What Is a Lip Lift?
Our Portland lip lift is a cosmetic surgical procedure designed to shorten the distance between the base of the nose and the upper lip. It helps roll out the upper lip to increase the pout, exposes more of the red portion of the upper lip, and gives the lips a more youthful look.
What Can You Expect with a Lip Lift Procedure?
A lip lift is performed on an outpatient basis under local anesthesia with optional oral sedation and generally takes less than an hour. Dr. Kim makes an incision in the natural creases under the base of the nose and removes a small amount of tissue. The upper lip is fixed into its ideal position and the incisions are closed.
What Is Lip Lift Recovery Like?
It can take five to seven days to recover from a lip lift before you feel comfortable going out in public. You may experience moderate swelling and discomfort during the first 72 hours, which can be reduced with cold compresses and medication. Sutures are typically removed at approximately five days out from surgery.
Who Is a Good Candidate for a Lip Lift?
This procedure may be a good option for adults with a thin upper lip or with a disproportionately longer distance between the bottom of the nose and the border of the upper lips.
Lip lift is a popular treatment option when aging has caused the lips to thin and the area between the nose and upper lip to lengthen. It is also becoming popular among younger patients who want to achieve fuller, poutier lips without undergoing repeated lip filler injections.
Because the upper lip lift does not affect the lower lip, patients may still require the addition of volume through filler injections to the lower lip. It also may be necessary to add filler to the upper lip if the patient desires more volume than the upper lip lift can provide.
Will a Lip Lift Leave a Scar?
Like any surgical incision, a lip lift incision will leave a scar. However, the wounds are meticulously closed and are strategically placed to be inconspicuous over time. While the incision is healing and the scar is fading, it can be camouflaged with makeup.
What Is the Perfect Distance Between the Upper Lip and the Nose?
The ideal measurement of the distance between the nose and the upper lip is 12 to 14mm in women. This distance can increase by up to three millimeters per decade with aging. The ideal distance for you is not set in stone, but determined by the overall features and proportions of your face.