Compartment-Based, Dual-Plane Fat Grafting for Lip Aesthetics: a Preliminary Report

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Aesthetic Medicine
• Anatomy

Background:

• Understanding lip compartments provides an anatomic framework for precise augmentation.
• Autologous fat grafting is a permanent solution for lip enhancement but faces challenges such as unpredictable resorption and contour irregularities without structural guidance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a compartment-based, dual-plane fat grafting technique for lip augmentation.
• To assess the safety and efficacy of this refined approach to autologous lip enhancement.

Main Methods:

• A compartment-based, dual-plane fat grafting technique was applied to 10 female patients.
• A 7-point access strategy integrated with lip compartment theory guided fat injection into deep and superficial compartments.
• Outcomes were assessed using the Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale (GAIS), patient satisfaction surveys, and lip ratio measurements.

Main Results:

• All patients demonstrated improved lip fullness and contour.
• High patient satisfaction was reported (mean Likert score 4.36±0.50).
• Significant aesthetic improvement was noted (mean GAIS score 1.58±0.51) with a more balanced lip ratio (1.10±0.13 to 0.85±0.11).
• No major complications occurred.

Conclusions:

• The dual-plane, compartment-based fat grafting technique offers a structured, anatomically guided approach to lip augmentation.
• This method achieves predictable volumization and refined contouring, leading to natural aesthetic outcomes and high patient satisfaction.
• This technique represents a promising advancement in autologous lip enhancement.