Is it safe to do a lip lift 3 days after rhinoplasty? (Photos)

Hello, in general we do not recommend doing a lip lift until about 6-12 months post rhinoplasty. Healing time for both a rhinoplasty (even a revision) and a lip lift are surgical procedures that require time for proper healing. The nose, especially following a revision, may be quite sensitive and fragile initially, and performing another surgery so soon after could potentially affect the healing of the rhinoplasty.

My concern about having lip lift surgery three days after rhinoplasty surgery is that your nose tissue will be swollen. And some of your upper lip tissue will be swollen. The biggest problem we see with lip lift surgery is unfavorable scarring at the base of the nose. I suspect that operating in a swollen tissue field may lend to less than optimal healing. I hope this helps! Sincerely, Dr. Joseph.

Thank you for your question. It may be safe, but you may find better results waiting for your rhinoplasty to heal before proceeding with the lip lift. The nose will have swelling and tenderness following a revision procedure and can take several months to heal completely. Suppose you wait longer after the revision rhinoplasty. In that case, your plastic surgeon can more accurately gauge proportions for a natural lip lift that has a unified look with your nose and other facial features.

I would wait three months after rhinoplasty to do the lip lift. Three days after rhinoplasty, there is too much swelling to acurrately identify landmarks. Wait for the swelling of the upper lip to resolve totally, and then the lip lift can be comfortably done.

I applaud your ENT surgeon for not doing it at the same time. Whether it’s safe to do after three days depends on the rhinoplasty technique. I wouldn’t do it if it was an open rhinoplasty you had. Just make sure your rhinoplasty surgeon is ok with your plan.

Dear troptard,
you should be fully healed prior to another surgery. 3 days is too early to get another surgery. If you are considering surgery, I would suggest you consult a board-certified plastic surgeon. Only after a thorough examination, you will get more information and recommendations.
Daniel Barrett, MD
Certified, American Board of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Plastic Surgery
Member, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery

I've done hundreds of combination lip lift and rhinoplasty procedures. Doing them at the same time is a good idea. But, 3 days letter would not be recommended. You will likely still have tape and a cast on your nose. This can disrupt the appearance and landmarks. I'd wait 8 weeks after rhinoplasty if you don't do them together.

Both of these should be done at least 3 months apart, ideally one year apart. The incisions are very close to each other and the risk of scarring is great.
Regards
Dr J

Hi. The said procedures involve creating multiple incisions that are too close to each other. I’d suggest holding it off for a bit since your nose will still swell and need time to heal from a rhinoplasty. Proceeding with a lip lift following a rhinoplasty too soon may compromise the blood supply needed for a smooth recovery from the two procedures.

Hi there! Great questions and thanks for submitting. Rhinoplasty surgery typically causes swelling underneath the nose, which is where a lip lift is commonly performed. There are other types of lip lifts that can be performed directly above the pink line of the lip, however, there is still a degree of swelling along the entire lip. Also, rhinoplasty aftercare typically involves cleaning drainage from the nostrils. While it is possible to perform lip lift soon after rhinoplasty, for all the reasons above, it may be beneficial to hold off until the rhinoplasty recovery is more complete. This may help accuracy of measurements for the lip lift, incision hygiene, and a more pleasant patient experience. I would discuss all points with your prospective surgeon to ensure you understand what to expect. Good luck!