Lip Implant Removal

Q: Dr. Eppley, I am interested in lip implant removal surgery. I would like to consider removal of my Gore-Tex lip implant. It is uneven and also tender. It was implanted around age 30 and I am now 49 years old. I would consider some type of plumping afterward as I suspect it will have a deflated look. 

A: You undoubtably have in an old style Gore-tex lip implant that is probably multi strand in design. You or I would have no idea as to his many strands were actually implanted. (although it is almost always more than just one) These can be challenging to remove and you are correct in that some immediate volume restoration would be helpful. Concurrent fat injections with the lip implant removal would be the appropriate approach since it may add some volume. But it also be a good treatment to prevent adverse scarring/contracture that can occur from such lip implant removal procedures.

Today’s lip implants are far easier to remove as they are a single tubular implant that slides back out just as easily as it is implanted An enveloping capsule that does not adhere to the implant enables its much easier removal.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana