Having a fuller lip is often considered a sign of good health, beauty and youth. Cosmetic procedures for the lips may be able to make your lips look more beautiful and give you more self-confidence. Whether you were born with thin lips or your lips are thinning due to the natural aging process, there are many ways to enhance them. Every year, thousands of people undergo successful lip enhancement and are pleased with the results. Other options include lip lifts, vermillion (lip) advancement, lip reduction, gummy smile correction and dermabrasion. Wrinkles around the upper lip can be corrected with dermabrasion, and injectable fillers.
Good candidates for lip enhancement are who have thin lips which disappears when smiling, fullness loss and drooping due to aging, disproportional looking lips with the face. Candidates should have realistic expectations, have a positive attitude, physically healthy who don’t have medical conditions impairing healing.
Consultation for the lip enhancement is important to discuss the reason, expectations, desired outcome, medical conditions, drug allergies, previous medical treatments, current medications, vitamins, herbal supplements, alcohol, smoking, drug use, previous surgeries. You will be asked about your general health status and any pre-existing health conditions or risk factors. Your surgeon will examine your face and lips in detail, skin quality, and placement of your anatomical structures. Your photos will be taken. At the end your aesthetic surgeon will discuss your options and other additional procedures which may help to improve the overall result and risks or potential complications.
Getting prepared for lip enhancement will depend on what kind of procedure you and your surgeon have agreed on. Your surgeon will provide thorough preoperative instructions, answer any questions you may have, take a detailed medical history and perform a physical exam to determine your fitness for surgery.
Lip enhancement is usually performed on an outpatient basis. If you are having a surgical procedure, be sure to arrange for someone to drive you home after surgery and to stay with you at least the first night following surgery.
Nonsurgical treatments; Injections with lip fillers can be performed in the office with little to no downtime and minimal preparation. The surgeon or specialist will prepare the area to be treated and may apply numbing cream. The procedure should take a couple of minutes in most cases, and you will be given instructions to follow once you leave the office.
Surgical lip enhancement; Your lip enhancement procedure may be performed in an hospital, free-standing ambulatory facility or office-based surgical suite. Most procedures take at least thirty minutes to two hours to complete. Medications are administered for your comfort during the surgical procedure. Local anesthesia is commonly used during your lip enhancement procedure vit intravenous sedation, although general anesthesia may be desirable in some instances. Your surgeon will follow the surgical plan discussed with you before surgery.
If you are having fat injection surgery, liposuction will be performed to remove viable fat to be injected into your lips. After your procedure is completed, you will be taken into a recovery area where you will continue to be closely monitored. After surgery, you may have stitches. You will probably be permitted to go home after a short observation period unless you and your plastic surgeon have made other plans for your immediate postoperative recovery. The lips may be swollen and bruised for about two weeks, cold compression helps to decrease to a minimum. Bruises fade away in 7-15 days and swellings subside in the following weeks. Patients generally have a slight discomfort and soreness, not like pain.
Lip Enhancement: There are many methods for lip enhancement. Your surgeon will offer you options depending on your aesthetic goals and recovery time frame.
Injections - fat transfer
In fat transfer, autologous fat (fat from your own body) can be taken via liposuction from another area of your body and injected into your lips. Injections may need to be repeated until you get the desired result.
Injections - fillers
Fillers made from natural or synthetic biocompatible material acts as a fat substitute to plump up the lip. One treatment is usually sufficient to produce the desired result. The results, however, may be temporary and require repeat injections.
Surgery - dermal graft
A permanent method of augmenting the lips is accomplished by surgically advancing the lip forward, with incisions placed inside the mouth. A dermal-fat graft, taken from the deeper layers of the skin, may then be positioned under the mucosa (the lining of the lip) to add additional plumpness.
Surgery - vermillion advancement
This procedure involves making an incision along the border of the colored portion of the lips, removing a strip of skin outside the border and then pulling the colored portion to increase the area of the lips.
Surgery - lip implant
Lip implants can be inserted through tiny incisions inside the corners of the mouth.
Silicone injections – Silicone injections are an unsafe and unacceptable option to use as a filler. These injections are not FDA approved and often offered by unlicensed individuals and should be avoided.
With the lip injections and lip augmentation, you might be avare of;
Pros: Some lip injections are temporary and can be modified to your preference, Implants and surgical enhancement provide a permanent solution, Quick one-day recovery for injections and a week for most lip surgery
Cons: Temporary fillers will require injections every few months, Lip asymmetry is a possibility, Removal of implants is difficult
Lip Surgeries:
Lip lift
The distance between the nose and the lip is an important factor for the balance of the mid-face and a more youthful appearance. Removing extra skin and lifting the lips will help those with loose skin or those who have a downward sloping mouth. To elevate the upper lip, a small butterfly-shaped incision is made under the nose and the skin is shortened to pull up the lips. Other lift techniques can shorten the upper lip to expose more teeth. To lift a downward turning mouth, small incisions are made on the side of the mouth and the extra skin is removed. Absorbable sutures are used for this procedure those dont need to be removed.
Vermillon lift
This procedure involves making an incision along the border of the colored portion of the lips, removing a strip of skin outside the border and then pulling the colored portion to alter the shape of the lips.
Lip reduction
It is possible to reduce the size of the lips. Through a small incision the plastic surgeon turns the excess red of the lips inwards. The scar is hidden in the mouth and is therefore invisible. This procedure is performed under a local anaesthetic and last about an hour. The lips will be swollen and bruised for about 2 weeks. After 6 weeks the definite result is visible.
Gummy smile correction
If your gums are exposed because your upper lip is lifted too high when you smile, this procedure can offer a solution.
Dermabrasion
Generally used for the fine wrinkles around the mouth.
Lip-surgery recovery: You will experience postoperative bruising and swelling, with mild to moderate discomfort for a day or two. A cold compress can be applied to the operative site to reduce swelling, bruising and pain. You may be restricted to a liquid-only diet for one or two days. You will most likely be mobile the day of your surgery, but your activities will be restricted. You have to wait a few months before the scars from a Lip-Plasty fully mature. You may experience a little discomfort when moving the lips for a few weeks. A temporary loss of sensation in the lips is possible. Sometimes the scar tissue can remain lumpy and sensitive for a longer period.
It is vitally important that you follow all patient care instructions provided by your surgeon. This will include information about taking an antibiotic if prescribed and the level and type of activity that is safe. Your surgeon will also provide detailed instructions about the normal symptoms you will experience and any potential signs of complications. It is important to realize that the amount of time it takes for recovery varies greatly among individuals. Risks and potential complications of surgery is a subject you should discuss during your consultation. The risks in most surgeries are similar. Some of the potential complications of all surgeries are; Adverse reaction to anesthesia, Hematoma or seroma (an accumulation of blood or fluid under the skin that may require removal), Infection, Changes in sensation, Scarring, Allergic reactions, Damage to underlying structures and Unsatisfactory results that may necessitate additional procedures.
For safety, as well as the most beautiful and healthy outcome, it’s important to return to your plastic surgeon's office for follow-up evaluation at prescribed times and whenever you notice any changes in your facial implants. Do not hesitate to contact your surgeon when you have any questions or concerns.
