Lips
Lip augmentation can be performed using surgical and non-surgical techniques. Hyaluronic acid lip filler injections are the most popular form of lip enhancement. These can be injected in the office in under 30 minutes and results last anywhere from 4 to 12 months depending on the type and amount of filler used and individual patient anatomy. Fillers can provide a fuller, pouty appearing lip. They can also help temporarily reverse age-related volume loss in the lips.
Bruising and swelling after lip filler injections usual last 3 to 5 days and patients can return to work and their normal activity immediately.
The so-called “ideal” lip proportion is a 2:1 ratio of the height of the lower lip to the height of the upper lip. As we age, the upper lip becomes longer. Restoring a more youthful lip contour can be accomplished in a number of ways:
- Lip filler to try to increase the height of the upper and lower lips
- Upper lip botox to try to lift the upper red lip and shorten the white lip by paralyzing the orbicularis oris muscle (the muscle that allows us to close the mouth and pucker)
- Lip lift to surgically remove several millimeters from the upper lip to shorten and slightly evert it (flip it out slightly)
The lip lift procedure is a great option for someone who has either tried filler and is no longer interested in annual visits for more filler or found that their lip filler migrated or made their lips look or feel heavier. It is suitable for anyone who is looking for a more permanent option for lip augmentation.
A lip lift is performed under local anesthesia only. It involves numbing shots around the upper lip and mouth, similar to going to the dentist. Patients can drive themselves home. The recovery involves a variable amount of swelling of the upper lip for about 3-4 weeks. The scar is located just under the nose and fades over time, with most of the visible scar becoming nearly invisible by 6 weeks. Scar revision treatments such as micro-needling with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and lasers can be done as well to make the scar nearly invisible.
The so-called “ideal” lip proportion is a 2:1 ratio of the height of the lower lip to the height of the upper lip. As we age, the upper lip becomes longer. Restoring a more youthful lip contour can be accomplished in a number of ways:
- Lip filler to try to increase the height of the upper and lower lips
- Lip lift to surgically remove several millimeters from the upper lip to shorten and slightly evert it (flip it out slightly)
- Upper lip neurotoxin (BotoxÒ, DysportÒ, or XeominÒ) to try to lift the upper red lip and shorten the white lip by paralyzing the orbicularis oris muscle (the muscle that allows us to close the mouth and pucker)
The lip flip is a great option for someone who wants an easy procedure that is relatively inexpensive ($90-$170 depending on the number of units used) and provides predictable results with no downtime. The lip flip involves placing anywhere from 6-12 units of neurotoxin in the orbicularis oris muscle. Over the ensuing 5-14 days, the upper lip becomes slightly weakened (it may be difficult to pucker or to use a straw), the vertical upper lip lines are softened, and the upper lip flips outward exposing more of the red lip to make the red portion of the upper lip look bigger and therefore the upper white part of the lip therefore look shorter. It is great for people whose upper lip tends to “disappear” with smiling.
The lip lift effect lasts anywhere from 1-4 months depending on each person’s metabolism and how much they move their upper lip. The procedure can be repeated every few months. The mild noticeable upper lip weakness generally only lasts about a month and disappears before the positive effect of the neurotoxin wears off.
