Lip Surgery (reduction / augmentation)

Are you worried that your lips are too large or protruding? Perhaps you have small thin lips that seem to simply disappear on your face, or you may have some scars that you would like to have repaired so that your lips are not crooked. Lip surgery is a common practice nowadays, with large numbers of men and women wanting to enhance their facial appearance and improve their self-esteem.

What types of lip surgery are available?

There are a number of different types of lip surgery available. Lip reduction is used to make lips smaller or thinner. Lip augmentation is used to make lips larger or plumper. Lip lifts are to close the distance under the nose, usually giving the lips a fuller, more pleasing appearance. There are also lip reconstruction surgeries that are used to fix damaged tissue or the abnormal growth of lips, such as cleft lips (lips which do not grow together the correct way, leaving a noticeable separation). Lip surgery procedures are also available to revise scar tissue.

Who are the best candidates for lip surgery?

Patients should be healthy and have realistic views of what lip surgery can do for them. Your physician will discuss any aspects of your medical history that may interfere with your procedure. Depending on what type of surgery you wish to have, some health issues may put you at risk for more serious complications. Some diseases may interfere with the healing process or the surgery itself. Other complications could result if you have blood clotting problems.

Before the procedure, your physician will give you an individual consultation and take a complete medical history. Together, you will decide on which lip surgery is right for you.

What are some of the procedures for lip surgery and which one should I have?

Some procedures such as collagen or fat injections are only temporary and have to be repeated periodically to maintain the desired results. With lip enhancement (augmentation), there are injections of various materials. Lip implants are also performed, and there are a number of materials available. Your physician can give you the details on which procedure you should have.

Lip reduction surgery is usually done by having an incision inside the mouth and having excess tissue removed to tone down the plumpness. Lip lifts are done by removing skin from the upper lip which tends to leave a noticeable scar; however, having skin removed under your nose will give you a much better result. These methods are used to pull the lip level up closer to the nose, shortening the gap, and giving the upper lip a fuller appearance.

There are many types of procedures that are used to lessen the appearance of scars. Your physician may discuss with you many potential methods, such as dermabrasion or other smoothing methods, removing scar tissue, the possibility of filling the spot with skin from another area with grafting, or the use of silicone or steroids to help flatten or remove the redness of scar tissue. Depending on the procedure you have chosen to have, your surgery could take as little as fifteen minutes or as long as a few hours. Most treatments are performed under local or general anesthesia and are outpatient surgeries. Some surgeries, depending on the extent, may require multiple visits.

How long will it take me to recover and will I miss any work?

For more simple procedures such as lip injections, you may return to your normal activities within a few days with few restrictions. For more detailed procedures, such as reconstruction work or implant placement, you may need a couple of weeks or more to recover. Your physician will go over possible diet restrictions as well as your routine physical limitations. More strenuous activities may be limited depending on the extent of your procedure.

What risks and complications are there with this procedure?

Risks and complications are possible with any type of medical procedure. Swelling and bruising are common with lip surgeries, and there is a slight risk of infection. A number of patients may also encounter temporary loss of sensation after surgery, and in more extreme cases a permanent loss of feeling may occur. Some more complicated procedures may also have potential risks of blood clots, extreme reactions to the implant materials, or the anesthesia used during surgery. Your physician will be able to go over the risks with you before surgery. Some patients may have pre-existing health problems that may also increase the chances of more severe complications.

Fortunately, advances in surgical techniques, materials and technologies make complications rare – but when they do occur, they are easily treatable by your surgeon.

Will I have beautiful lips right away?

Patients having simple treatments such as collage injections have the best chance of seeing results right away; however, with any procedure there will probably be residual swelling that may not allow you to see much difference immediately after the surgery. When the recovery period is complete, you will be able to see the improvement in the contour and line of your lips. Some procedures may require follow up visits or need to be repeated at regular intervals. An example, if you have collagen injections, they may fade over time. After surgery, most patients have an enhanced sense self-esteem and enjoy their improved facial appearance.

Further information

This web site has been prepared to give a basic understanding of the procedure before a consultation takes place, and to cover many of the questions frequently asked about this type of cosmetic surgery. Final decisions should not be made until an individual assessment has taken place with the surgeon.

There is no obligation on the part of the patient to undergo surgery by attending for consultation.

If you have any further questions or would like to arrange a consultation please fill in the online form or call us on 07590 666 302. All enquiries are always treated confidentially.