Permanent lip Implants, called PermaLip, are soft silicone rubber implants. These implants are placed in the lips during an in-office procedure using local anesthesia.
Plump and full lips are definitely a thing. Celebrities like Kylie Jenner, Angelina Jolie, and Scarlett Johansson have some of the “most-requested” lips. This look is commonly achieved using temporary fillers like Restylane and Juvederm. But this approach is not the best for everyone.
For those who are poor candidates for temporary fillers or those who want a permanent option for fuller lips, there is an alternative – permanent lip implants. These implants will add volume to the lips that lasts forever.
Temporary fillers are a great way to achieve that fuller and plumper lip that you want. However, these injections require repeated treatments since the filler is temporary. Permanent Lip implants produce results that are truly permanent—no repeat injections required.
Lip implants are a great option for those who have enjoyed the results of temporary fillers but want to avoid the discomfort, inconvenience, or expense of frequent treatments. It is also a good option or those who find that temporary fillers just don’t last long enough for them. Some people have a metabolism that simply “eats up” the filler material more quickly and see results that last only a few months.
PermaLip may be the solution for you.
PermaLip implants are made from soft silicone rubber so they look and feel natural. The implant does not interfere with normal lip motion, such as speaking, eating, smiling, or kissing. The implants come in a variety of sizes so your result can be customized. The implants are also tapered at the ends, allowing for a natural shape to the upper or lower lip.
Older implants tended to be stiff, so they resulted in a very unnatural appearance to the lips. Older implants also were not tapered at the ends, so they resulted in a fullness to the ends of the lips that did not look right.
The PermaLip implants are non-reactive, meaning that there can be no rejection of the implant, and because they are a solid silicone material, there is never any leaking or rupture. Also, the surface is smooth, so there is no scarring around the implants, they can easily be removed at any point.
You can see that the Permanent Lip Implants come in 3 different thicknesses – 3mm, 4mm, 5mm. Dr. Schulman will help you select which implant size is best for you. Sometimes, a different sized implant will be put in the top and bottom lip to give you the look you want.
“Full lips are definitely a thing. For many people, injectable fillers are a great option. But maybe these fillers just don’t last long enough for you and you don’t want to go through the pain, and expense, of doing injections every few months. This is where the lip implants come in.
I have been doing this procedure since 2006 and it has been very well received. The implants look and feel natural, and they last forever. If you want to find out about permanent options for fuller lips, come hit me up.”
The PermaLip implant offers a cost-effective option for women and men who desire full lips. Maintaining your full lips with temporary fillers can cost thousands of dollars per year.
While temporary lip injections remain among the most popular non-surgical treatments that we do, PermaLip implants represent an alternative that many find desirable because it can save you an enormous amount of money. The procedure literally pays for itself after just a few years of not paying for temporary lip fillers.
Dr. Schulman will examine you during your consultation. He will look at the size and shape of your lips, as well as the quality of the skin. He will then speak with you about your desires. Do you want to keep the existing shape of your lips, but just make things larger? Or, do you want to change the shape of your lips altogether?
He will also ask you about any past lip injections and your experience with those. All this information will help Dr. Schulman figure out if permanent lip implants are right for you. He may tell you that you should either start, or continue with, temporary lip fillers before committing to a permanent solution.
If lip implants are the right choice for you, Dr. Schulman will help you select the best implant size.
The procedure
Permanent lip implants are placed under local anesthesia, in the comfort of our office. You will have numbing medicine injected into your lips. After these injections, you will not feel any pain. A small incision is made in each corner of the mouth. Then a tunnel is made and the implant is inserted. Small stitches are placed in each corner incision.
These stitches are tiny and will fall out after a few days. The total time for this procedure is about 45 minutes.
The recovery
Bruising and swelling is normal. Most people will experience this for about 5-7 days. During this time, ice will help. Most people do not feel pain, but will feel a stiffness because of the swelling. Your lips will look larger than you want and the shape will not look as natural as you want. Do not worry.
This is to be expected and improves over the first few weeks. After about 2 weeks, you will look much better and your lips will be softer. As with any plastic surgery procedure, you will look even better as time goes on.
During one of your follow-up visits, Dr. Schlulman will show you how to do some simple massage exercises to your lips which will help your results.
I am so happy with my lips and now I don’t have to spend thousands of dollars a year to maintain them.
What is the PermaLip implant made of?
The implants are made of soft, silicone rubber. These implants are flexible enough to bend with lip movement, but firm enough to hold the desired shape.
How is PermaLip™ different from other lip implants I have read about?
PermaLip is composed of a material ideally suited for use in the lips. Other implants that have been used in the lips utilize substances that can potentially cause “tissue in-growth” into the surrounding lip tissue—in a sense, scarring to the implant itself. This process increases the likelihood of a “tethered” appearance or a restricted, unnatural smile. This potential problem has been minimized due to the smooth surface characteristics and the type of material used to manufacture the PermaLip implant.
Do I need anesthesia?
The implants are placed using only local anesthesia. This means that your lips will be made numb using small injections of numbing medicines. After these initial injections, you should not feel anything.
How is lip augmentation performed with the Permalip implant?
PermaLip™ Lip Enhancement is relatively simple to perform. The mouth and lips are locally anesthetized. Next, a small incision is made in each corner of the mouth. The PermaLip implant is then passed through a tunnel in the lip and positioned in the center. The process is then repeated for the other lip and the incisions are closed using absorbable sutures. The process typically takes less than thirty minutes and normal activity may be resumed the following day.
Are there scars?
The implants are placed through tiny incisions in the corners of the mouth. These will be virtually invisible after a very short time.
Are there different size options?
Yes. The implants come in 3 different thicknesses and 3 different lengths. This allows you to select the volume you want, and the surgeon to choose the length that best fits your lips.
How long is the recovery?
Your lips will definitely be swollen and bruised. This can last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. You will be given medications to decrease the swelling and bruising, but everyone is different. We recommend allowing a “social” recovery for about a week. There is usually very little discomfort after your PermaLip procedure.
What if I want to have the implant(s) removed?
Although PermaLip is permanent, it is also designed to be easily reversible should a person wish to return to their original lip appearance or change to a larger or smaller implant.
When will I be able to see the results?
Your lips will be quite large and swollen in the first few days post-operatively. As the swelling subsides you will begin to see your final result. Most people are happy with the results after a few short weeks.
How are lip implants comparable to injectables?
Implants do not wear off like temporary injectables. Temporary injectables are associated with repeat treatments every few months as the body breaks down the filler. Therefore, repetitive, painful, and costly injection procedures are required indefinitely if lip fullness is to be maintained. On the other hand, permanent, or long-term fillers, also exist.
While this type of filler does not need to be repeated regularly, they can be very difficult to remove. If an undesirable appearance results, or if a patient wishes to have their lips revert to their original size, this may be difficult to accomplish. PermaLip has the advantage of being both permanent, yet easily reversible, giving it the best of both worlds.
Will my significant other be able to feel Permalip when we kiss?
The vast majority of patients report that their partners cannot feel the implants while kissing. The extent to which you can feel the implant depends upon whether or not you had very thin lips beforehand. If you had thin lips and then had a large implant placed into a tight space it is quite possible to be able to feel the change.
If you choose to have your lips permanently enlarged in New York City, know that Dr. Schulman is among the most experienced in this procedure. Give our NYC practice a call at 212-289-1851 or click here to schedule your initial consultation.
