Maria's New Smile(Gore-Tex, Softform, Dermalogen, Veneers!)

After many, many year of wanting fuller lips, I had lip augmentation surgery with Dr. James Romano in late May 2001. While I was under “twilight” sedation, he implanted gortex strings implants to the top and bottom lip, as well as two Softform tubes to each top side of my top lip.

My Teeth

But this wasn't my first foray into improving my smile. As a teenager I had braces (I still wear my retainer at night.) I had an overbite, my front two teeth had a gap, and my teeth were generally crooked. I spent more time trying to correct my overbite than in braces. I got those off in a little over a year. My teeth were straight and my overbite less noticeable (I got them late, late in my teens so the correction wasn't as good if I had gotten treatment earlier.) My front two teeth were angled up and slightly small, but overall it was a huge improvement.

Then a couple years ago I decided to bleach my teeth. To save a couple hundred dollars, I went with the customized trays and gel, even though my dentist offered laser treatments. Big mistake. The process was long, messy and painful. I had tooth sensitivity that kept me in bed, but it didn't stop me. My teeth were lovely and white, though the front two were still chipped and crooked.

So then many years later, I got laid off. Best damn thing that ever happened to my teeth. Pregnant at the time, I decided with little prodding from my dentist, Dr. Sean Moran, to get my front two teeth fitted with porcelain veneers. It was pretty pricey, $800 per tooth, but insurance paid for half since my bite was wearing the back of my teeth down.

The process took a while. First I was numbed up and my front teeth were filled into nubs! Not at all attractive. Then temporary caps were affixed to my teeth and impressions taken so my veneers could be sent out to make. The temps were so good, though felt fake and chalky, that my husband thought they were the final product. After a couple of scheduling snafus, I went back and had to endure the doctor prying off the veneers were affixed. He slightly filed down my bottom teeth for an even line and sent me off. Now I have pretty good-looking teeth, though I'd like to do something about my gum line. When I do investigate my options, I'll write it up.

With the rest of my severance package I got new retainers, which my husband recently lost when he didn't pack them after a trip, but lucky for me my old grungy ones still work fine.

My Lips are photos #115 in gallery. I first decided to do something about my lips about four or five years ago. I went in for a consult and made an appointment to have AlloDerm done in house with a nameless surgeon. Suffice to say, it didn't work out and I was really relieved. First they prescribe penicillin when I told them I was allergic and then on the surgery date, I showed up and no one was there! They had switched days on me. I got in the car and cried with relief and got a full refund.

So I decided to go with collagen. Found a doc, did the test and then went in for the injections. It was painful. Now that I think of it, he didn't numb me and I cold taste whatever it was he was injecting into my lips running down my teeth. I was told not to touch my lips. I went home and actually had to recover from collagen injections.

By the next day, I had tiny bumps in my lips and the top was uneven with a noticeable depression at the cupid's bow. Not at all what I thought it would be, mostly since I asked for volume, not definition and he had concentrated on the lip line. I went back and even his receptionist said the job need tweaking. The doctor, though, said this was normal. My husband, boyfriend at the time, was having none of it so we went back again and got our money back.

Many years later, I decided to try again. I had new white teeth and the same old lips. So I went in for a consult with Dr. Romano where we went over my options. I shied away from surgery and went with Dermalogen.

Turned out great, (#115 in the gallery), but as you know, temporary. So my husband had lost tons of money in the stock market. Got greedy and then pulled out with only a few thousand more than what he had started with. And I said since he was so eager to kiss money away, he really should and I earmarked a chunk of what was left for my new lips.

My Surgery

So this brings us to late May 2001. I was totally out of it which is nice because with the baby, I don't get much sleep. When I woke up I was a bit groggy and my lips were stiff and swollen. The woman next to had also gotten an implant as well as liposuction. I bet we each hopped we didn't look as bad as the other one. who said that this was it for cosmetic surgery. I knew we both thought the same thing, yeah right.

I went home and tried to eat. I had that whole duck thing going, plus some bruising. I went in a week later and got the stitches out. The four for the Softform were the only noticeable ones and once they came out, my lips looked normal enough for me to go outside and not feel weird.

Still Trying

Unfortunately, the top implants didn't give me the results I wanted. They only accentuated the shape of my lips and one of the tubes just didn't set properly. I've gone back for Dermalogen injections and this resolves the lack of volume and unevenness wonderfully. I get lip and definition with the two working together. I also don't get blocked. It hurts to have it injected, but the pain goes away much faster than that awful numbed feeling. I had my last round of Dermalogen (which is no longer being manufactured) on Jan. 21st and I have some in reserve that will hopefully tide me over until Artecoll is available.

Dr. Romano has suggested removing the errant tube, but I'd rather avoid any cutting and stitching if I can. We are waiting for Artecoll and hopefully that will resolve that issue and the lack of volume. Overall, I don't consider my lips “done” yet since neither Dr. Romano or myself are totally satisfied with theresults.

The End?

Yeah, right! Would I do it again? That depends. I think you really have to take a look at your lip anatomy and expect realistic results. There is only so much an implant can do. But I am glad I finally did deal with my lips and admitted to myself that I did want them done and there is nothing wrong with improving your looks.

Next, besides the Artecoll, which is a definite, I am considering a nose tip refinement, and I want to do something about the hollows under my eyes. Dr. Romano said that Artecoll can be placed under there but he is leery of doing it. We'll see, since I don't think I want eye surgery or think I really need it. Also, I'm going to look into getting my gum line done.

My husband has really full, plush lips, with a little pillowy crease in the bottom one. It annoys me, but he's fun to kiss. Luckily, our little boy seems to have inherited his lips.