Lips and chin surgery

In the past few years, lip corrections have become more popular. Corrections consist of making lips larger and fuller to make them more attractive.

Different procedures can be used for patients of all ages.

For making the lips larger different methods are used. Choices include biological material (e.g. animal collagen) or synthetic substances (hyaluronic acid) (see below).

There are other techniques, which use tiny pieces of tissue from inside the lip, which are then reattached outside the lip in order to make the lip larger. Some of these procedures are permanent and others are for a given period of time.

Lip Augmentation using Injections

A semi liquid substance is injected (with or without local anaesthetic) into the lip. Most of the time into the superior lip. Often it is hyaluronic acid (a synthetic substance) that is used, which is already contained in great amounts within our bodies. Collagen may also be used, but it lost its popularity when hyaluronic acid was discovered. These substances are reabsorbed, which means the results will not last. The effects will last for 3 to 9 months. It is strictly prohibited to inject substances that are not reabsorbed by the body, as Artecoll ® and Dermalive ® Liquid silicone injections are prohibited in Switzerland.

Fat transfer (also called autologous fat transfer or lipofilling) fills features of the face with fat taken from the patient him/herself.

This fat is removed from the patient by a small liposuction, so there is no allergic reaction. Fat transfer is a safe procedure, but the results are variable. Often several interventions are needed to obtain a visible result.

Lips can be increased using ribbons of tissue from the inside of the lip attaching to the outside (V-Y Plasty). It is also possible to use some dermis (inferior layer of the skin) to increase the lip volume. It is an outpatient operation under local anaesthetic.

The results will last for years and is an operation that brings significant changes.

Chin surgery is a procedure that enhances the chin using an implant (foreign body in synthetic material usually Teflon ®). The implant is placed in the chin by entering the mucous of the lower lip. It is an outpatient operation under local anaesthetic.