If you want a more youthful and sexy looking mouth, keep in mind that big lips are not the only way to go! A lip lift can provide for a more youthful mouth, by reducing the space above the upper lip. Below is a five point technical summary of exactly how I perform the Lip lift surgery.
What is a Lip lift and who needs one?
Let’s clarify what lip lift does first. The lip lift shortens the long space between the base of the nose and the upper lip. Some people are born with a longer space, while other people start to notice it more during the aging process.
the lip lift shortens the long space between the base of the nose and the upper lip
Here are the considerations to make when planning the procedure, and the steps involved in the procedure.
Ideal distance between the upper lip and base of nose
The ideal distance between the upper lip and the base of the nose is 1.1 cm.
Often times a patient will come to me thinking she needs a Lip augmentation.
However, a closer examination of her lips reveal that her teeth are not showing when her mouth is at rest and the distance between her nose base and the top of her lips is greater than 1.5 cm.
If the space above the upper lip is too long, fillers create duck lips
If I augment the lips with a filler, I run the risk of the lips just moving outward, and not lifting upward. When there is no space for the lips to go but outward, this creates a ‘duck lip’ look. Since the goal is NOT ‘duck lips,’ the alternative is to raise the upper lip so that her teeth become visible.
This is what the Lip lift does. The Lip lift refreshes the mouth area and results in a more youthful appearance. Watch my Lip lift video to learn more about the difference between a Lip lift and a Lip augmentation.
Technical description of how I perform the Lip lift procedure
In summary, this is a description of the Lip lift technique that I have been using for many years:
1) I make the surgical markings below the nose
The surgical markings will be be a diagram of the exact path that I will follow for the skin excision. The incision will be made exactly along the surgical markings.
2) Incision is first made at the base of the nose
An incision is made at the base of the nose in the natural ridge between lip skin and nasal skin.
3) Muscle or nerves are NOT cut
The skin is excised based on the surgical markings. My technique involves skin only, and does not cut muscle or nerves. Skin is elevated only to the level where preoperative markings were made. The wedge of skin is removed. The muscle stays intact.
my technique involves skin only, and does not cut muscle or nerves- Dr. Rodriguez
4) Sutures are passed through small tunnels
We spread muscle fibers that reach the membrane covering the septum and nasal bones. Three tunnels are made centrally: one through the septum and the other two on either side of the septum . We use these tunnels to put the suture through so we do not have to cut the muscle
5) Sutures tied to underside of lip skin, not to muscles
The sutures are tied to the underside of the lip skin. The sutures do not tie muscle, and do not tie nerves. There is no cutting of any structure once we cut skin.
Before & after Lip lift photos
With the Lip lift techniques I use, described above, the results are just great! Remember, the Lip lift simply corrects the anatomical distance between the bottom of your nose and the top of your lips, as shown in the following photos:
| Lip lift patient one |
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| Lip lift patient two |
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| Lip lift patient three |
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| Lip lift patient four |
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| Lip lift patient five |
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| Lip lift patient six |
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(originally published September 12, 2010)
