Whether you feel your lips are too full, too thin, or too droopy, lip enhancement can often be an excellent cosmetic option for rejuvenating the appearance around the mouth. Below, I’ve highlighted three effective lip enhancement techniques that can achieve excellent outcomes for qualified patients.
Lip Lift
A lip lift is a popular procedure for rejuvenation of the mouth due to aging or facial disproportion. Depending on your unique needs, there are two methods that can be employed: the central lip lift and the corner lip lift.
Normally, 2-3 mm of the edge of the teeth should be visible when looking at the upper lip, with the mouth relaxed and slightly open. If you look at any fashion magazine where a model has her mouth open this way, there is at least this much “tooth show” and sometimes more. The central lip lift is designed to decrease the length of the upper lip (the distance between the nose and the edge of the upper lip), which tends to stretch with age. This surgery can make a dramatic improvement in the appearance of youthfulness to one’s face. This technique can also slightly increase the fullness of the upper lip by everting the lip, thus showing more of the red portion of the lip.
As its name suggests, the corner lip lift involves elevating the corners of the mouth until they are sitting horizontal or very slightly upturned. Both types of lip lift can be performed on younger patients as well as older patients, and the procedures are typically performed under sedation anesthesia.
Lip Reduction
A lip reduction is typically recommended for patients who have concerns about large, asymmetric, and/or distorted lips either from permanent fillers (e.g., silicone, Artecoll®, etc.) or a naturally undesirable lip shape. Incisions for this procedure are concealed on the inside of the lip, and tissue – along with any scarring or free silicone/permanent fillers that may be encountered – will be removed until optimal results are achieved.
Lip Augmentation
Lip augmentation can be used to make the lips plumper, fuller, and/or more defined. This technique can either be performed non-surgically with volumizing tissue fillers such as Restylane® and JUVÉDERM Volbella™, or surgically via fat grafting. A patient who is seeking a quick procedure with little downtime would be an ideal candidate for lip augmentation with non-surgical fillers, and an individual interested in a more permanent enhancement may be better suited for fat transfer.
To determine the most appropriate treatment for your needs, I encourage you to come in for a consultation. During this time, I can perform a thorough facial examination and discuss which options may most effectively help you achieve your goals.
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For more information about lip enhancement, or if you wish to schedule a consultation with Dr. Tong, please contact us today.