Does upper lip lift ever go wrong? How bad is scarring going to be? How long is recovery? Price? (Photo)

Question

When I talk my upper teeth doesn't show only when I smile it shows. I've been researching looking for a good doctor to do lip lift. Only thing I'm scared of if the scaring is too terrible or what if I mess this up. Please tell me if I need a lip lift. I know I need to keep up lip fillers after surgery. Cause I have very thin lips and small mouth.

Ricardo L. Rodriguez, MD · Answer

There is always a risk with any surgery, but a lip lift performed by an experienced plastic surgeon is generally well tolerated and typically produces excellent results. I perform lip lifts here in the office under local anesthesia. An incision is made at the base of the nose in the natural ridge between lip skin and nasal skin. I do not cut muscles or nerves, as I believe these facial elements should remain in their natural state.For lip lifts, it's important to keep it as simple as possible and to be as conservative as possible (it is impossible to add skin back, but it is possible to perform a touch up to remove a bit more). While pricing is important and the average price noted here on RealSelf is a little over $3,000, it is more important that you find a board certified plastic surgeon who you are totally comfortable with.My lip lift patients are typically able to return to work 3 to 4 days following surgery, though you will still be swollen and your mouth will still feel tight for the first few weeks. The majority of the swelling will be gone one month post-op.Scarring is typically unnoticeable, but you'll want to be sure to look at a lot of before and after photos during your consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon. A consultation will also help you determine if a lip lift will help you achieve your aesthetic goals. Be sure to discuss exactly what bothers you and get answers to all of your concerns, including scarring.You may or may not need to continue fillers following a lip lift.Best wishes!

Farhad Rafizadeh, MD · Answer

Any surgery can have complication, but in the hands of a well trained, experienced and talented plastic surgeon the complications are minimal and are mostly related to the scaring. When every thing is done expertly and well, there could still be a problem with hypertrophic scars in rare individual who because of some genetic factor, just doesn't heal well. Looking at your picture I can say that you would  be a good candidate for a lip lift. The price is an all inclusive $3500. The procedure is done in the office under a local anesthetic. The sutures are removed within 5 days and a special narrow tape is applied for a few more days. You can work in a day if you can come up with a story or just tell people what you have done to explain why you have a tape under your nose. The results are immediate and look better every day as the swelling goes down. The upper lip is shorter and shows the upper teeth. The vermillion is enhances. If you don't have issue with scaring elsewhere the scars are invisible. I tend to hide them in the nostrils and the creases between the nose and the lip. We make arrangement for out of town patients and even international patients. Our location is about an hour from New York City which allows our long distance patients to combine this with a cultural vacation in the city.

Does upper lip lift ever go wrong? How bad is scarring going to be? How long is recovery? Price? (Photo)

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Everything you need to know about Lip Lift

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Does upper lip lift ever go wrong? How bad is scarring going to be? How long is recovery? Price? (Photo)

Answers (2)

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Everything you need to know about Lip Lift

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.