All Procedures
Procedure: Lip Lift
Useful information for patients on Lip Lift procedures - creating a full and enhanced look of the upper lip.
People having an unsatisfactory look of the lips may undergo this procedure, because its goal is to enhance the balance and proportion of upper and lower lip, enhance lip shape, and improve upper teeth show. The ideal vertical height of the upper lip in each patient will be assessed, and an area just above the lip or below the nose will be excised to decrease the vertical length. These incision areas will camouflage the scar of this surgery. Preparation may include a detailed history of medical issues, medications history, and physical examination.
Useful Information
Ensure you consider all aspects of a procedure. You can speak to your surgeon about these areas of the surgery in more detail during a consultation.
Length
The procedure takes approximately one hour.
Anesthesia
Local anesthesia may be used with light sedation.
Inpatient/Outpatient
This is an outpatient procedure.
Additional Information
Several conditions may apply after the procedure:
- Temporary swelling or bruising
- Mild temporary pain
- Temporary numbness
- Infection
- Overcorrection or undercorrection
- Unnatural look of the lips
- Nerve damage
- Excessive scarring
- Reoperation
The patient is advised to avoid pressure on the lips until 2-3 weeks after surgery. The dressing should be kept clean and in a few days, the incision can be covered with antibacterial ointment for the first week. Swelling may be resolved after 3-5 days after surgery, although daily activities using the lips (eating, drinking, speaking) will be minimally limited. Sutures will be removed in 5-7 days following the procedure. The patient may return to work within 5-7 days, or after the swelling subsides. Strenuous activity, such as contact sports, may be resumed in 2-3 weeks after the surgery. The total healing process may last to 12 weeks, during which patients should avoid smoking.
The result is usually permanent, however, as ageing occurs, lips may lose height and elongate. This change may influence the final result of the lip lift.