Lip implant and method for insertion

Abstract

A lip implant having first and second regions is described. The lip implant includes a first region formed of a liquid, solid, or a gas and a second region formed of a solid material. Also described is a lip implant having an elongated cross-section. A method for insertion of the implant is also described along with the instrumentation facilitating its insertion.

1 . A lip implant, comprising:
 solid silicone having a first durometer rating, the solid silicone comprising:
 a first middle portion defining an outside surface and having a longitudinal center axis and a geometric center point; and 
 a pair of first tapered end portions between which the first middle portion longitudinally extends, the first tapered end portions defining respective outside surfaces; 
 wherein the first tapered end portions are symmetric about a transverse axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal center axis of the first middle portion and extends through the geometric center point of the first middle portion. 
   
     
     
         2 . The lip implant of  claim 1 , wherein the solid silicone is symmetric about the transverse axis. 
     
     
         3 . The lip implant of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an outer shell surrounding the solid silicone, the outer shell having a second durometer rating, the second durometer rating being higher than the first durometer rating, the outer shell comprising:
 a second middle portion defining inside and outside surfaces, the inside surface of the second middle portion contacting the outside surface of the first middle portion; and 
 a pair of second tapered end portions between which the second middle portion extends, each of the second tapered end portions defining inside and outside surfaces, the respective inside surfaces of the second tapered end portions contacting respective ones of the outside surfaces of the first tapered end portions. 
   
     
     
         4 . The lip implant of  claim 3 , wherein the second tapered end portions are symmetric about the transverse axis. 
     
     
         5 . The lip implant of  claim 3 , wherein the outer shell is symmetric about the transverse axis. 
     
     
         6 . The lip implant of  claim 1 , wherein the middle portion and the end portions cooperate to define the length of the implant. 
     
     
         7 . The lip implant of  claim 1 , wherein the solid silicone has a length between 5 centimeters and 8 centimeters. 
     
     
         8 . The lip implant of  claim 1 , wherein the middle portion comprises at least one region of uniform cross section and at least one region of non-uniform cross-section. 
     
     
         9 . A lip implant sized for insertion in a human lip, the lip implant comprising:
 a first biocompatible material having a first durometer rating, the first biocompatible material comprising:
 a first middle portion defining an outside surface and having a longitudinal center axis and a geometric center point; and 
 a pair of first tapered end portions between which the first middle portion longitudinally extends, the first tapered end portions defining respective outside surfaces; 
   and   an outer shell surrounding the first biocompatible material, the outer shell being formed of a second biocompatible material having a second durometer rating, the second durometer rating being higher than the first durometer rating, the second biocompatible material comprising:
 a second middle portion defining inside and outside surfaces, the inside surface of the second middle portion contacting the outside surface of the first middle portion; and 
 a pair of second tapered end portions between which the second middle portion extends, each of the second tapered end portions defining inside and outside surfaces, the respective inside surfaces of the second tapered end portions contacting respective ones of the outside surfaces of the first tapered end portions. 
   
     
     
         10 . The lip implant of  claim 9 , wherein the first biocompatible material is a solid material that comprises at least one of the following: silicone, expanded PTFE, urethane, and a biocompatible polymer. 
     
     
         11 . The lip implant of  claim 9 , wherein the second biocompatible material is a solid material that comprises at least one of the following: silicone, a polymer coating, expanded PTFE, urethane, and a biocompatible polymer. 
     
     
         12 . The lip implant of  claim 9 , wherein the first tapered end portions are symmetric about a transverse axis that is perpendicular to the longitudinal center axis of the first middle portion and extends through the geometric center point of the first middle portion 
     
     
         13 . The lip implant of  claim 12 , wherein the second tapered end portions are symmetric about the transverse axis. 
     
     
         14 . The lip implant of  claim 12 , wherein the first biocompatible material is symmetric about the transverse axis. 
     
     
         15 . The lip implant of  claim 12 , wherein the second biocompatible material is symmetric about the transverse axis. 
     
     
         16 . A lip implant for insertion in a lip, the lip implant comprising:
 a first region being formed of a material having a first durometer rating; and   a second region surrounding the first region, the second region being formed of a material having a second durometer rating, the second durometer rating being higher than the first durometer rating;   wherein the entirety of the implant is generally shaped to correspond to the shape of a lip.   
     
     
         17 . The lip implant of  claim 16 , wherein the first region is formed of at least one material selected from the group consisting of: expanded PTFE; silicone having the first durometer rating; silicone gel or beads; cohesive gel or beads; a hydrogel material; liquid silicone; biocompatible oil; and saline;
 and   wherein the second region is formed of at least one material selected from the group consisting of: silicone having the second durometer rating; and a coating formed of a polymer.   
     
     
         18 . The lip implant of  claim 16 , wherein the first region is formed of a biocompatible material selected from the group consisting of silicone gel or beads, cohesive gel or beads, and a hydrogel material. 
     
     
         19 . The lip implant of  claim 16 , wherein the second region is coated with a polymer film. 
     
     
         20 . The lip implant of  claim 16 , wherein the second region comprises a middle portion and a pair of opposing end portions extending from the middle portion; and
 wherein each of the opposing end portions of the second region is closed.