Lip Augmentation with Fat Transfer

About the Procedure

During a lip augmentation with fat transfer procedure, the board certified plastic surgeon will harvest fat tissue from the buttocks, thighs, or stomach via liposuction. As very little fat tissue is removed, there are typically no visible differences to the harvesting area. The fat is then injected into the lips with a fine gauge needle. The blunt end of the needle will leave tiny 0.2 cm puncture wounds in the lips. This procedure is typically performed under local anesthesia and causes little discomfort. Using fat grafting to plump the lips is a minimally invasive procedure that is performed on an outpatient basis. It produces immediate results and requires only a few days to fully recover from in most cases. The patient should expect mild discomfort or swelling for 1-3 days after the procedure. Unlike an artificial implant, using the patient's own fat tissue eliminates the risk of bodily rejection. The chance for permanent integration is very high. Natural-looking results from this safe procedure typically last for 6-12 months before subsequent treatments are necessary. Single injection costs range from $3,000-$5,000.