Roller above the upper lip after augmentation

Lip augmentation using contouring is the most popular beauty procedure. Clinics and medical centers vied with each other to offer “Mona Lisa smile”, “French lips”» and "sexy lips".

Indeed, the procedure takes literally 40 minutes, makes the face sensual, rejuvenates and beautifies. Injecting filler into the lips allows you to restore the youthful fullness and clear contour of the lips that have been lost with age, make thin lips more expressive, and remove wrinkles around the lips.

At first glance, the scheme is very simple: a small amount of a substance is injected into the lips, which, when it gets under the skin, begins to hold water molecules around itself, as a result of which the lips puff up, become juicy and seductive. Beauty! You inject the drug and expect a wonderful result.

But only on one condition. The procedure must be performed by a professional of the highest class. Contour plastic surgery of the face and lips only seems to be a simple matter. Practice shows that otherwise the result will please only your worst enemies.

For many years now, at the Platinental Medical Center, we have been engaged not only in beautiful lip contouring. People turn to us every day to correct other people's mistakes. Today we share this “black list” in the hope that it will save you from disappointment and tears due to a thoughtless choice of doctor and drug.

Lip contouring with filler. Performed by dermatocosmetologist Elena Vlasova.

Lip contouring. Performed by a dermatocosmetologist Elena Vlasova .

Hit parade of horror stories for adult girls

So, here are the most common problems that result from unsuccessfully performed labiaplasty.

1. Lips turn out to be larger than you wanted

Did you dream of Angelina Jolie's plump lips, but got Pamela Anderson's lips? Alas, you have been given an excessive amount of gel.

Amanda Lepore, freak. “Pumped” lips look approximately the same on all types of faces - too unnatural to take their owner seriously.

If this is a modern drug based on hyaluronic acid, then you shouldn’t be too upset. Within a year, hyaluronic acid will dissolve on its own, and the lips will return to their natural shape. However, if the image of a “Malibu lifeguard” is not to your taste, come. Using special Spanish enzymes, we will delicately eliminate excess drug, maintaining the volume in the right places.

2. The harmonious proportions of the face are disrupted

A very common mistake. To see this, watch the opening of any film festival or other event where the elite gather. Most older actresses undergo lip contouring – this is a fact.

For one actress, “pumped” lips are perceived separately from the face as something completely foreign. And for some, the correction is completely invisible - for example, Dame Moore. She always had string lips. And now they do not stand out on the face with their fullness. But look how perfectly they harmonize with the rest of the facial features.

Dame Moore is one of the few who does not “pump” her naturally thin lips. Despite the use of contouring, her lips look natural and youthful. Perhaps this is the best example of the good taste of a cosmetologist and his patient.

If, unlike Damie, you made a mistake, it makes sense to correct it and return your lips to a proportional appearance.

If the harmony of features is disturbed, the face is not perceived as beautiful. In order to avoid the effect of someone else's lips, a contour plastic specialist needs to know in detail the structure of the face and its proportions, the laws of harmony, and also take into account several dozen features of the structure of the lips themselves, their age, balance in the upper and lower lips, their symmetry with the left and right sides

For example, at Platinental we use 13 criteria to create an irresistible smile. All of them are carefully taken into account each time before the procedure - individually for each patient.

Adequacy test: do you still think extreme lip size is beautiful?

3. Violation of the correct lip volumes

Lips seem beautiful to us not when they are simply equally large, but when they meet certain criteria. It is very important that the lower lip in profile is fuller than the upper lip.

If this is not so, then there is no need to talk about beauty. And here it doesn’t matter: they are the same or the upper lip is fuller than the lower. The ideal ratio of the size of the upper and lower lip is 1/3 to 2/3. This is the golden ratio, which was described in his works by Leonardo Da Vinci and which every self-respecting contouring specialist strives for in his works.

4. Destruction of the delicate anatomy of the lips

When a child draws a beautiful princess, he most often carefully draws her lips with a heart: the top one is in the shape of a bow, the bottom one is plump. A child will never draw two identical sausages instead of lips for a princess. And he's absolutely right.

The upper lip in humans has a complex structure. It must have a vertical groove (filtrum). At the junction with the red border, the philtrum forms a labial tubercle. The two smoothly curved ridges of skin along the edges of the groove are called columns of the philtrum.

The border between the skin and the red border of the lips is usually curved like a bow. The romantically inclined ancient Greeks, famous connoisseurs of beauty, compared the shape of a beauty’s lips with Cupid’s bow, and this name has survived to this day. There is also a Cupid's arch - the central part of the upper lip.

In order for lips to be beautiful, all this delicate anatomy must be carefully preserved. If, during contouring, an excess of the drug is injected, then the natural contours of the lips disappear - and we see just two plump pancakes, which can delight only a hungry person.

Beautiful lips are:

1. A clearly defined Cupid's bow.

Clear columns of the filtrum.

Clearly defined red border of the lips, emphasizing the curves.

Smooth skin between the nose and upper lip.

The distance from the base of the nose to the upper lip is less than 2 cm.

The Mona Lisa fold (a smile hidden in the corners of the lips) even at rest.

The lower lip is 1.5 times fuller than the upper lip.

The most protruding point in the profile of the upper lip projects forward relative to a similar point on the lower lip.

The angle between the upper and lower lips at rest is clearly visible.

Ricketts' line (Riccets E-line) is a straight line that runs from the tip of the nose to the protruding point of the chin, at a distance of 4 mm from the upper lip and 2 mm from the lower lip.

As you can see, beauty has many parameters and subtle nuances. And if you evaluate the beauty of lips by only one of them - size - this clearly betrays provincialism. Wearing “dumplings” on your face is as bad manners as appearing in public with extended and painted nails.

5. Lip eversion

If excess filler was injected from the lip mucosa, there is a risk of lip eversion. In this case, the inner mucous surface of the lips becomes visible, which should only come into contact with the teeth.

Jackie Stallone is the famous mother of her son, Sylvester Stallone. Eversion of the lips as a result of the injection of an excessive amount of artificial gel.

Try doing this procedure in front of a mirror - turn your lip out a little. Do you see? The shade of the mucous membrane is light, it differs from the bright color of the lips. Therefore, any inversion is very noticeable. In this case, it is hardly possible to talk about the beauty of lips. But the beauty here is not even the worst thing.

The everted mucosa is not intended for contact with air. As it dries, it becomes covered with cracks that become inflamed. If nothing is done, stomatitis (inflammation of the entire oral cavity) and cheilitis (inflammation and severe peeling of the lips) develop.

6. Asymmetry

If an unequal amount of the drug is injected into the lips, asymmetry occurs: for example, the right side of the upper lip becomes larger than the left. This is one of the common mistakes when unprofessional plastic surgery is performed.

Pamela's bewitching charm and open smile make this defect not obvious. However, there is a clear asymmetry of Pam's lips, which appeared after their enlargement.

7. Duck Mouth

The famous “duck mouth” is also the result of a medical error. It appears when at a young age an excessive amount of the drug is injected into the skin of the upper lip.

As a result, the gel partially migrates, the upper lip swells, becomes longer, and truly begins to resemble a duck's beak.

“Before” and 2 weeks “after” removal of the biopolymer from the lips. Surgeon: Iskornev A.A.

Before and after photos of duck lips correction surgery.

Lip reduction, removal of silicone from lips. Surgeon: Iskornev Andrey.

8. Drooping corners of the lips

"One wrong move and you're a father." The same phrase very accurately conveys the features of contour plastic surgery. Two wrong movements with a syringe in the corners of your lips - and you literally become 10 years older in 30 seconds.

Have you ever wondered why celebrities constantly smile? Perhaps only Victoria Beckham allows herself to walk along the Red carpet without smiling.

In addition to demonstrating friendliness, a smile helps very well to hide the corners of the lips and low cheekbones that have drooped with age.

This is not an exaggeration. One of the clearest signs of a “woman over 40” is drooping corners of the mouth. This facial expression has nothing to do with a bad mood. Drooping lips are as obvious a sign of age as nasolabial folds and bags under the eyes.

But unlike a bad contouring specialist, a good specialist will make every effort to lift the corners of your lips. Like this:

A good doctor will definitely make your face more attractive by turning the corners of your lips upward.

9. Wavy lip edge

With superficial and uneven introduction of the gel at the border of the red border and mucous membrane, it leads to the appearance of a wavy edge of the lips.

10. Inflammation

Inflammation on the lips can occur if sterility rules are not followed during and after the procedure.

However, the doctor is not always to blame for this problem. Very often, patients ignore care recommendations and do not follow the regimen prescribed by the doctor. Lips after contouring are easily negatively affected by sun rays, too hot air in baths and saunas, and failure to comply with hygiene rules.

11. Lip deformation

If earlier we talked exclusively about the unprofessionalism of the doctor, now is the time to remind you that “not all yoghurts are equally healthy,” and filler is different from filler.

There are a number of problems associated with administering the wrong drug. Permanent fillers (PAGE and silicone-based gels) do not dissolve. It would seem that one can only dream about this. What's better than beautiful lips for life? But in reality everything turns out to be far from being the case.

Once under the skin, permanent fillers over time:

1. migrate, which leads to lip deformation,

cause inflammation and swelling,

lead to the formation of scars,

We wholeheartedly advise you not to experiment with your own health with dubious cosmetologists. Low prices for drugs should not please you, but alert you: no one will work at a loss, so what are we saving on? Most often, unfortunately, it is on the qualifications of doctors and medications. And then the question, how much does lip contouring cost, turns into the question: how can I live with what was done to me, and how much does it cost to fix everything?

We correct the consequences of unsuccessful contouring every day:

— every day we remove biopolymer from the lips,

— we use special Spanish enzymes to eliminate excess filler,

Correcting errors is more expensive than preventing them. But the flow of those wishing to do so, alas, is only increasing.

We wrote this article to talk about what we see day after day in consultations and in the operating room. To save you from mistakes. We cannot betray the tears and pain of girls and women who cannot eat, sleep or even close their mouths normally. Take my word for it. They come to Platinental as their last hope for unique technologies. And although we take on the most difficult cases, only 90% of them can be corrected.

Video

Andrey Iskornev tells how contouring can be a disappointment.

Andrey Iskornev talks about the dangers of biopolymer lip gels.

What to do? There is an exit!

Do you want to protect your beauty?

Focus only on those clinics and specialists who perform contour plastic surgery in full accordance with the patient’s wishes, and in compliance with all the rules of anatomy, harmony and aesthetics. Only lip contouring with hyaluronic acid is considered reliably safe.

Pay attention to the new drug Juviderm Volbella from the American company Allergan. It allows you to get a beautiful natural effect of sensual, “kissed” lips.

Lip augmentation with Surgiderm 24xp. Completed by: Elmira Baltacheeva.

Elena Savitskaya "before" and 6 months after lip contouring. Natural smile without the effect of pumped lips. Performed by: Andrey Iskornev.

Upper and lower transconjunctival blepharoplasty. Neck liposuction. Thread neck lift. Removing Bish's lumps. Botulinum therapy. Lip contouring with Equio. Surgeon: Iskornev Andrey.

Contour plastic surgery of cheekbones, corners of the mouth and nasolabial folds with fillers, 3 syringes. Performed by dermatocosmetologist Elena Vlasova.

Volbella contains the anesthetic lidocaine and makes the lip correction procedure very comfortable. You will no longer need Ultracaine injections before lip augmentation.

You can ask your questions and sign up for a consultation on lip correction by calling:

in Moscow +7 495 989-21-16, +7 495 723-48-38,

in Kazan +7 843 236-66-66.

Make an appointment online to receive a 30% discount on your consultation. Or buy a clinic certificate and pay for any procedures with a 10% discount.

Plump, “juicy” lips have always been popular. Those with natural volume are rare among the Slavs. Those who want to make their mouth more expressive have to use various correction techniques. Cosmetological and surgical methods allow you to change the shape, volume, and smooth out wrinkles. Most correction options are associated with temporary negative consequences. To minimize risks, speed up, and simplify rehabilitation after interventions, it is important to know what not to do after lip augmentation. Let's consider the common and specific consequences of manipulations, how to prepare for the administration of the drug, what restrictions to observe after the procedure, how to care for your lips.

The essence of the technique

The most common method of lip augmentation and correction is injection contouring with various gels. The procedure is considered record-breakingly fast, painless, allows you to achieve the desired results, and entails a minimum number of negative consequences.

Various drugs are suitable for lip correction:

1. silicone, biopolymer gels;
2. fillers with hyaluronic acid;
3. preparations based on calcium hydroxyapatite, collagen;
4. patient's fat cells.

Depending on the substance used, the individual reactions of the body the result from the administration of the drug is noticeable from six months to 3–10 years. It’s difficult to say how long the substance will actually last. Biodegradable drugs do not always behave predictably under the skin. The substance may resolve prematurely.

The use of silicone and biopolymer gels has recently lost relevance. It is these substances that cause the greatest number of complications. Other drug options give patients short-term but predictable results. Hyaluronic acid, collagen or the patient’s own fat are well accepted by the body, stimulate internal rejuvenating processes, and the substances are gradually eliminated naturally.

Common side effects

Subcutaneous injection of various drugs into the lips is perceived by the body as the entry of a foreign substance. Irritation and allergic reactions often become a response to the “invasion” of silicone, biopolymer gels, and unexpected reactions are sometimes caused by drugs with calcium hydroxyapatite and collagen. To prevent negative manifestations, patients are advised to take a more careful approach to the choice of drug, and first do a sensitivity test to the components of the substance.

Lip augmentation with fillers is fraught with the development of a “standard” set of side effects:

1. edema;
2. redness;
3. local hemorrhages;
4. pain;
5. balls, lumps;
6. activation of the herpes virus.

Tissue swelling occurs in most cases. This is a response to a foreign substance invading the skin of the lips. The use of hyaluronic fillers gives the most pronounced swelling. This is due to the substance’s ability to attract water. The swelling will subside on its own in 2–3 days. If swelling lasts longer, it is better for the patient to consult a doctor. The phenomenon usually does not cause noticeable inconvenience. It is permissible to alleviate the condition by performing tonic compresses with ice cubes. Excessive hypothermia must be protected. The procedure is performed for 3–5 minutes at intervals of 2–3 hours. The swelling subsides faster. Your doctor will recommend other methods.

Redness inside the vermilion border of the lips visually weakly noticeable after the procedure for introducing gels. The phenomenon is perceived in combination with swelling. The redness may spread beyond the border of the mouth. The side effect rarely persists long after the procedure. Symptoms go away on their own within 2–5 hours. If the phenomenon is noticeable the next day, it is better for the patient to consult a doctor.

Bruises are considered natural companions of the procedure. The skin of the lips is delicate, the blood network is located close to the surface. The technique of drug administration involves multiple punctures, which provokes a violation of the integrity of blood vessels. Doctor errors, structural features, and poor preparation for intervention cause severe hemorrhages. The resulting hematoma will disappear within a week. You can speed up the process of resorption of bruises with medication: use special gels. The active ingredient will be recommended by your doctor.

Pain is considered a standard companion for such procedures. The skin of the lips is considered delicate and reacts sharply to intervention. Cosmetologists use anesthesia during the filling process, but patients often notice pain after the augmentation procedure. Unpleasant symptoms usually subside within 1–2 days. If pain persists for a long time or symptoms are severe, it is recommended to consult a doctor.

Seals in the form of balls, lumps, small bumps at the injection sites called normal. This occurs when the doctor overinjects the substance, an individual reaction to the “invasion”, manifested by increased collagen production. The growth of lumps in size should alert you. The solution to the problem lies in massaging and organizing proper care. A cosmetologist can remove large balls using hyaluronidase and physiotherapy. The final result of the procedure takes a long time to form. Balls may appear a month after gel injections. The doctor warns about this in advance.

Herpes virus activated as a result of a local decrease in immunity. Doctors warn about this in advance. Numerous skin perforations during the lip augmentation procedure are perceived by the body as trauma. Internal processes are activated. Defensive forces are directed to fight “destruction”. If you are prone to rashes, cosmetologists recommend a preliminary preventive course of antiherpetic drugs.

Complications after the procedure

In addition to standard side effects, after the gel injection procedure, unexpected reactions may occur that require additional medical attention. These include functional disorders (fever, allergies, nerve inflammation, herpes) and aesthetic defects (asymmetry, balls, ridge above the upper lip).

Itching, spots, rashes may indicate an individual reaction to the administered substance. Patients often complain that their lips itch. An increase in temperature indicates the development of inflammation. Acute pain, spasms, numbness of the lips indicate that the nerve endings are affected. Herpetic rashes indicate activation of the virus. In these cases, you should immediately consult a doctor. The cosmetologist will take measures to eliminate unforeseen consequences.

The occurrence of aesthetic defects associated with violation of the restrictions of the rehabilitation period, erroneous actions of the cosmetologist. An unsuccessfully selected drug, an incorrectly implemented technique for administering the filler, and the patient’s wayward behavior can result in various manifestations:

1. uneven distribution of the gel;
2. formation of balls, lumps;
3. tissue compaction (“hard lip”).

Asymmetry, large balls, compactions, ridge above the upper lip after hyaluronic gels The doctor can remove it with medication. A drug is injected into the lips to neutralize the active substance. If the defects do not cause inconvenience, then you can wait for the problem to naturally resolve after the gel is absorbed. Patients often complain that after the cosmetologist introduced lidase, the achieved volumes were blown away. The doctor can remove defects caused by using silicone only by cutting the tissue.

Patients often complain of white bumpsthat appeared after the procedure. These are Fordyce granules that exist on the mucosa. The formations look scary and frighten patients with the risk of negative consequences. The doctor will explain that as a result of the procedure, the skin has become stretched and natural formations have become more clearly visible. There is no reason to panic in this case. It will not be possible to correct the situation when white dots appear. As the gel dissolves, the granules will become less noticeable.

Filling your lips with gels is fraught development tissue fibrosis. Seals, lumps, and white spots appear. The phenomenon is fraught with the subsequent formation of pits and scars. There is no point in trying to eliminate the manifestations on your own; you need to see a cosmetologist as soon as possible to select treatment methods. The doctor can correct recent changes.

In case of incorrect calculation of the drug for the procedure after the swelling has subsided it seems that there is no effect at all or that the lips turn into a “duck beak”. 2-3 days after the procedure, a decrease in volume will definitely occur. It is important to take into account the reaction to the injected gel, and subsequently discuss with the cosmetologist the volume of the drug used. Correction of an unsuccessful result is carried out by repeated administration of the substance or the use of microdoses of a neutralizing drug.

Patients with sensitive skin often complain of itching and say that their face begins to peel. This may be a variant of an allergic reaction, the body’s attitude towards the use of anesthetics and antiseptics. It is recommended to consult a cosmetologist about ways to eliminate the problem. In the absence of other manifestations, peeling usually goes away within 2–3 days. Moisturizing cosmetics and special preparations from professional series, created for skin care after filling with gels, help correct the result. The doctor will tell you what to apply to the skin.

Methods to accelerate rehabilitation

To combat the negative consequences, the doctor will prescribe various medications:

1. suprastin, other antihistamines in case of allergic manifestations;
2. antibiotics when an inflammatory process occurs;
3. acyclovir and analogues for the treatment of herpes;
4. heparin ointment (Dolobene, Lyoton, Troxevasin, Traumeel) to relieve swelling, accelerate the healing of hematomas, and achieve an anti-inflammatory effect.

Important! Treatment must be carried out strictly with the consent of the cosmetologist. Any initiative is fraught with aggravation of problems.

For better distribution of the gel under the skin, the doctor will advise you to perform a gentle massage yourself. They begin to knead the tissues after the swelling is eliminated: after 2–5 days. Make soft patting movements with your fingers on the skin or gentle circular rubbing. It is acceptable to use a toothbrush. The massage is performed with the reverse side (without bristles). Make careful circular, patting movements on the skin. The session lasts no more than 5 minutes.

Performing facial exercises helps speed up recovery. Use special exercises that are done no more than 10 minutes a day. Training begins simultaneously with the start of the massage. The essence of gymnastics is elementary:

1. The mouth is folded into a tube, the lips are pulled forward. In this position, the vowels “o” and “i” are reproduced alternately.
2. Inflate your cheeks tightly with air. A small slit is opened in the center of the mouth. Air is slowly released through the resulting hole.
3. Lips pressed tightly together. Perform rotational movements with a closed mouth.

Massage and gymnastics are done with clean hands. A moisturizer is first applied to the skin (you can use olive oil or cream). Your doctor will give you specific instructions. The result will be smooth skin.

Restrictions after the procedure

Compliance with the restrictions will help achieve a positive result, minimizing the possibility of complications. After gel injections you cannot:

1. Consume food and drinks immediately after the procedure. It is recommended to wait 3–5 hours. This will allow the injection wounds to heal a little, promoting initial healing of the skin.
2. Subject to any manipulation in the dentist's office for up to 2 weeks. Existing dental problems are resolved in advance. Regular procedures: hygienic cleaning, whitening are postponed to more convenient dates.
3. Perform aesthetic procedures (peelings, hardware interventions, tattooing, facial depilation) while the wounds on the skin are healing.
4. Be exposed to intense physical activity. It is recommended to reduce tension as much as possible while swelling persists. It is recommended to resume sports gradually.
5. Use decorative cosmetics for 2–3 days. Application of dense substances promotes penetration of infection under the skin.
6. Smoking and drinking alcohol-containing substances for at least 3-5 days.
7. Use cosmetics and ointments containing alcohol.
8. Steam, visit the sauna, take hot baths (showers) for 3–14 days.
9. Consume excessively hot, spicy food and drinks.
10. Exposure to hypothermia, overheating.
11. Stay in direct sun and sunbathe in a solarium for 5–14 days.
12. Fly by plane for 3–5 days.
13. Kiss for 2–7 days. The action promotes infection and uneven distribution of the substance.
14. Smoking hookah for up to 2 weeks. This can injure the skin and dislodge the gel.
15. Injure the skin of the mouth. Unconscious violation of tissue integrity is promoted by biting and excessive licking of the skin of the lips.
16. Contact with potential hazards (dirty hands, public objects).

Most restrictions apply until the wounds on the skin of the lips are completely healed. 2 weeks after the gel injection procedure, the patient can fully return to normal activities.

Ways to minimize risks

You can reduce the risk of adverse consequences by strictly following the cosmetologist’s recommendations. The doctor obliges you to adhere to restrictions during the preparation and recovery period. The cosmetologist will tell you that before the procedure you cannot:

1. drink alcohol, it is advisable to give up cigarettes for 2–5 days;
2. take medications that affect the blood condition (aspirin, ibuprofen, drugs with similar active ingredients);
3. ignore signs of illness.

Your doctor will recommend an allergy test. If there are known dangers, it is better to take antihistamines in advance. It is important to prevent the danger of herpes. If signs of an exacerbation of the virus appear, the cosmetologist will reschedule the gel augmentation procedure. If relapses are noticeable frequently, then the patient is recommended to undergo a preventive drug course of treatment with appropriate drugs.

When performing gel injections, the doctor must maintain sterility. It is important that the cosmetologist handles with clean hands and uses disposable gloves. The patient must undergo antiseptic treatment of the injection sites.

Attention! The cosmetologist is obliged to open a new package of gel in the presence of the patient. The patient is advised to additionally check the compliance with the expiration dates of the drug and inquire about the storage conditions of the substance.

To prevent various complications, the cosmetologist together with the patient it is important to exclude contraindications:

1. pregnancy, breastfeeding period;
2. autoimmune diseases;
3. oncology;
4. mental disorders;
5. serious endocrine, cardiovascular pathologies;
6. period of exacerbation of chronic disorders;
7. acute ENT diseases;
8. infectious, inflammatory, viral diseases during the acute period.

Cosmetologists do not perform lip augmentation procedures if less than a month has passed since plastic surgery, chemical peeling, or skin resurfacing. Patients are advised to inform the cosmetologist about all manipulations performed over the previous 2-3 months.

The risk of negative consequences when introducing foreign substances into tissues is always high. If you follow all the cosmetologist’s recommendations, the development of complications is reduced, but not excluded. If you are afraid of an acute recovery or getting a negative result, it is better to use alternative methods of volume formation: massage, face-building exercises, various devices.

Horrible complications are difficult to predict. In most cases, patients are determined exclusively for a positive result.

Useful videos

Lip augmentation - everything about the procedure. Cosmetologist Patrin Igor.

- Hmm, but the girl can believe it.

How many times have I done my lips with Restylane or Juvederm - there were no rollers and nothing fell out.

About “you won’t be able to eat, everything will pour out” - by any chance, did you confuse this with Botox?
Nothing falls out after hyluaric acids.

Nu-nu.
I have several friends who run clinics - in Moscow, and in San Diego, and in Toronto - so I’m also in the know.
With good hands from the master, a normal dose (I don’t need a duck’s beak instead of a mouth) and a non-synthetic drug, there will be no rollers.

But you seemed to be filled with ArteColl? So in many countries it is generally prohibited for injections into the lips.