[One Point Lesson] Lip reshaping can enhance the beauty of the entire face Ⅲ

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Lip reshaping

Ideal thickness and shape of lips depend on subjective standards. Many people fret that their lips are too thick or thin. Undesirably thick lips give an unsophisticated appearance. Recent trends favor plump lips with healthy gloss. It is important to accurately assess the need for the lip shaping procedure. If there are problems with teeth or alveolar bone, orthodontic, mouth protrusion correction, chin augmentation, or mid-facial contouring can be combined for better outcome.

Lip reduction

A slight difference of 1-2㎜ in lip thickness can drastically change the entire facial image. The ideal ratio of lower lip to upper lip thickness in women is 7 to 10, with the lower lip being slightly thicker. Men are expected to have a thicker lower lip. This ratio should be considered in lip reduction surgery.

Surgical method of lip reduction

In lip reduction surgery, a medial lip incision is made in the mucous membrane of the oral cavity and a predetermined amount of mucous membrane or muscle is resected before suture. As absorbable thread is used in suture, there is no need to remove stitches. The surgery is performed under local anesthesia or intravenous sedation anesthesia as needed. The surgery takes about 30-40 minutes for one lip.

Cautions to be taken after surgery

Food ingestion is possible immediately after surgery, however, spicy or hard food should be avoided. Severe swelling lasts about 2-3 days after surgery but gradually disappears. In about a week, the patient can comfortably go outdoors as normal. The incision area of the medial lip feels hardened in the beginning but returns to normal texture in 2-3 months. Temporary sensory paralysis or mild numbness could follow lip reduction but sensation returns to normal in 2-3 months.

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Lip augmentation

Various treatments and surgical procedures are available to volumize and plump up thin and flat lips.

Surgical method of lip augmentation

Surgical methods of lip augmentation include lip mucosal advancement and lip line enhancement. The lip mucosal advancement is a flap surgery of lip mucosa. This method brings eversion and appropriate level of volume enhancement without excessive thickening. It is mainly used for lower lip augmentation along with lip line augmentation of the upper lip.

Mucosal advancement is the anterior adjustment of the medial lip mucosa and increases the lip volume by anterior-lateral eversion. Patients with a clear boundary of the lip and without excessively long philtrum or chin, scar-prone skin or keloids can experience natural-looking fuller lips. Lip augmentation using the upper lip line is the same procedure as the vermilion border of the lip incision of philtrum reduction. This method makes an incision along the vermilion border of the lip and is beneficial for patients with thin, flat lips and unclear borders of the mouth.

Cautions to be taken after surgery

The lip mucosa is very sensitive and can experience severe edema during the first 2-3 days after surgery. The swelling subsides gradually to only about 20-30% remaining in about a week and the patient can return to normal daily activities. As with lip reduction surgery, the mucosal sensation is numbed immediately following surgery but returns in about 2-3 months. Spicy or hard food should be avoided for a while after surgery.