17 Aug Lip Service: The Lip Lift, Lip Flip, and Lip Augmentation
It’s been all about the lips for years now, and accentuating this part of the face is a trend that isn’t going anywhere. At RefinedMD, the lip lift, lip flip, and lip augmentation are in high demand. However, if you’re just starting your journey towards shapelier lips, these terms can sound confusing. What’s the difference between these three procedures? What’s the best one for you? And should you consider a combination of them for the ultimate results?
A lip lift is a facial cosmetic surgery that decreases the space between the top of the lip and the nose. This space, called the philtrum, can be shortened by increasing the pink portion of the upper lip. A lip lift makes the upper lip look fuller and maximizes how much of your front upper teeth show. For patients who want more height and/or volume in their upper lip, a lip lift can be a great procedure.
There are many types of lip lifts, and Dr. Sudeep Roy can recommend the best one for you. A direct lip lift helps create a lip border that’s more defined. It works by removing a small skin strip from above the upper lip. The lip is then pulled up to create the look of a taller, more pronounced upper lip. A small scar is left where the upper lip meets the philtrum. The subnasal bullhorn lip lift is more common, and works by making a hidden incision at the base of the nose to pull the lip upward.
More Lip Lift Techniques
Your surgeon might recommend a central lip lift, which is a lot like a subnasal bullhorn lift but with one key difference. An incision is made at the lower nose, but in a different shape than the subnasal bullhorn. There’s also a corner lip lift, also called a grin lift, which is designed to make a person look happier.
The corner lip lift requires two tiny incisions at the corner of the mouth. Small amounts of skin are removed. It’s an ideal procedure for those who have naturally downturned lips and can be combined with other types of lip lifts to further enhance the upper lift. Finally, the Italian lip lift also requires two incisions but these are made below each nostril. It’s like a bullhorn lift, but with the incisions in a different place.
The Lip Flip
A lip flip also addresses the upper part of the lip, but works by relaxing it and “flipping” it out. This also makes it look like you have fuller lips. However, this is not a surgery but rather an injection—usually using Botox. Botox is a proven injectable that has been used for decades. You likely know it best as a tool to stop and prevent wrinkles, but it’s also regularly used for other purposes including a lip flip.
One benefit of the lip flip is that it’s non-surgical. It’s a treatment that accentuates your natural lip shape without any risk of exaggeration. In other words, it looks very natural. Using Botox is also a more cost-effective approach than using a lip filler. Many clients love the lip flip because there’s no downtime. Plus, it can help address a gummy smile. However, since Botox is used, it’s also not permanent. A lip flip requires maintenance and might be a good trial run to see if lip augmentation is right for you.
What’s Lip Augmentation?
Lip augmentation generally refers to the non-surgical placement of dermal fillers in the lips. There are many types of lip fillers, and most are made with a naturally-occurring molecule called hyaluronic acid (HA). There’s also Sculptra, a dermal filler that works by helping the body to produce more collagen in the injection site—and thus fuller-looking lips. However, most patients prefer HA fillers because the results are immediate, even though HA fillers are temporary. In some cases, patients opt for surgical lip augmentation and a fat transfer to the lips. These results are permanent, but of course require a much more invasive surgical procedure.
Lip augmentation with HA fillers can enhance the shape, volume, and structure of the lips. Fillers can be placed in the upper or lower lips, and a number of dermal fillers might be recommended for you including Restylane, Juvederm, or Belotero Balance. All lip fillers are injected in the same manner and offer very similar results. HA fillers give you total control over the final lip volume and results can be fairly long-lasting (about one year) depending on the type of HA filler and the amount injected.
Ready to learn more about enhancing your lips? Call RefinedMD today at (408) 688-2082 and ask about lip lifts, lip flips, or lip augmentation.