In March’s first post-Groundhog Day blog, we talked about thin lips and options for making them more visually appealing and, well, kissable. Dr. Lipton can add volume to your lips with Juvéderm Volbella injections, or he can permanently improve thin lips with a lip lift. We discussed who was and who wasn’t a good candidate for this straightforward surgical procedure.
In this second March blog, let’s get into some more detail about the lip lift procedure.
How is a lip lift performed?
Dr. Lipton performs these procedures with the patient under local anesthesia, usually with some sedation. After your upper lip and nose area are numb, Dr. Lipton makes markings on your upper lip based on the goals you are seeking to achieve. Next, he makes an incision along the bottom of the nostrils and columella. He removes the necessary portion of skin, closing the incision with very small stitches to virtually eliminate any visible scarring. There are different types of lip lifts. This description is only a general one.
What are the different types of lip lifts?
Everyone’s lips are different, and patients have different goals. That’s why there are several different types of lip lifts Dr. Lipton may use.
- Direct lip lift — Sometimes called a gullwing lip lift, this method creates a more defined lip border. Here a thin strip of skin is removed just above the upper lip, and the skin is then pulled upwards. This creates a more pronounced vermillion, the pink part of the lips. But this lift does leave a scar on the upper lip area.
- Subnasal bullhorn — This is the most common method, as described above. Here Dr. Lipton makes an incision that is hidden along the base of the nose. The incision is often made in the shape of a bullhorn and the center, right, and left of the lip are all pulled up toward the nose.
- Central lip lift — This is similar to the subnasal bullhorn, but it focuses on the center area of the upper lip.
- Corner lip lift — As we age, the corners of our mouth tend to descend, giving us a perpetually slight frown. A corner lip lift corrects this. Dr. Lipton makes two small incisions at both corners of the mouth, and he removes a small amount of skin. This elevates the corners into a neutral or even slightly upturned position.
Will my lip lift look natural?
As a board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Lipton has the training, extensive knowledge of facial anatomy, and over two decades of surgical experience to ensure your lip lift will look completely natural. All that is happening with these procedures is the removal of a small amount of skin, usually right below the nose, to gently lift the upper lip. This creates a pleasing, naturally higher upper lip. If you’ve always disliked thin lips but don’t like the results gained with dermal fillers, a lip lift from Dr. Lipton is a great procedure.
Now you know you have some permanent options to address you thin, invisible lips. Call Dr. Lipton at (972) 420-0023 to schedule a consultation for a lip lift.
