My lips are too thin! My lips are too big! I want better lip proportion to balance my thin upper lip with my full lower lip. Whichever of these comments you can relate to, you will not feel alone after reading our most frequently asked questions about lip enhancement surgery FAQ: Lips. We have combined dozens of questions including questions on fillers such as fat injections, dermal fat grafts, Alloderm and V-Y lip advancement from many patients over the years that were at one time considering a change just as you are now. If you are seeking information on the tiny lines around the mouth and lips, you will also find useful information at FAQ Dermabrasion and Skin Resurfacing. For nonsurgical procedures that enhance lip beauty see also Botox and Restylane.

Many patients want to eliminate a tired look or "frown" in the lip area. Some want to elevate the "saggy" corners of the mouth and restore a younger appearance. Other patients want to eliminate wrinkles around the lips so that lipstick doesn't "run." Most of all, patients want improvements in the lip area to look natural.

Lip augmentation and lip reduction are performed to restore a more naturally youthful appearance and less fatigued look while maintaining your unique features and natural facial animation.

When discussing procedures that enhance the lip area, the best place to start is by looking at before and after lip augmentation photographs to see just what can be accomplished. As you will see in the photos, patients frequently ask to combine procedures such as liposuction to obtain fat to be used for fat injections in the lip area. If the corners of the mouth are a concern, a facelift or midface lift elevates "laugh lines" from their downward position and achieve a smoother contour of the jowl area. Many patients seek information about improving superficial wrinkles and imperfections in the skin around the lips with dermabrasion, chemical peel or laser resurfacing. Other requests to combine cosmetic surgery with lip augmentation surgery include blepharoplasty (eyelid lift), chin implants, cheek implants, rhinoplasty (nasal surgery), otoplasty (ear surgery) and browlift.

A board certified facial plastic surgeon, trained to perform cosmetic surgery exclusively on faces, knows that his responsibility is to evaluate not only the areas of concern but also the motivation behind the requests. Some patients not ready for facial plastic surgery are better served with conservative measures, such as Botox for fine lines and wrinkles or Restylane for plumping lips and filling in tiny lines around the mouth. Patients who educate themselves about facial rejuvenation know when and if the time is right to proceed.

Whether you seek information on lip enhancement or lip reduction, preparation and aftercare for most lip enhancement plastic surgery have many similarities. Lip augmentation and lip reduction are safe, effective procedures performed to restore a more youthful appearance.

At your initial lip enhancement consultation, your board certified facial plastic surgeon will evaluate the bony and soft tissue architecture as well as the form and function of the head and neck. An overall assessment of the face provides the basis for what one may expect from lip enhancement surgery. Skin type, ethnic background and age, along with the degree of deformity and function are important factors influencing the outcome of the plastic surgery.

As with all facial plastic surgery, a thorough health assessment and realistic expectations are prerequisites. Your understanding of procedures and routines is essential to a successful final result.

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For more information about this procedure, call 585.244.1000 or send us a message.

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