A lip lift is a procedure that lifts and shortens the skin of your upper lip to create a shorter upper lip, the illusion of a fuller lip and/or rejuvenate your upper lip after ageing.
If you are concerned by a long or thin upper lip or an ageing upper lip and have not achieved the results you are looking for with other types of lip augmentation such as dermal fillers, you may be suitable for a lip lift.
If you smoke, are on blood-thinning medication or have significant health problems, this will need to be assessed and you may be advised to wait or not to have a lip lift. If you have previously had an open rhinoplasty or you already have ‘dental show’ (where a significant amount of your upper teeth are visible when your lip is relaxed), you will need a careful assessment to see if you are suitable for a lip lift and you may be asked to wait longer after nose surgery or dental work before having a lip lift.
There are variations depending on your individual anatomy and goals. The standard surgery can be done under local anaesthesia. Skin incisions are placed as discretely as possible at the base of your nose curving around the bottom of your nostrils. The exact skin pattern depends on the shape of your nose and your upper lip. The skin is lifted up. Excess skin is removed. The internal tissues of your upper lip are lifted and secured in a higher position. Drains are not used. Stitches will need to be removed 5 to 7 days later.
Lip lifts can be done on their own or in combination with other procedures. Common combinations include facelift, upper and lower blepharoplasty, brow lift, fat transfer, lip lift and other facial rejuvenation procedures.
0.5 to 1 hour depending on the extent of surgery. If other procedures are planned at the same time, the overall surgery time is longer.
You will have tapes over the incision. Lip lifts are outpatient procedures. You can shower with care after 48 hours.
On average 1 to 2 weeks off work are needed. No heavy lifting or strenuous activity is allowed for 6 weeks. Reduce bending and stooping as much as possible and sleep on extra pillows at night to help reduce swelling. Some forms of exercise can be restarted at 4 weeks. Most exercise is restarted at 6 weeks. Driving is not allowed until you are safe to perform an emergency stop.
Unfortunately, complications can occur after all surgery and you need to be aware of this. Ms Nugent will do her utmost to reduce your risk as much as she can. This includes the health and procedure advice she gives you before surgery, the care and precautions she takes during surgery and the advice she gives you after surgery. Some of the complications that can happen include slow healing, infection, bleeding, poor scarring, asymmetry, pain, numbness or sensitivity in the skin, seroma (fluid build-up), weakness of your smile, recurrence of lip lengthening, excessive ‘dental show’, under or over lifting.
Most patients who undergo lip lift surgery are very happy with their results and lip lifts have a high success rate. Success depends on being prepared for your surgery, choosing the right procedure, the surgery itself and recovering well. All steps in the journey are crucial!
Download the detailed information booklet on this page to read more and book a consultation to discuss your individual circumstances with Ms Nugent!
Before And After Facelift And Necklift Images
