Upper lip lift (lip lif)
Facial surgery
The upper lip lift is not a widespread procedure, in spite of its efficiency in enhancing the mouth and the smile aesthetically.
Owing to ageing (or in a constitutional manner, in young adults), the upper lift can modify, which results in the lengthening of the white lip and the thinning of the red lip.
Procedure steps
Those modifications lead up to a thin and pinched appearance of the upper lip, hiding the upper teeth when the mouth is half-open.
The upper lip lift aims to shorten the white lip and to elevate the red lip, making the mouth more attractive, and rejuvenating the smile.
- Dr. Petit will listen to you in order to understand your discomfort and your requests relating to your upper lip.
- He will analyse your mouth when smiling and at rest, the balance between your upper and lower lip, as well as the proportions between your white and red upper lip. He will ensure that there is no maxillary bone abnormality, which may contraindicate this surgery.
- Dr. Petit will provide information on the scar positioning, treatment process and procedure limits, post-operative recoveries as well as main risks, so as to make an informed decision.
Procedure limits
- The upper lip lift has no effect on the vertical thin wrinkles of the upper lip. These ones will be enhanced by cosmetic medicine techniques.
Good candidates for an upper lip lift are those
- Having a thin and pinched upper lip.
- Wishing to make their upper lip more youthful and sensual.
- Without any dental articulation problem.
Pre-operative instructions
General pre-operative instructions relating to plastic surgery
- Smoking cessation 1 month before and after the procedure.
- Discontinuation of medicines which increase bleeding 10 days before and after the procedure: aspirin, anti-inflammatory and anticoagulant medicines, vitamin E.
Procedure stages
A pre-operative marking is carried out by Dr. Petit before the procedure. This one is performed under local anesthesia, on an out-patient basis (hospital discharge that very evening).
It consists in removing a pattern of skin and underlying tissue of the white upper lip from the nasal sill (junction between the nose and the upper lip). This enables to reduce the height of white lip and to authorize the eversion of the upper lip during suturing. The scar is located around the nostrils.
The cutaneous closure is performed with resorbable sutures.
A dressing is not necessary.
What to expect after surgery
The upper lip lift is a little painful procedure, or even not painful. Pains are soothed by analgesics.
Ecchymosis (bruises) and oedema (swelling) located in the upper lip are classical and depend from one patient to another, gradually diminishing within a fortnight.
The shower with a soft soap is authorized the day following the procedure.
The resumption of daily activities is possible the day following the procedure.
The resumption of professional activities can be done within 7 days after the procedure.
Procedure risks
The complications of the upper lip lift are rare and will be mentioned by Dr. Petit during the consultation.
Long-term result
The final result of an upper lip lift is obtained between 3 to 6 months, and is stable and long-lasting.
The scar will gradually fade within a few months and is almost invisible full-term.