A new technique, published in the Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery and tried by surgeons of the Aesthetic Surgery Centre in Naples, Florida, is hoping to replace the use of traditional collagen implants with neck muscles in attaining poutier lips.
The team led by Dr. Anurag Agarwal achieved successful results in 25 patients. The procedure utilises a graft of the sternocleidomastoid muscle (muscle running along the side of the neck) and its connective fascia to be implanted into the patient’s lips. Two years after the surgery, the researchers noticed 20 to 24 percent increase in mean upper and lower lip vermilion. Further, the lip projection increased by 0.90 to 0.99 millimetres.
This procedure provides patients with a more natural look and feel, eliminates signs of aging, makes lips appear less puckered and abstains from using artificial implants. Says Dr. Agarwal; “Our patients have been thrilled with the natural feel and appearance, without the need for an artificial filler or implant”.
The postoperative care is fairly simple and has minimal complications, thereby making this procedure more and more popular amongst patients. The patient achieves the desired fullness of lips after swelling recedes.
The researchers concluded that neck muscle and fascia grafts, with “careful patient selection and surgical technique” is valuable in treating aging lips.
Written by Snigdha for Biomed-ME