Lip lift
A smile is the perfect curve
Studies have shown that the upper lip undergoes a significant change when we get older. Although it is often not the first thing a patient may complain about, rejuvenating the lips can truly bring the extra “pop” and complete a facial rejuvenation procedure. Some patients miss the fullness of their lips or complain that they see less of their teeth when smiling. Others do not really have a specific complaint, but can really appreciate the look of their lips after this fairly straight forward procedure.
The essentials
A lip lift is a procedure to restore a youthful, more voluminous upper lip
It is an elegant procedure for patients where dermal filler injections do not give a satisfying result.
A lip lift is often combined with discrete fat injections in the upper and lower lip for a complete lip rejuvenation.
When the indication is there, I often bring it up during consultation as a free bonus when planning a facial rejuvenation procedure.
A lip lift can be performed under local anaesthesia or in addition to another facial procedure, such as a facelift or facial lipofilling.
The incision is barely visible after the healing period. When performed well, nobody will ever notice the scar.
Consider a downtime of 1 week with easy dressings.
What is a lip lift ?
The upper lip gets thinner and longer when we age. As a matter of fact, the upper lip actually changes way more than the lower lip. If you would look at a picture of your younger self, you may notice that a young lip is full, has a good amount of vermillion show (the red part of the lip) and follows a smooth contour. Recent MRI studies have analysed the evolution of the upper lip through the years and noticed that both the upper lip get longer and the supporting tissues of the upper lip get thinner. Although a facelift can truly bring back the youthful, fresh appearance of a face, it barely does anything to the lips. That is why I often recommend to add a liplift to the surgical procedure, if it is indicated. A small incision right at the junction between the lip and the nose allows me to lift the lip, thereby shortening it and exposing more vermillion. At the same time I would use a bit of your own fat to improve the volume of both the upper and lower lip. The balance is restored, the lips have a nice, smooth shape and you get that extra “wow”-effect that adds nothing to the downtime of the overal facial surgery. A liplift can of course be done separately as well, even under local anaesthesia with minimal downtime. During the consultation, I will explain to you the procedure in more detail, with pictures and photographs, as well as which scars to expect and the post-operative care that will be needed. You can expect a down time of 1 week, with minimal dressings.
With ageing, the upper lip gets longer and thinner.
A lip lift shortens the upper lip and exposes more vermillion, resulting in a plumper, more younger looking lip. Fat injections aid for volume restoration.
What are the benefits of a lip lift ?
Although not indicated for every patient, a lip lift can give a surprising and uplifting effect. If I would find it appropriate, I will definitely bring it up during the consultation. Choosing for a lip lift can give you the following benefits:
Barely visible scar
Performed in conjunction with any other facial procedure or as a separate surgery
Can be done under local anaesthesia
Minimal downtime
Minimal dressings
A younger, more fuller set of lips
More vermillion show (visible redness), while keeping a natural result
Restoration of the lip volume and balance between the upper and lower lip
A fresh look
Are you a good candidate for a lip lift ?
As mentioned before, a lip lift is not indicated in every patient and not every patient requires a surgical lip lift. In some cases, hyaluronic acid injections can bring back the volume and restore the balance between the upper and lower lip. However, a surgical lip lift may be the perfect solution in case of:
A planned facelift and you would like the extra “wow” effect of a fresh set of full lips
Thinned out lips with minimal vermillion show
An elongated upper lip that covers the teeth when smiling
You want a fuller pair of lips that lasts for years
If you recognise some of these signs and concerns, I recommend you to plan a consultation in order to see how we can improve your lip aesthetics and bring a positive impact to your life.
