Lip lift

A guide to understanding upper lip lift surgery

Today, the appearance of the mouth plays a key role in defining facial beauty, a factor that has contributed significantly to the renewed interest in upper lip lift surgery. In aesthetic medicine, one of the recognised signs of a youthful and attractive face is the visibility of approximately 2 to 4 millimetres of the upper teeth when the mouth is slightly open and at rest.

Due to various factors—mainly related to the effect of gravity over time, and more markedly in patients who have undergone repeated lip filler treatments to increase volume—the upper lip tends to droop. This causes the distance between the lip and the nose to increase beyond what is considered harmonious, often completely covering the upper teeth.

What the lip lift consists of

A lip lift involves subtly elevating the upper lip through a minimally invasive surgical procedure, performed under local anaesthesia, with sedation only if the patient requires it to feel more relaxed during the intervention. The procedure itself takes approximately 40 minutes.

The surgery is carried out through a small incision made at the base of the nose, allowing the surgeon to remove excess skin and shorten the philtrum—the distance between the upper lip and the lower part of the nose referred to above. Once the excess tissue has been removed, a specialised suturing technique is used to ensure that the resulting scar is practically imperceptible.

Recovery after an upper lip lift

As this is an outpatient procedure performed exclusively under local anaesthesia, recovery is generally quick. Patients only need to follow a few simple guidelines, such as avoiding sun exposure and using a high-protection sunscreen (essential to prevent scar hyperpigmentation), refraining from smoking to facilitate tissue healing, and avoiding intense physical exercise for a few days.

Patients can usually return to all their usual activities within one to two weeks, although during this period they are able to lead an almost normal daily life. It is a minimally painful procedure, and any mild discomfort can be managed with commonly used analgesics and anti-inflammatory medication.

It should be noted that the sutures used in an upper lip lift are non-absorbable. For this reason, it is important not to manipulate or touch the area and to strictly follow the specialist’s instructions regarding suture removal during the follow-up appointment.

“In general, the best results are achieved by combining different therapeutic options and acting at an early stage”

Results of upper lip lift surgery

Patients undergoing a lip lift should be aware that the final aesthetic result may take several weeks—or even months—to fully stabilise. In fact, except in very specific cases, any consideration of a surgical revision is not assessed until at least eight months after the procedure.

However, well before this time, an overall improvement in the appearance of the mouth area becomes evident. The face appears more harmonious, as the upper lip gains subtle projection and appears fuller due to the traction effect of the procedure.

Los dientes incisivos superiores se muestran más y aumenta la exposición del bermellón (el tejido mucoso de color rojizo que hace de transición entre la piel del labio y la mucosa labial situada más hacia el interior de la boca), dando a la boca un aspecto más atractiva y juvenil.

In addition, this intervention has a notably positive rejuvenating effect by reducing wrinkles around the mouth. The result is permanent and does not require fillers or volumising substances, although in patients with a clear lack of lip volume, fillers may be considered as a complementary treatment to achieve optimal aesthetic balance.

Indications

Upper lip lift surgery is indicated in individuals with a long and thin upper lip, as well as in those with an excessively long philtrum that completely hides the upper teeth when speaking, gesturing or smiling.

It is also suitable for patients who present marked sagging in this area of the mouth.

Considerations regarding lip lift surgery

To achieve an optimal result, it is essential that the procedure is correctly indicated and performed by a surgeon with extensive experience, in order to minimise risks and avoid potential complications.

At the Grupo Pedro Jaén Facial Aesthetics Unit, lip fillers can be applied when necessary to complement the lip lift and optimise the final result.

It should also be taken into account that the area at the base of the nose may present unpredictable healing issues, such as keloid formation or hypertrophic scarring. These problems can occur even in patients with no prior history and are not related to poor surgical technique, but rather to genetic factors.

In all cases, the Facial Aesthetics Unit at Grupo Pedro Jaén works closely with the Scars Unit and Laser Unit to address any potential keloid scarring or hyperpigmentation that may affect this particularly visible area of the face.

More information

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