Lip Rejuvenation
The lips are a focal point of the face and, whether due to genetics or age, can often be less full or rejuvenated than we would like. Surgical lip enhancement encompasses a wide range of techniques, each designed to address a different aspect of the lips. Dr. Hu customizes her approach to each patient depending on his or her goals.
Patients seek out Dr. Hu to address all of the following:
Asymmetrical lips
Loss of lip volume or contour
Poorly defined vermilion border
Thin upper or lower lips
Increased distance between the base of the nose and upper lip
Types of Lip Rejuvenation
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Lip Lift
If you have an elongated distance between the base of your nose and the beginning of your upper lip (also called the philtrum), you may be a candidate for a lip lift. This technique shortens this distance, which often contributes to an aged appearance, and also brings out more of the upper lip, creating a fuller and more balanced look. Dr. Hu designs an incision at the base of the nose to remove skin, and, once healed, the scar is virtually invisible.
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Lip Advancement
If you have thin upper and/or lower lips or a poorly defined border, a lip advancement will increase the red lip show. Dr. Hu makes an incision along the border of the lip and removes a sliver of skin, which then allows the body of the lip to become more prominent.
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Corner of the Lip Lift
If the corners of your lips have always lacked or lost volume over time, a corner of the lip lift will help elevate the border and bring more of the red lip into view. This will balance the central and lateral portions of your lip. Dr. Hu creates a small incision at each corner of the upper lip, and a sliver of skin is removed to achieve this effect.
How It Works
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Dr. Hu will begin your consultation by listening to your concerns about your lips and discussing the results you would like to achieve.
She will discuss the various approaches to rejuvenating the liips and which approach you are a candidate for. Please see above for an overview.
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Next, Dr. Hu will take a full health history and perform a complete examination of your face with a focus on the lips and perioral region. With this information, Dr. Hu will create a tailored plan to help you achieve your aesthetic goals. In addition to lip rejuvenation, Dr. Hu may recommend adjunct procedures such laser resurfacing to treat wrinkles around the mouth.
Additionally, we can show you the potential results of these surgical techniques with our specialized imaging software! This allows us to promote an open dialogue as we progress to the next steps.
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Finally, Dr. Hu and her clinical team will discuss the details of the surgery, pricing, how to plan for it, and what to expect after.
Lip enhancement surgery is performed on-site in a state-of-the-art private operating suite at AIREM. Dr. Hu’s patients will frequently undergo this procedure with local anesthesia only. However, sedation by a board-certified anesthesiologist can be administered if you wish. The procedure will take around 1 hour. If you did not receive sedation, you will be able to go home on your own. If you had sedation, you will recover in a private room for an hour. Once you are awake enough, a family member or friend can escort you from the facility back home.
Recovery Process
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You will need to plan for time to recover, which varies by individual and type of lip rejuvenation, but is usually around one week. There will be swelling and possibly bruising for the first few days that may increase around day 3 or 4. During this phase, you will have medication to help keep you comfortable.
At home, you or your caretaker will have to clean the incision with hydrogen peroxide and apply an antibiotic ointment to help with the healing process. Outside of light walking, you should not exercise.
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At your one week appointment, all sutures are removed.
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At this point, the scar will appear pink. However, any swelling will have mostly resolved. On day 10, you can use makeup to camouflage the scar and also start using silicone scar gel to augment the healing process. During the second week, you can restart any light aerobic exercise as long as you do not lift anything greater than 10 pounds, which will have to wait until week 3.
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During this time, the scar will continue to fade to a paler, lighter color. You are completely socially presentable and already enjoying compliments from friends and family. You will notice continued improvements in the scar appearance until 6 months after the surgery, at which point it will be invisible.