EVALUATION OF LIP AUGMENTATION WITH GORE-TEX FACIAL IMPLANT

Although numerous materials, including autogenous, homogeneous, and al loplastic materials, have been used for lip augmentation with varying degrees of success, no ideal one has been found to achieve a soft and long-lasting result. Gore-Tex implant has been successfully used in ca rdiovascular surgery. So far, it has not been used much in lip augment ation. In this study, a Gore-Tex SAM facial implant (1.8 mm in diamete r) was used for lip augmentation in 23 lips of 17 female patients. In 10 consecutive lips with three segments of the implant each, a compute r-assisted imaging system was used to scrutinize the results. The resu lts have shown that the three segments of the implant enhanced the lip projection with about 0.98 mm in mean (p < 0.01) and the exposed verm illion width with about 1.94 mm (p < 0.01) in the over 6 months follow -ups. No major complications, only some minor ones, were seen. For lip augmentation, we find that only minor changes can be achieved with th ree segments of the Gore-Tex facial implant. We feel that it is safe a nd believe it gives a permanent result which is not the case with coll agen injection and usually not the case with lipofilling despite reinj ections. Furthermore, we consider the implant quite expensive at prese nt.