WHAT IS A LIP LIFT?

The lip lift is a surgical procedure that shortens the distance between the nose and the upper lip for a more youthful, attractive position. It provides long-term results and negates the need for lip implants and injections.

As we age, the lips lose their fullness. The distance between the tip of the nose and the upper lip also becomes longer, which makes the whole face appear older. In severe cases, the upper lip becomes so long that it hangs over the teeth. Other patients are born with naturally thin lips and desire a change.

Does your upper lip appear thin, inverted or flattened? Is the distance between the nose and your upper lip too long? Does your upper lip hide your teeth? Perhaps your upper lip is too heavy in relation to your lower lip, or maybe the effects of aging have caused your lips to lose fullness. Whatever the case, a lip lift has become a trusted lip procedure that restores and refreshes the appearance of the upper lip, with more permanent and satisfying results than lip augmentation or lip injections.

In essence, a lip lift procedure involves removing excess skin in the upper lip in and shortens its vertical length. Several techniques are used to accomplish this including a “lip roll” method in which a small incision is made along the border of the upper lip. The sub-nasale upper lip lift uses a technique in which a small incision is made beneath the nose where it meets the upper lip.

What can a lip lift accomplish ?

Give the mouth and lips a more sensuous look
Decrease the length of skin from the nose to the pink lip
Improve visibility of the upper teeth
Make the upper lip more voluptuous and fuller
Evert the upper lip
Rejuvenate the upper lip and mid-face
Eliminate or diminish the need for filler injection into the lips

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF LIP LIFTS?

There are many different types of techniques. The most common include:
Bullhorn (Subnasal)
Gull Wing
Italian
Corner

Bullhorn (Subnasal) Lip Lift

The bullhorn lip lift raises the upper lip to reveal more of the top teeth. This increases the lip’s volume and brings better aesthetic proportion to the lower lip.

During a bullhorn procedure, Dr. Sever cuts an incision beneath the nose in the shape of a bull’s horn. A small strip of skin and tissue is removed. The muscles are then tightened, and the upper lip is raised to its new position. The procedure takes about 45 minutes, and the recovery time is between 5 and 7 days.

This surgical technique leaves virtually undetectable scars and can be performed under local anesthesia, making it more affordable than other augmentation procedures.

Gull Wing Lip Lift
The gull wing removes a strip of skin from the upper lip. The incision is M-shaped and is placed where the pink part of the lip meets the skin. While this technique is effective, it leaves a visible scar and is therefore not the most desirable option.

Italian Lip Lift

The Italian involves an incision beneath each nostril. These incisions are smaller than those of the bullhorn lift. Skin is removed before the right and left sides of the lip are separately lifted. The wounds are then closed, and the distance between the lip and the nose is reduced.

Corner Lip Lift

The corner is best for patients who have downturned lip corners. The incisions are made on the edge of the outer lips before a small, triangular area of skin is removed from the corners of the mouth which upturns the lips.This variation provides a permanent solution to oral commissure grooves (wrinkles at the corner of the mouth). If these grooves are deep, surgery may not provide complete correction, though there is usually significant improvement

LIP LIFT RECOVERY

Recovery is relatively quick and sutures are usually removed 5 to 7 days after surgery. Patients should expect the lips to swell for one to two weeks. Incisions can take about 6 to 8 weeks to completely heal. Patients may also experience a feeling of mild tightness for 2 to 4 months