Many of us are born with lips that are less than thrilling. They may be overly thin. They may be a little uneven. And, like other areas of the face, they lose volume with age. Dr. Nagy or Dr. Beaty can add volume to the lips with Restylane Silk or Kysse, or Juvéderm Ultra or Volbella. But these are temporary changes, as the body will eventually absorb the hyaluronic acid in these fillers and the lips will return to their original size and shape. A lip lift provides permanent changes to the patient’s lips. In these procedures, Dr. Nagy or Dr. Beaty elevates the upper lip surgically. This is a great option for patient whose lips are thin or who have a long upper lip.
What is Lip Lift?
The area from the top of the lips to the bottom of the nose is known as the Philtrum. A lip lift shortens the Philtrum. In a lip lift, Dr. Nagy or Dr. Beaty increases the amount of pink tissue that’s visible. This makes the lips look fuller and more pronounced. It may also increase how much of your upper central teeth show when your lips are resting. Whereas the injection of dermal fillers adds volume to the lips, lip lifts add height.
Who is a good candidate for a Lip Lift?
A lip lift is a great surgery for people with very thin lips. It’s also a good option when you’re getting older, as the space between our nose and the top of the lips tends to increase, and this makes our lips appear thinner. For patients who have been using dermal fillers to augment their lips, lip lifts can provide a permanent alternative. Also, some people find fillers make their lips look unnaturally plump. A lip lift doesn’t do that. Plus, fillers require regular sessions, every 9 to 12 months, whereas lip lifts are permanent.
Who can’t have Lip Lift?
If you don’t have much space in your philtrum (at least 1.5 centimeters), this isn’t a good procedure. Dr. Beaty needs to remove some of this skin to provide the lift. Patients with oral herpes may not be candidates, but Dr. Nagy or Dr. Beaty can give you an idea if that’s the case during your consultation.
How is a Lip Lift performed
Dr. Beaty performs these procedures with the patient under local anesthesia, usually with some sedation. After your upper lip and nose area are numb, Dr. Nagy or Dr. Beaty makes markings on your upper lip based on the goals you are seeking to achieve. Next, he makes an incision along the bottom of the nostrils and columella. He removes the necessary portion of skin, closing the incision with very small stitches to virtually eliminate any visible scarring. There are different types of lip lifts. This description is only a general one.
What are the different types of Lip Lifts?
Everyone’s lips are different, and patients have different goals. That’s why there are a number of different types of lip lifts Dr. Nagy or Dr. Beaty may use.
- Direct lip lift — Sometimes called a gullwing lip lift, this method creates a more defined lip border. Here a thin strip of skin is removed just above the upper lip, and the skin is then pulled upwards. This creates a more pronounced vermillion, the pink part of the lips. But this lift does leave a scar on the upper lip area.
- Subnasal bullhorn — This is the most common method, as described above. Here Dr. Nagy or Dr. Beaty makes an incision that is hidden along the base of the nose. The incision is often made in the shape of a bullhorn and the center, right, and left of the lip are all pulled up toward the nose.
- Central lip lift — This is similar to the subnasal bullhorn, but it focuses on the center area of the upper lip.
- Corner lip lift — As we age, the corners of our mouth tend to descend, giving us a perpetually slight frown. A corner lip lift corrects this. Dr. Nagy or Dr. Beaty makes two small incisions at both corners of the mouth, and he removes a small amount of skin. This elevates the corners into a neutral or even slightly upturned position.
What will recovery be like after a Lip Lift?
You’ll need to lay low for several days, as you will have swelling along the upper lip and around the lower nose. This can be noticeable, but it is completely normal. You’ll want to take it easy for the first few days; you can’t do anything that will raise the blood pressure to your face. Exercise and other exertion need to wait two weeks. After those two weeks, your swelling should really begin to resolve, but it will take a full 2-3 months before you see your final results.
How painful is a Lip Lift recovery?
You’ll need to lay low for several days, as you will have swelling along the upper lip and around the lower nose. This can be noticeable, but it is completely normal. You’ll want to take it easy for the first few days; you can’t do anything that will raise the blood pressure to your face. Exercise and other exertion need to wait two weeks. After those two weeks, your swelling should really begin to resolve, but it will take a full 2-3 months before you see your final results.
When will I see my results?
As mentioned above, you will have some swelling after your lip lift, and it can be dramatic. This will obviously cloud your results. Swelling will begin to run its course in two to three weeks, but it can return, especially at night if you’ve been on your feet a lot during the day. Generally, plan on two to three months for your final results.
Will my Lip Lift look natural?
As a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon, Dr. Nagy or Dr. Beaty has the training, extensive knowledge of facial anatomy, and over two decades of surgical experience to ensure your lip lift will look completely natural. All that is happening with these procedures is the removal of a small amount of skin, usually right below the nose, to gently lift the upper lip. This creates a pleasing, naturally higher upper lip. If you’ve always disliked thin lips but don’t like the results gained with dermal fillers, a lip lift from Dr. Nagy or Dr. Beaty is a great procedure.
Do you want a nonsurgical way to see the look first? Try a Lip Flip.
The lip flip is a popular way to obtain a fuller appearance to the upper lip. This office procedure works by injecting very small amounts of Botox above the upper lip, relaxing the orbicularis muscle. This allows the lip to “flip” upward at its edge, creating a fuller appearance. Not only is this a quick in-office procedure, many patients like it because there is no filler present and it does not add any bulk to the lip. At Beaty Facial Plastic Surgery our expert injectors will help you decide if the lip flip may be a good procedure for you.
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