As one grows older, the upper lip grows longer and flatter.

Lengthening of lips is one of the classic signs of facial aging. However, it often does not attract your attention among other signs of aging unless you specifically focus on the lips. The shortening of lips causes the pink area where you apply lipstick (vermillion) to turn inward, leaving almost no lip space to wear lipstick. To handle that, patients slightly push their lipstick over the vermillion border to cover some skin as well.

The procedure we use to surgically shorten the lip that lengthens in the aging process is called “Lip Lift”. In Lip Lift surgery, we remove some horn-shaped tissue from the junction of the nose and lip. Then we stitch the two ends of the skin together. The surgical scar remains right in the fold between the nose and the upper lip.

We stitch meticulously. We use ultra-fine stitches. But still there remains a noticeable scar. It takes at least a year for the scar to heal. Wound healing and disappearance of scars occur much faster in elderly patients who have looser skin. Surgical scars are the biggest handicap. That's why I don't perform this surgery on individuals younger than 55. From the second postoperative week on, it is possible to go back to social life by masking scars with a single layer of foundation. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia and takes about 30 minutes.

The key benefit of surgery is the shortening and rolling outward of the upper lip. After Lip Lift, the vermillion, which is the pink portion of the lips where lipsticks are applied, is lifted up and rolls outward. Lip Lift secures a more feminine and rejuvenated look. The benefit/simplicity ratio of a highly limited number of procedures in plastic surgery is as high as Lip Lift. The main complications of the procedure are wound site infection and the opening of stitches. Fortunately, these complications are quite rare.

Patients who really need this procedure are concerned about the length of the upper lip rather than the scar left behind. Combining Lip Lift particularly with volumizing procedures such as fat tissue transfer and resurfacing procedures such as dermabrasion/peeling may maximize the total impact.

 

 

However, this procedure is not for everyone. It does not look good in patients who previously had a rhinoplasty.

The ideal patient should have a wide nasal base and a relatively narrow mouth. Otherwise, the lift will only affect the central portion of the lip, the corners of the lip will remain saggy, and the result will look unnatural and incomplete.

Lip lift scars are typically tolerated much better in older patients. Younger candidates must consider the risk of scar hypertrophy and a visible scar.

Lip lift can also be performed through a direct skin removal from the border of upper lip and skin. This procedure is called a direct lip lift.

Direct lip lifts can be considered for patients who are not ideal candidates for the nasal base techniques. The scar can be concealed by extending the lipstick a few millimeters up on the skin.

Like every other plastic surgery procedure there are indications and counter indications for this procedure. It is not something you can purchase on demand.

If you think your upper lip distance is too long and seek a solution, please feel free to contact us.

Take good care...

... of yourself and your beauty.