What to Expect with a Lip Lift
You are probably familiar with lip injections and how they can give you a fuller pout. However, if you are looking for a more permanent solution, a lip lift is an option to consider. Learning more about the procedure can help you to determine if it is the right choice for you.
What is a Lip Lift?
A lip lift is a surgical procedure that will shorten the distance between your upper lip and your nose so that your lip appears more pronounced and fuller. Lip lifts will make your lip look naturally fuller, without the “ducky” appearance that comes with too much filler.
There are a few different types of lip lift:
Subnasal Bullhorn: This procedure pulls your lips closer to your nose by making an incision in the shape of a bullhorn. This is the most commonly performed type of lip lift.
A Corner Lip Lift: This lip lift uses a small incision at the end of your lips to pull up the corners of your mouth and help reduce the appearance of frowning at rest.
The Central Lip Lift: This lip lift uses a central nose incision to pull the middle of your lips closer to your nose, leaving the sides alone.
Dr. Misch will examine your specific anatomy and discuss your goals to decide the best type of lip lift for you. Sometimes a subnasal bullhorn lip lift is combined with a corner lip lift for optimal results.
Why Choose a Lip Lift?
There are several reasons to consider a lip lift. One common reason is to address signs of aging that have affected your lips and mouth area. As you get older, your lips may start to look thinner. Volume loss in the lip and elongation of the upper lip skin can create a larger space between your lips and nose. A lip lift shortens this space by bringing your lips closer to your nose, adding volume and a more youthful appearance in the process.
A lip lift is also a great option for those who have tried fillers and do not like the sometimes unnatural looking results. A lip lift can help to give you a fuller look with a subtlety that is not always achievable with fillers. Another great advantage to having a lip lift is that the procedure is permanent, so you will not have to go back for yearly or bi-yearly touch-ups like you do with fillers.
What to Expect
Knowing what is involved with having a lip lift can help you to best prepare for the surgery by adjusting your expectations and setting you up for a successful recovery.
Before
The first step of any aesthetic procedure, no matter how invasive, is to schedule a consultation with your surgeon to discuss your goals and desired surgical outcome. Dr. Emily Misch will pay careful attention to your concerns and will suggest the best course of action for you.
Prior to surgery, you will be asked to avoid alcohol, tobacco, and blood thinning medications as they can cause complications.
During
The procedure is performed in office at Misch Facial Plastic Surgery. In most cases, you will be awake during the procedure and given a local anesthesia to keep you comfortable. Depending on the type of lip lift you choose Dr. Misch will make the corresponding incisions to pull the skin into place, repositioning your lips. Sutures are used to secure the skin and close the incisions.
After: Lip Lift Recovery
For 24 hours after the surgery, you should plan to rest. You may experience some swelling and feelings of tightness in the upper lip area, but this should diminish over a few weeks. You will want to avoid stretching the upper lip as this can put a strain on the incisions and potentially worsen scarring.
You will need to avoid strenuous activity and heavy lifting for two weeks. Sleeping in an elevated position will help decrease swelling. You can resume normal dental hygiene immediately following surgery. You will want to clean your incision with a gentle facial cleanser twice a day followed by application of a petroleum jelly based ointment (eg., vaseline, aquaphor).
Your surgeon will provide you with comprehensive recovery instructions to help keep your incisions clean and heal in a way that yields the best results possible.
Schedule a Consultation
If you are looking for a more subtle and natural-looking solution to thin or low positioned lips, a lip lift might be just the solution for you. Although a lip lift requires more downtime than dermal fillers, it will leave you with results that complement your facial features in a more natural, permanent way. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Emily Misch at our Englewood, CO, office by filling out our online contact form.