Three-Dimensional Morphometric Trajectories Following Lip Lift With or Without Fat Grafting in Facial Feminization...

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Facial Aesthetics
• 3D Imaging Analysis

Background:

• Subnasal lip lifts are used to address perioral aging.
• Long-term quantitative data on the permanence of subnasal lip lift outcomes are limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct the first 3D morphometric evaluation of changes after subnasal lip lift with or without autologous fat grafting.
• To analyze the long-term changes and permanence of these procedures over time.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 40 facial feminization patients undergoing subnasal lip lift ± fat grafting.
• Standardized 3D VECTRA imaging to measure key facial parameters preoperatively and postoperatively.
• Statistical analysis using t-tests and linear mixed-effects models to assess early changes and longitudinal trajectories.

Main Results:

• Both groups showed significant early philtral shortening and increased upper vermilion surface area.
• Fat grafting resulted in greater early volumetric augmentation, though not statistically significant.
• Philtral shortening showed 43% retention at 24 months, while volume and surface area gains approached zero by 2 years.

Conclusions:

• Subnasal lip lifts cause measurable philtral shortening, with partial relengthening over time.
• Early gains in lip volume and vermilion display significantly decrease by two years.
• Autologous fat grafting provides enhanced early augmentation but limited long-term retention.