[Intraoral lip augmentation]

Lip augmentation is a procedure frequently performed by cosmetic physicians, as well as cosmetic and reconstructive surgeons. Atrophy of the lips and the surrounding areas or even in the perioral region is often the result of malformations related to insufficient development of structures during embryogenesis, but also the consequence of tissue aging, which affects patients unequally. The general principle of lip and midfacial augmentation involves injections using needles or cannulas that directly puncture the skin at certain strategic points, in order to correctly position the substance intended to increase tissue thickness. One of the adverse consequences of this approach is sometimes excessive augmentation, which occurs even unintentionally, as it is difficult to precisely control the amount to be injected, even with extensive experience. This is why an alternative approach, which is not new, consists of performing these injections, in certain indications, not transcutaneously but rather intraorally. This approach has already been used for around thirty years by a number of surgeons, notably by a French school of aesthetic surgery and medicine. The depth of the injection is therefore of some interest because it allows for less transformation of the face, since the product will be deposited in contact with the periosteum or soft tissues but relatively far from the skin or labial mucosa. In this technical note, the principles of this deep intraoral injection are detailed, and results are presented as well as rare complications.