Lip augmentation using sternocleidomastoid muscle and fascia grafts.

[OBJECTIVE] To report a new technique for long-term cosmetic lip augmentation and demonstrate that sternocleidomastoid (SCM) muscle and fascia grafts have long-term persistence.

[METHODS] Measurements of vermilion show and lip projection were taken from before and after photographs of 25 consecutive patients who underwent SCM muscle and fascia augmentation of the lips with concurrent cervicofacial rhytidectomy and were compared with a control group of 25 cervicofacial rhytidectomy patients who did not undergo lip augmentation. All patients had a minimum follow-up period of 1 year.

[RESULTS] At a mean follow-up period of 2 years, mean upper and lower lip vermilion show increased 20% to 24% from baseline (P < .001), and mean upper and lower lip projection increased by 0.90 to 0.99 mm from baseline (P < .001).

[CONCLUSIONS] Lip augmentation with SCM muscle and fascia grafts results in long-term enhancement of vermilion show and lip projection. The surgeon must account for some degree of postoperative graft resorption and atrophy when determining the size of the grafts to be transplanted. With careful patient selection and surgical technique, SCM muscle and fascia implantation is a valuable tool when treating the aging lip.