Lip Enhancement

Lip Enhancement in Wisconsin

HOW CAN LIP AUGMENTATION IMPROVE MY APPEARANCE?

Lip enhancement usually focuses on increasing the size of the lips. Age-related lip flattening, thinning, and loss of border definition, especially along the central “Cupid’s bow” area of the upper lip, is effectively and safely reversed by increasing the amount of show of the red lip and by redefining the delicate curvature of the border of the lips through methods that restore lip volume.

YOUR LIP ENHANCEMENT CONSULTATION

Your consultation with Dr. Parfitt will help you decide on the type of procedure that best addresses your concerns. Dr. Parfitt offers different types of surgical and non-surgical lip augmentation procedures, and will determine if lip enhancement is the best procedure to achieve your facial harmony.

If you are interested in lip augmentation, your choice of a board-certified Facial Plastic Surgeon is extremely important. During your consultation, Dr. Parfitt will examine your facial anatomy and also obtain a medical history, so he can consider any medical conditions that may heighten any risk. Dr. Parfitt will weigh other factors that could influence the results of surgery such as skin type, age, ethnicity and your expectations of surgery. Once you and Dr. Parfitt arrive at a mutual understanding and trust, he will tailor a treatment plan that is best suited to you.

At your consultation for a surgical procedure, you will receive detailed information of the following:
– Surgical procedure(s)
– Technique indicated
– Type of anesthesia
– Risks involved
– Middleton/Madison on-site surgical facility
– Additional surgery recommendations
– Scheduling and booking options
– Financing policies
– Surgical quote of costs involved

INJECTABLE DERMAL FILLERS

Dr. Parfitt advises to first undergo a temporary dermal filler procedure, which will allow you to evaluate the appearance, movement and feeling of your lips in the augmented state, before proceeding with longer-lasting or more permanent surgical implant options. A variety of dermal fillers are available and are placed into the lips through injections.

Dermal fillers are also used to eliminate or reduce other age-related lip features such as deepened folds along the cheek borders, drooping at the corners of the mouth, or small vertical “smokers” lines.

This office based treatment is available through Dr. Parfitt’s non-surgical clinic AestheticA Skin Health Center and requires simple topical numbing and minimal to no “down time”. Duration of injectable dermal fillers can range up to 6 months.

LIP IMPLANT PROCEDURE

Augmentation of the lips can be achieved with the implantation of synthetic or organic materials.

Alloderm is the most popular material for surgical lip augmentation and consists of dermis, the most durable part of the skin. This soft, natural feeling material is inserted through tiny incisions made on the inside corners of the mouth. Alloderm eventually becomes integrated with the natural tissue of the body. Although at first it was thought that such material was permanent, long term research has shown that the body does break the material down eventually. Individual results will vary however results are likely to last a few years or more.

The implant procedure is done as an outpatient under IV sedation, also known as twilight anesthesia at our Middleton on-site surgical center. Stitches are used inside the corners of the mouth.

LIP IMPLANT RECOVERY

Stitches are removed from inside the corners of the mouth 5 days post surgery. Downtime depends on the level of bruising and swelling that occurs, but most patients return to work after a week to two weeks. All patients are required to follow the post-op instructions to ensure better healing and to reduce any possible complications.

LIP LIFT PROCEDURE

As we age, our upper lip begins to droop and flatten. A surgical lip lift shortens the distance between the upper lip margin and base of the nose creating additional upper lip fullness by rotating the lip upward and outward. The procedure produces more balance for those patients with thin upper lips and a softer “happier” set to the mouth.

As with any elective surgical procedure, realistic expectations and good health are prerequisites. Because a lip lift can be done to address poorly shaped lips at any age, this procedure can be done on any healthy, male or female adult. A lip lift is needed when injectable fillers no longer give the results that you seek or, in discussion with your surgeon, you mutually decide that a more permanent solution is best for you.

Dr. Parfitt performs this outpatient surgical procedure at our private surgery center in Madison. The procedure requires a tiny incision placed within the natural crease just beneath the base of the nose to precisely elevate and reposition the upper lip.

RECOVERY FROM LIP LIFT

Sutures are located just under the nose and are removed on day 6-post surgery. As with any surgery, bruising and swelling can occur and can be noticeable up to a month or more. Makeup can be applied by day 7-post surgery. Most patients are back to work within a week. All patients are required to follow the post-operative instructions to ensure better healing and to reduce any possible complications.

LIP REDUCTION PROCEDURE

Lip enhancement may also refer to the desire for a reduction in the size or shape of the lips resulting from trauma, congenital deformity, or excessive size associated with ethnicity. While less commonly requested, the goal in lip reduction is to achieve a more youthful, proportional and symmetric appearance of the lips that maintains an aesthetic balance with other defining features on the face. This outpatient surgical procedure at Dr. Parfitt’s on-site surgical facility involves removing a strip of skin from one or both of the lips.

RECOVERY FROM LIP REDUCTON

Sutures are removed or dissolve on their own between 6 -10 days post surgery. Down time involves bruising, and swelling. Your swelling will subside within a few weeks, but usually the final result will be visible after about 3 months of the surgical procedure. You may notice a change in your smile, odd sensations of “hollowness”, tingling, the sporadic sharp pain, or “pulling”, burning, and cold sensations. These usually subside within the first few weeks. You can return to work at 5 to 7 days, but it depends upon type of your work. If you have a sedentary (desk job) with little or no amount of talking it is ok to resume your work after about a week. If your job requires high impact activity you may need more time off. All patients are required to follow the post-op instructions to ensure better healing and to reduce any possible complications.

LIP ENHANCEMENT FAQs: