What Is a Lip Lift?
A lip lift is a surgical procedure designed to reduce the amount of pink lip visible to others. With lip lift surgery, patients can increase their lip fullness and give their lips a youthful appearance.
Which Is a Better Option: Lip Lift Surgery or Lip Fillers?
Both lip lifts and lip fillers are available to enhance lip fullness, but it is important to note the differences between the two treatments.
A lip lift delivers permanent results. The procedure can be performed under general or local anesthesia. It involves an incision made into the crease at the bottom of the nose and removal or repositioning of skin and tissue to lift the upper lip.
Lip fillers are used to give the lips a youthful appearance. They consist of hyaluronic acid and can deliver results that last about six months.
A consultation with Dr. Azizzadeh offers a great starting point for patients who want to revitalize their lips. The consultation allows Dr. Azizzadeh to perform an evaluation and discuss lip lift surgery and lip fillers with his patient.
What Happens During a Lip Lift Procedure?
A lip lift procedure involves the removal of skin and tissue from beneath the nose. It usually takes less than one hour to complete.
The amount of skin and tissue removed during a lip lift varies. Dr. Azizzadeh may remove anywhere from 5mm to 7mm of skin and tissue. His goal is to avoid removing excess amounts of skin and tissue, since doing so can prolong the recovery process.
What Happens After a Lip Lift?
Swelling can occur after a lip lift. A patient may require stitches that remain in place for about one week after surgery. In rare instances, lip lift patients experience bleeding and infection following treatment.
Dr. Azizzadeh takes steps to limit lip lift scarring. He carefully makes an incision and keeps it as short as possible. Scarring generally fades away and becomes virtually invisible in the months after lip lift surgery.
The results of a lip lift procedure usually start to appear within about three weeks of treatment. After three to four months of surgery, patients may begin to notice fuller lips. The complete results of surgery often become visible within one year.
Am I Candidate for a Lip Lift?
The ideal candidate for lip lift surgery varies, and individuals of all ages may qualify for treatment. Dr. Azizzadeh performs a patient assessment to determine if an individual is a good candidate for a lip lift. In doing so, Dr. Azizzadeh helps a patient discover the best way to accomplish his or her facial rejuvenation goals.
During a patient assessment, Dr. Azizzadeh evaluates a lip lift candidate’s medical history and finds out why this individual is considering lip lift surgery. Dr. Azizzadeh also evaluates his patient’s lips, as well as the patient’s eyes, cheeks, chin and other facial features.
If Dr. Azizzadeh believes a patient can benefit from a lip lift, he then crafts a custom treatment program for him or her. Or, if a patient does not qualify for a lip lift, Dr. Azizzadeh offers lip lift procedure alternatives.
Lip Lift Surgery Risks
The risks associated with a lip lift procedure include:
- Infection
- Excessive scarring
- Fluid build-up
Dr. Azizzadeh wants his patients to feel good about lip lift surgery and understand the risks associated with it. He discusses the risks of lip lift surgery with his patients before treatment. Also, Dr. Azizzadeh only performs lip lift surgery if he believes it is safe for his patient.