The vast majority of patients considering lip surgery set out to enhance the appearance of their lips by increasing fullness and definition. Lip fillers can be great for creating fuller and thicker lips, they are however short lasting and a more appropriate and permanent procedure could be an upper lip lift.
Rather than simply boosting the size and fullness of the lips, lip lift surgery creates a more sculpted and defined appearance. All while potentially reversing some of the most common signs of ageing such as thinning or elongation of the lip, thus restoring a more youthful and attractive appearance.
Candidates for Lip Lift Surgery
Generally, the Lip Lift patients are categorized into two groups:
Younger patients – Those frustrated with repeated need for lip fillers or those hoping to reduce lower facial height and improve overall facial proportions. Here this is typically used to avoid the plastic appearance with fillers.
Older patients – with elongation of the nose-mouth distance, thinning and inversion of the pink lip. The lift gives the upper lip a lighter and more defined appearance with greater volume and tooth show.
Indications for Upper Lip Lift Surgery
- Patients who do not show teeth when smiling
- Long Philtrum (space between the nose and the upper lip)
- Thin flat lips
- Those with the look of ‘duck lips’ after filler injections
How Lip Lift Surgery Works
Over time, the delicate skin around the lips becomes thinner and loses its elasticity. The result of which is often lips that begin to sag and droop showing less teeth, or simply lose their definition.
In some cases, patients are simply unhappy with the appearance of their lips in general, irrespective of age and the condition of their skin. Volume loss and elongation of the upper lip can make it difficult to smile with confidence.
Lip lift surgery works by surgically shortening the upper lip and everting the vermilion (the red part of the lips), in order to create a result that combines a more volumized appearance with enhanced definition and smoother skin.
The procedure itself takes approximately 30 minutes to carry out, which in most instances is performed under local anaesthetic.
A small section of skin is removed between the upper lip and the nose, after which the opening is closed using sutures to lift the lip and tighten the skin. Lip lifts are always performed as a walk-in procedure, meaning the patient can return home shortly after the surgery is completed.
What to Expect After Lip Lift Surgery
Recovery times vary in accordance with the nature and extent of the procedure. In the vast majority of instances, patients are advised to take it easy for a few days following the surgery, in order to give the treated area sufficient time to heal.
Most residual redness, swelling and tenderness usually disappears within a week, though and it can take up to six weeks for the full effect of the procedure to become visible. As the incision is performed with precision underneath the nose, residual scarring is minimal.
Your surgeon will provide you with all the information you need to care for the treated area upon returning home.
What Are the Risks Associated with Lip Lift Surgery?
All types of cosmetic surgery carry certain risks, and lip lift surgery is no different. However, a typical lip lift is a relatively simple procedure that isn’t nearly as invasive as some other types of cosmetic surgery.
The risks associated with lip lift surgery will be disclosed by your surgeon and discussed in full, prior to the treatment going ahead. It is also during this stage that your suitability for surgery will be assessed, as not everyone is an appropriate candidate for a lip lift.
For more information on any aspect of lip lift surgery, book your obligation-free consultation with Samuel Mattine today or you can simply click here to learn more.
Craig Upton has worked with popular British brands and SMEs gain exposure online and is committed to creating new opportunities. For contact with Craig: craig@iconquer.com.
