Lip Lift

A good candidate for a lip lift is someone who has a fairly large area between the top of their lip and the bottom of their nose, and who desires a more pronounced or youthful lip appearance. Other anatomical attributes are also considered and Dr. K can determine if your lip structure is suitable during a consultation.

Aside from the above, a good candidate would be in good overall health, without conditions that could affect healing or increase surgical risks. In addition, the candidate would not be an active smoker as smoking can impair healing and increase the risk of complications.

After a lip lift procedure, you can generally expect to see initial results within a few weeks, but the final results will take a bit longer to fully manifest. Here’s a general timeline for what to expect:

1. Immediate Post-Op: You’ll notice immediate changes right after the procedure, but there will be swelling and bruising that can obscure the final results.
2. 2-3 Weeks: Swelling and bruising will start to subside, and you’ll begin to see the preliminary shape and lift of your lips. Most of the initial swelling should be gone by this time.
3. 1-2 Months: The lip area will continue to settle, and you should see a more refined appearance as the remaining swelling goes down and healing progresses.
4. 3-6 Months: The final results become more apparent as the tissues fully heal and adjust. The lip’s new shape and lift should be well established by this point.
5. 1 Year: It can take up to a year for the complete and final results to be visible, as the tissues continue to settle and the surgical scars mature.

Keep in mind that individual healing times can vary and following your post-operative care instructions is crucial for the best outcome.

Most patients can expect the results to last for many years, often around 5 to 10 years or even longer. The lift and shape of the lips should remain relatively stable over time but factors like sun exposure, smoking, and overall skincare can influence how long the results last. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and good skincare routine can help preserve the results.

In addition, keep in mind that as you age, natural changes in skin elasticity and facial structure may affect the appearance of your lips. However, the lip lift will still provide a more youthful look compared to if you had not had the procedure.

During a lip lift procedure, patients are typically under local anesthesia which numbs the area, so the procedure itself is not painful but you may feel pressure or movement.

After the anesthesia wears off you might have swelling, bruising, and tenderness in the treated area for a few days, resulting in some discomfort. This is usually manageable with prescribed pain medications.

Discomfort generally decreases significantly within the first week as swelling and bruising subside and most patients report feeling back to normal within a few weeks.

If you have any concerns about pain or other symptoms during your recovery, it’s always a good idea to reach out to your surgeon.

In preparing for a lip lift procedure, ensure you are in good overall health and review all current medications with your surgeon. You may need to stop taking certain medications, like blood thinners or supplements, that could affect the procedure or healing.

Smoking can impair healing and increase the risk of complications, so if you smoke, you need to quit well in advance of your procedure. In addition, avoid alcohol in the days leading up to the procedure, as it can affect blood clotting and healing.

For the first few days post-procedure, expect swelling and bruising around the lip area. This is normal and will gradually subside within week or so. To help reduce swelling use ice packs or cold compresses, and keep you head elevated, even while sleeping. Pain or discomfort is usually manageable with prescribed pain medications.

The first week, stick to soft foods that don’t require much chewing to avoid straining the lip area and avoid hot or spicy foods that might irritate the area. Follow your surgeon’s instructions for cleaning the area and avoid strenuous activities like heavy lifting or exercise.

About 2 – 4 weeks post-procedure, swelling and bruising will be minimal and you’ll start seeing the shape of your lips more clearly. If you have stitches, they may be dissolvable or need to be removed.

Full lip contour and final results will become more apparent as healing progresses and the lip area should be close to its new shape within 3 – 6 months, though some subtle changes might still occur. Surgical scars will continue to mature and fade around this time. Proper scar care and sun protection can help minimize their appearance.

Throughout the healing process, continue to follow any specific aftercare instructions from your surgeon, maintain a healthy lifestyle and skincare routine to support long-term results, avoid smoking and excessive sun exposure, and be sure to keep up with any recommended follow-up appointments to monitor the results and address any concerns.

Always follow the specific instructions given by your surgeon, as individual recommendations might vary based on your unique situation and the details of your procedure.