Lip Augmentation Patient Satisfaction May Be Improved By Dividing Lips Into Zones

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Main Category: Cosmetic Medicine / Plastic Surgery
Also Included In: Dermatology
Article Date: 22 Jan 2008 - 5:00 PDT

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If a cosmetic surgeon divides lips into zones based on structure he/she may be able to perform lip enhancement procedures with significantly higher satisfaction among patients, as well as fewer adverse events, according to an article published in Archives of Facial Plastic Surgery (JAMA/Archives), January issue.

The author writes "The lips are an essential component of facial symmetry and aesthetics." According to previous studies, female attractiveness is linked to wider and fuller lips. Magazines over the last 100 years have tended to go more for models with fuller lips. "There has been a dramatic increase in cosmetic surgery in Western culture in the past few decades, with an increasing focus on achieving aesthetic ideals and maintaining a youthful appearance."

Andrew A. Jacono, M.D., The North Shore University Hospital, Manhasset, and the New York Center for Facial Plastic Surgery, Great Neck, New York, carried out 137 lip augmentation treatments on 66 patients from January 1st 2004 to January 1st 2006.

He used a new classification of 15 lip zones to direct the placement of non-animal-sourced stabilized hyaluronic acid (Restylane) injectable gel fillers used for lip enhancement. He also recorded how long it took for lips to return to their original appearance. Adverse effects were also recorded. He measured patient satisfaction on a scale from 1 to 5 (five meaning highest satisfaction).

The author writes "A total of 137 treatments were performed on lips of 66 patients [62 women and 4 men]." The patients were, on average, 45.8 years old, their ages ranged from 20 to 76. 53 of them completed a questionnaire which measured satisfaction with their procedures - they had had 118 treatments. Their average score was 4.5. Lips took on average, 4.9 months to return to their original state.

According to the author, using this new classification of lip zones to direct injection increased the "ability to better control lip shape and size in lip augmentation. This technique was met with high patient satisfaction and no adverse effects."

"A New Classification of Lip Zones to Customize Injectable Lip Augmentation"
Andrew A. Jacono, MD
Arch Facial Plast Surg. 2008;10(1):25-29.
Click here to view abstract online

Written by - Christian Nordqvist
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