Lip Lift
Lip lift through sub-alar excision with fat grafting is a natural-looking option to enhance the appearance of the lip. The use of your own fat to augment the size of your lips and improve the aesthetic balance of the lips offers a more natural result.
THE SURGICAL PROCEDURE
It is also often performed in hospital in conjunction with other facial rejuvenation procedures such as facelift surgery.
Fat from your body is generally harvested through liposuction, usually from the abdomen or thighs. The fat is cleansed and refined and then injected into the lips via tiny pinholes.
RECOVERY & HEALING
There are no bandages or dressings applied to the lips. The lips will be swollen. The time taken for the swelling to go down depends on the amount of augmentation desired.
Most people are back at work within 10 days. There are no stitches to remove and bruising is minimal.
BENEFITS OF LIP LIFT SUB-ALAR INCISION WITH FAT GRAFTING
- Restore fullness
- Enhance contours of the lips
- Correct asymmetry of the lips
- Correct a “gummy” smile
- Reduce the appearance of “smoker’s” lip lines
MEDICARE CRITERIA
There is no Medicare rebate as a lip lift is a cosmetic procedure.
With any procedure you choose to undergo, potential risks and complications can occur, and it is vital to understand them before deciding on surgery.
Some general risks and complications of lip lift surgery may include:
- Heavy bleeding from the operated site
- Blood clots that may cause potentially fatal cardiovascular complications such as heart attack, deep vein thrombosis or stroke
- Wound infection (treatment with antibiotics may be needed)
- Allergic reaction to sutures, dressings or antiseptic solutions
- The formation of a large blood clot (haematoma) beneath an incision site that may require drainage
- Pain, bruising and swelling around the operated site(s)
- Keloids and hypertrophic scars that are raised, red and thickened scars. These may form over the healed incisions. They may be itchy, annoying and unsightly but are not a threat to health
- Temporary or permanent areas of numbness
- Difficulty talking or smiling for several weeks
- Movement of the implant, which will require further surgery
- Slow healing, often related to smoking or diabetes
- Short-term nausea following general anaesthesia and other risks related to anaesthesia
- Revisional surgery may be necessary to correct complications
Dr Kirstin Miteff will go into more depth about the associated risks and complications during your consultation.