Lip Lift: Lip Lifting Surgery

The procedure of surgically shortening the elongated upper lip as part of the aging process is known as "Lip Lift." This minor surgical procedure is performed under local anesthesia.

Contents:

1. What is Lip Lifting?
2. How is a Lip Lift Surgery Performed?
3. What Scars Are Left After Lip Lift Surgery?
4. Who Are Suitable Candidates for Lip Lift Surgery?
5. What is the Recovery Process After Lip Lift Surgery?
6. What Are the Risks and Complications of Lip Lift Surgery?
7. What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Lip Lift Surgery?
8. Which Procedures Can Be Combined with Lip Lift Surgery?

What is Lip Lifting?

As the upper lip ages, it elongates and flattens. The elongation of the lip is one of the classic signs of facial aging, but it often goes unnoticed amidst other aging signs unless specifically observed. With the elongation, the pink area where lipstick is applied (vermilion) turns inward, leaving little space to apply lipstick. To manage this, patients often extend the lipstick slightly onto the skin. In the lip lift procedure, we shorten the elongated skin distance, thereby enlarging the shortened pink area. This results in lip aesthetics that are closer to the youthful proportions.

How is a Lip Lift Surgery Performed?

In a lip lift surgery, a bullhorn-shaped piece of tissue is removed by making an incision at the junction of the nose and upper lip. The two edges of the skin are then stitched together. The surgical scar is located just beneath the columella, in the crease between the nose and the upper lip. This procedure shortens the distance between the nose and lip. The surgery is performed in a clinical setting while the patient is awake, under local anesthesia, and takes approximately 30 minutes.

What Scars Are Left After Lip Lift Surgery?

In lip lift surgery, we use very fine sutures to meticulously close the skin. However, a visible scar does remain. It generally takes about a year for this scar to fade. Scar healing and fading occur much faster in older patients with looser skin. The most significant drawback of the surgery is the scar. Therefore, I do not perform this surgery on individuals younger than 55.

Who Are Suitable Candidates for Lip Lift Surgery?

The best candidates for lip lift surgery are healthy individuals over the age of 50 with loose skin and already prominent facial wrinkles. A broad nasal base and narrow lips relative to the nasal base are preferred. Lip lift surgery is not an ideal option for individuals who have undergone previous rhinoplasty, have a narrow nasal base, asymmetry, or an upturned nose.

In lip lift surgery, we narrow the lip to the ideal height of 12-16mm. It is not advisable to perform surgery on patients whose lips already fall within this range.

What is the Recovery Process After Lip Lift Surgery?

Since the procedure is performed under local anesthesia, the patient can return home on the same day. The visibility of the scar may pose a problem in social situations. Swelling and bruising may occur for a few days post-surgery. Mild pain, controllable with simple painkillers, may be experienced after the procedure. The surface sutures will be removed on the seventh day after the procedure. After suture removal, the scar can be camouflaged with sunscreen and makeup products. Patients can typically resume their social and professional lives approximately 10-14 days after lip lift surgery.

What Are the Risks and Complications of Lip Lift Surgery?

The incision made during lip lift surgery, located just under the nose, is at risk for wound infection. The most significant risk of this procedure is wound infection. A slight loss of sensation in the upper lip is expected after lip lift surgery and is usually temporary. In the first few weeks post-surgery, the lip muscles may become temporarily weakened. Patients may experience difficulty eating, smiling, or making facial expressions. Another possible complication of lip lift surgery is hypertrophic scarring, where the scar becomes more red, raised, and noticeable than expected.

What Are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Lip Lift Surgery?

The primary benefit of the surgery is the shortening and outward turning of the upper lip. After the lip lift procedure, the pink, lipstick-applicable part of the lip (vermilion) rises and turns outward, resulting in a more feminine and youthful appearance. Few procedures in plastic surgery have a benefit/simplicity ratio as high as the lip lift.

The most significant complication of the procedure is wound infection and suture dehiscence, though this complication is quite rare. The most notable disadvantage of lip lift surgery is the scar. If excessive skin is removed or the surgery is not performed carefully, the scar can be very prominent and may not be correctable with secondary cosmetic surgical interventions. Another disadvantage is that in inappropriate candidates (e.g., those with prior nasal surgery), the procedure can result in an unnatural appearance and an artificial-looking lip shape.

Which Procedures Can Be Combined with Lip Lift Surgery?

Lip lift surgery alone does not increase lip volume. The overall effect can be maximized when combined with volume-enhancing procedures like fat transfer and surface-renewing procedures like dermabrasion/peeling. Patients who have had lip fillers before the lip lift surgery often find that the amount of filler needed afterward is reduced. Lip filler can be reapplied to address any remaining volume deficiencies after lip lift surgery.

If you think your upper lip distance is too long and would like more information on lip lift details, lip lift surgery prices, or pre-procedure preparations, please feel free to contact us. If you live in Ankara, you can visit us for a consultation, or if you live out of town, you can call us to schedule an online consultation.