Brand names: Gore S. A.M., Softform
Major risks: These grafts and implants require surgery. There can be unpleasant firmness and a risk of the implant breaking through the skin. Thinner strands of Gore S. A.M. (Subcutaneous Augmentation Material) and Softform may reduce the risk of over-firmness. Synthetic implants are not recommended for lip enhancement due to the potential for an uneven or hard, unnatural appearance of lips. Your body can reject the implant. Scarring can occur.
Stability: Benefits can be permanent.
Gore S. A.M. and Softform are technically not injectable fillers but rather synthetic grafts of material surgically placed under the skin to plump up wrinkles. For those of us who live in the Northwest, Gore-Tex is a well-known, durable, synthetic fabric that works well in all weather conditions. It is essentially a form of Teflon. Gore-Tex has remarkable flexibility, and in the form of Gore S. A.M.—created by the same company that developed Gore-Tex, W. L. Gore and Associates—it can be used for cosmetic corrective procedures. The actual implant material is called expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE). Implanting threadlike strips of Gore S. A.M. under the skin around the lips or along the nasal labial folds (the lines that run from the nose to the mouth) can improve the appearance of the face.
Gore S. A.M. is porous, and therefore allows the body’s own tissue to attach itself to the material, creating a very durable, stable implant. However, Gore S. A.M has limited uses. For example, those with thin skin would find that the implant can easily be felt or even seen under the surface. It also should not be used on the lips because of the risk of stiffness, making the mouth look unnatural.
The Softform implant is made from the same material as Gore S. A.M. The major difference between Softform and Gore S. A.M. is that Softform threads are hollow, as opposed to Gore S. A.M., which is porous. Softform’s hollow structure allows your own tissue to grow through the cylinder to help make it more stable and durable. (Source: Journal of Oral Implantology, August 2007, pages 191-204.)