re interested in adjusting the look of your lips after a previous procedure, but you’re not sure what might be your next best option, give Dr. Azzi’s office a call to schedule a consultation. (561) 429-5403
With offices conveniently located in Jupiter and Palm City, Florida, Dr. Azzi and his staff serve patients in the following South Florida areas and beyond: Jupiter, Palm Beach Gardens, Palm Beach, West Palm Beach, Tequesta, Hobe Sound, Stuart, Palm City, Jensen Beach and Vero Beach.
You deserve to be happy with the results of any procedure and it is your right as a patient to question your results. Don’t settle for anything less than the best, and only trust your face to a specialist.