Lip Lift in Louisville, KY

Lip Lift in Louisville, Lexington, Kentucky

Indications

A more visible lip. More of the vermillion (red color) showing in the frontal view. A shorter distance from the top of the lip to the nose.

Procedure Description

Depending on each individual patient’s needs, lip lifts can either be done at the margin of the upper lip or just under the nose. Lip Lifts are done in-office under a local lip block and direct local injections. The unwanted tissue is excised and the lip is advanced upward.

Who is an Ideal Candidate for a Lip Lift?

Due to collagen loss and the effects of gravity, the distance between the upper lip and the bottom of the nose can expand with age. People often think that their upper lip is getting thinner with age. What's really happening is the lip is sagging and turning inward. If this resonates with you, you may be a good candidate to discuss a lip lift. While the minor surgery is performed in the office using a local anesthetic, it is important that you are in good health at the time of your procedure. This ensures that you can undergo treatment with the lowest degree of risk and that your body should heal well after surgery. During your consultation, Dr. Salzman will discuss the results that are possible with a lip lift. Setting realistic expectations is another important factor in your satisfaction with your surgical outcome.

How Does a Lip Lift Procedure Work?

The surgical lip lift focuses on the enhancement of the upper lip by reducing the amount of tissue between the lip and the nose. To do this, the doctor makes a tiny, discreet incision at the natural crease under the columella, the piece of tissue that separates the nostrils. The tissue is lifted to bring the lip into a more upward, outward position. This makes the lip appear fuller, with more "body." When the lip is in its ideal position, a few stitches are placed to secure it and excess tissue is trimmed. The entire process takes less than an hour.

How is a Lip Lift Different From Lip Injections?

Before the surgical lip lift became popular, the most common way of rejuvenating the lips was to inject them with soft tissue fillers. This process is still popular and it has merit. Lip fillers work by increasing the volume of the tissue that makes up the body of the upper or lower lip. Injections can also improve the borders of the lips, adding to their natural definition. The most common fillers used to augment the lips work by securing water molecules in the injection area. The particles that bind to water molecules get broken down by the body over a period of months, after which the lips gradually lose their volume and definition. Lip fillers can be repeated as needed. A lip lift achieves results that can last many years.

Is a Lip Lift Permanent?

The lip lift excises tissue to reshape the upper lip. The changes are permanent. However, with age, the distance between the upper lip and the bottom of the nose can once again elongate. This happens because the body makes less and less collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid. Without abundant amounts of these chemicals, the skin becomes loose and thin. While aging cannot be stopped, we anticipate prolonged improvements for our lip lift patients.

What is the Recovery Like After a Lip Lift?

We perform lip lift procedures right here in our Louisville office! After your procedure, you return home to rest and take it easy for a few days. You can expect some bruising and swelling after your minor surgery. These side effects may be more pronounced on day two or three of your recovery, and should gradually subside from that point on. To minimize discomfort, which should be minimal, you can take an over-the-counter pain reliever as directed. To minimize disruption to the area, Dr. Salzman may advise you to eat soft foods for a few days. This reduces chewing, so reduces the amount of movement that occurs between the lip and the nose. You can expect to feel well enough, and for your swelling and bruising to be resolved enough, to return to work three to four days after your procedure. Because the tissue above the mouth is slightly tighter and shorter, you may find it somewhat difficult to enunciate certain works. Don't worry, this will go away as the tissue settles.

Is a Lip Lift Painful?

Your lip lift will not be painful. To begin your procedure, the doctor will administer injections of local anesthetic. This medication works very quickly to numb the nerve endings in the surgical site. Within a few minutes, you're ready for a painless, rewarding procedure! After your lip lift is done, you may feel sore and tender for a few days. Over-the-counter medication can mitigate this minor discomfort.

Recuperation and Healing

Sutures are placed either below the nose or, more commonly, above the margin of the lip, and are removed in 4 days. Bruising and swelling last about one week. Once healing is complete in 4-6 weeks, the scars are faint and difficult to see.

What Can I Do to Prepare for My Lip Lift Procedure?

Preparing for your lip lift procedure ahead of time will allow for an easy surgical and recovery process. To avoid complications, it can be helpful to do the following:

  • Consult with your doctor about the possibility of stopping prescribed medications that may impact a complication-free recovery from the lip-lift procedure.
  • Avoid blood-thinning medications such as Ibuprofen. Use Tylenol instead if needed.
  • Avoid supplements such as vitamin E, omega-3, and fish oil.
  • Wear comfortable clothing on the day of your procedure.
  • Avoid wearing makeup before your procedure.

Will My Lift Lip Look Natural?

Lift lip results often look very natural on patients as the new fullness and volume achieved is a subtle yet noticeable change. Compared to lip fillers, lip lift results are more natural looking and aligned with each patient’s face.

While results will not be seen immediately, patients can expect their lips to be swollen for up to two weeks after surgery. Patients will notice their lips become less swollen and more settled within six to eight weeks, leading to a natural, plump-looking appearance.

Other Options

Fillers such as Restylane Lyft and Juvederm® Ultra Plus can be placed to add bulk to the lip. Fat grafts, which offer a more permanent solution, are also often used.

Note

The specific risks and suitability of this procedure for a given individual can be determined only at the time of consultation. All surgical procedures have some degree of risk. Minor complications that do not affect the outcome occur occasionally. Major complications are unusual. For more information regarding lip lifts or any other lip treatments, visit the Lip Procedures home page.

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