Lip Augmentation in Patients with Fitzpatrick Skin Type V and VI: Use of a Validated Lip Fullness Scale and Determining Pre-injection Lip Size Preference and Post-injection Patient Satisfaction

Background: There is limited literature assessing cosmetic lip size preferences in darker-skinned individuals.

Objective: To measure preinjection lip augmentation preferences and postinjection satisfaction using the revised Lip Fullness Scale (LFS) in female participants with Fitzpatrick Skin Type V and VI.

Methods: Females, aged 21 and over, with Fitzpatrick Skin Type V and VI desiring lip augmentation were recruited from a high-volume outpatient facial plastic surgery clinic. The LFS scale was administered pre- and postinjection. FACE-Q scales which measure patient reported outcomes for facial cosmetic procedures were administered postinjection.

Results: Twenty-two female subjects participated in the study. The average age was 33.2 years (SD = 8.1). Fourteen participants (14) were Fitzpatrick V and eight (8) were Fitzpatrick VI. The average preinjection self-assessment LFS was 3.5. The final average postinjection self-assessment LFS score was 4.3. The increase in final postinjection LFS scores was found to be statistically significant with a p-value <0.001 when compared with preinjection LFS scores. Patients reported high satisfaction on postinjection FACE-Q.

Conclusion: Patients with darker skin may prefer marked to very marked lip fullness, and physicians should be conscientious in understanding patients’ individual perspectives and aesthetic goals.