INFORMATION FOR PATIENTS UNDERGOING LIP ENHANCEMENT

The technique I use most often is the "lip flip" or "lip roll" procedure. This procedure gives the patient permanent full, well-defined lips without using foreign material.

The major concern patients voice about their lips is a desire for more fullness. A secondary concern is the size of the upper lip relative to the lower lip. You should decide what you want to achieve and describe this to me clearly.

The lip enhancement technique that I use creates greater fullness and roundness. It also restores youthfulness in the older patient. It is the procedure of choice for younger and older patients provided the lip tissue is not unusually thin.

The procedure takes about one hour for upper or lower lip. A local anaesthetic is used and the procedure is done in the theatre at my rooms. The incisions involve making three to four V shaped cuts on the inside of the lip and stitching the tissue in a new position. Dissolving stitches are used.

This technique goes a long way towards solving the problem of facial balance. It is possible to create a uniform fullness of the entire upper or lower lip and the incision is hidden inside the mouth. Small irregularities of the lip following trauma or cleft lip repair can be improved with this technique.

Following this procedure the lip will be swollen - considerably more swollen on the following day. Iceblocks or frozen facecloths held to the lip will help reduce swelling.

It will probably be a full week before swelling diminishes enough to "look normal". In some patients the swelling takes up to two weeks to disappear.

In the first two to three weeks the patient experiences difficulty in moving his or her mouth – this is part of the post-operative process and is caused by the tightness of scarring together with the post-operative swelling. Although no one except your dentist will be able to see the scars you will be able to feel them with your tongue.

PLASTIC SURGERY COST ESTIMATES
(GST inclusive)

Lip augmentation upper or lower - $2,255
(local anaesthetic)

Lip augmentation upper and lower - $2,675
(local anaesthetic)