These days it’s all about getting those plump, pink Instagrammable lips. Although these plump lips sound very attractive, not everyone is so lucky to have them from birth. Genetics plays a significant role in determining how voluminous the lips will be. However, if you have thin lips and are not satisfied with the way they look, you can consider a lip lift procedure.
Plump, pink, hydrated lips have become a symbol of youthfulness. Many people find fuller lips to be more attractive, which is why they look for different ways to increase the volume of their lips. And when you think of big lips, undoubtedly, the Kardashians’ image pops up in mind. Countless celebrities have gotten lip treatments to make them look fuller.
What is A Lip Lift?
A lip lift is a surgical procedure in which the distance between the nose and the upper lip is shortened. The surgery exposes more of the fleshy, pink bottom of the upper lip, which makes it look plump and full.
Philtrum is the indentation at the middle of the upper lips running from the nose to the outer margins of the lips. Skin is excised from this area, lifted and stitched back up. A lip lift also exposes more of the upper and lateral central incisors, giving you a natural-looking part.
With lip lift plastic surgery, it is possible to customize the shape of the lips with more subtle changes than injecting a dermal filler to make them look plump.
What Is the Purpose of A Lip Lift?
You can benefit from a lip lift in the following instances:
- Change Shape of Lips – A lip lift surgery will raise the upper lip, making it curvier. The plastic surgeon can also workaround to give you a more defined cupid’s bow through the lip lift procedure.
- Close Large Gaps Between Lips & Nose – With lip lifts, you can slightly close the large gap between the nose and upper lip, the philtrum, and make subtle changes to the smile and overall aesthetics. The plastic surgeon can also workaround to give you a more defined cupid’s bow through the lip lift procedure.
- Natural Results – The lip lift procedure can ensure more natural results.
The procedure is relatively invasive and is, of course, permanent. It isn’t just about injecting fillers in the lips to make them plumper. The lip lift procedure changes the shape of the lips forever.
How To Prepare for A Lip Lift Procedure?
Before undergoing this surgery, you need to make sure to do the following:
- Discontinue smoking.
- Refrain from drinking alcohol.
- Do not take any blood-thinning medications or herbal supplements.
- Remove any piercings around the lips.
- Make sure to wash off any lipstick, chapstick, balm, or gloss before the surgery.
How Is A Lip Lift Done?
A lip lift procedure usually takes place under local anaesthesia so you will not feel any pain. Once the anaesthesia takes effect, the surgeon begins by excising a triangular strip of skin from beneath the nose.
Depending on the type of lip lift you’re getting, there can be variations in the location of excision. The surgeon will then close the skin with the help of sutures. It takes around 1 hour for the surgeon to perform a lip lift. After that, you need to make sure that you follow all the aftercare instructions provided by the surgeon.
What Are the Different Types of Lip Lift?
There are different lip lifts techniques. Different techniques can give different results. Your surgeon will consult with you about your desired lip appearance. The techniques used can vary depending on the kind of results you’re looking for. Let’s take a look at them.
Direct Lip Lift
In the direct lip lift, the surgeon removes a strip of skin from the area right above the upper lip. This ends up giving greater definition to the margins of the upper lips. It may cause scarring.
Subnasal Bullhorn
In this cosmetic surgery, skin, in the shape of a bullhorn, is removed from the base of the nose. The skin is then pulled back towards the nose, lifting the lips. Subnasal bullhorn is the most common lift procedure.
Central Lip Lift
When this cosmetic surgery is performed, the surgeon removes a small piece of skin right underneath the nasolabial junction.
Corner Lip Lift
Corner lip lift surgery is more suitable for those patients who have downturned lips. It uplifts the corners of the mouth, hence its name. In this surgery, the plastic surgeon removes slivers of skin from the corners of the mouth to lift the lips.
Italıan Lip Lift
It is somewhat similar to the subnasal bullhorn; only the difference is that the incisions don’t extend to the whole base of the nose. The surgeon will make two small incisions underneath the nose.
What Is Lip Lift Recovery Process?
Following a lip lift procedure, you may experience the following:
- Swelling
- Redness
- Bruising
- Pain
- Discomfort
- Feeling of tightness in the surgical area
Your surgeon may provide you with antibiotics, painkillers, and anti-swelling medication to deal with these temporary post-op side effects. The swelling should subside in a few weeks and the redness and bruising will also go away after 1 week or so.
Your practitioner will provide you with aftercare instructions that you need to follow. You should try to rest after the surgery but avoid sleeping on your face. Additionally, do not try to open your mouth too wide, like when you’re yawning. Keep the surgical wound moisturised by using the cream prescribed/recommended by your doctor. Lastly, refrain from smoking for at least a month.
How Much Is A Lip Lift?
A lip lift is a cosmetic procedure so health insurance will rarely cover it and it’s also not available on the NHS. You’ll have to get the procedure privately. In the UK, this surgery can cost anywhere between £2,500 to £3,000. However, prices can vary depending on the location of the clinic and the experience of the surgeon. In Turkey, the price of a lip lift surgery starts from £1350.
Lips Fillers vs Lip Lift & Lip Flip: What’s The Difference?
If you’re deciding between the two procedures, it’s a good idea to take a look at their differences:
| Dermal Fillers | Lift Lift | Lip Flip | |
| Procedure | Hyaluronic acid filler is injected into the lips | Skin is removed from underneath the nose to decrease its distance from the upper lips | Botox is injected into the upper lips, relaxing its muscles |
| Aim | To enhance the volume and shape of the lips | To change the curvature, shape and volume of the upper lip | To enhance the volume of the lips |
| Surgical Time | Less than 30 mins | 1-hour | 10-20 minutes |
| Side Effects | Bruising, swelling and tenderness | Swelling, bruising feeling of tightness, discomfort, and scarring | Numbness, pain, swelling, and sensitivity |
| Results | Immediate | Visible after 1-2 weeks once the swelling subsides | Botox takes 1 week to take full effect |
| Longevity | 6 months to 2 years | Permanent | 3-6 months |
| Appearance | Natural-looking (when done by an experienced medical practitioner) | Natural-looking (when done by an experienced medical practitioner) | Natural-looking (when done by an experienced medical practitioner) |
Lip fillers are a great way to “test” plumper lips before you get something more permanent, like a surgical lift. If you do not like the way that your lips look, you can always get the filler dissolved or wait for it to get naturally metabolised by the body.
You should keep in mind, however, that a dermal filler does not produce the same results as a lip lift. Take a look at the before and after pictures of patients for both procedures before deciding which to choose.
Is A Lip Lift Worth It?
As we age, the loss of collagen and fat pads ends up making the lips look dull and drab. The thin, downturned appearance can make a person appear older. Gravity is also at work here. It can thin and lengthen the upper lip. The pink area of the lip that’s exposed decreases. And the upper lip also ends up covering the upper teeth.
Ideally, on gently parting the lips, your upper incisors should show. The effects of ageing, however, can come in the way. Through lip lift plastic surgery, the surgeon makes changes beneath the nose by taking a strip of skin and shortening the distance. This lift upper lift gives it more height and restores its youthful appearance.
Concluding Remarks
If you want to have bigger and natural-looking lips permanently, you can consider getting lip lift surgery. It can make subtle or pronounced changes to the shape of the lips and even make them look more voluminous. It also exposes more of the front teeth, which many people find attractive.
There are also other treatments that can give you plumper lips, like dermal fillers and Botox. However, these only give temporary results, which last for a few months (to a couple of years in the case of fillers). Getting these procedures, again and again, is not convenient for everyone, which is when a lip lift presents the better option.
