ABSTRACT
There is a growing demand for lip rejuvenation using injectable fillers. None of the
currently available off-the-shelf products has been shown consistently to persist
longer than 1 year. Based on the patient's age and varying degrees of perioral soft
tissue atrophy, a volume-based assessment and recommendation for the type of soft
tissue fill is presented. Other factors determining the choice of filling agent include
the patient's available recovery time and the degree of longevity or persistence desired.
Since 1998, sixty-one patients have undergone lip and perioral rejuvenation with allogeneic
particulate AlloDerm or with autologous fat injection. Younger patients with a lesser
need for large volume have had good results with particulate AlloDerm (Life Cell,
Branchburg, NJ), especially in combination with erbium laser treatment. Older patients,
who needed a larger volume of filling material and who desired a more persistent and
visible result, underwent autologous fat grafting. Both of these methods provide safe
and effective soft tissue augmentation of the lips and perioral area, especially when
a volume larger than 1 or 2 cc is needed.
Keywords
Lip rejuvenation - AlloDerm - fat grafting - soft tissue augmentation
