If you’d like your looks to look plumper, fuller, and more youthful this year, you’re in luck! Three fantastic cosmetic procedures, lip filler, lip flip, and lip lift, offer fantastic results.
If you’d like to change the appearance of your lips, you’re probably wondering what the difference is between the procedures. Board-certified plastic surgeon Joseph Fodero, MD, PA, from Northeastern Plastic Surgery in Florham Park, New Jersey, shares what to expect from each procedure and which is best for you.
Lip filler is a nonsurgical procedure that adds volume and fullness to your lips using an approved dermal filler. It’s suitable for adults 21 and older who’d like to add more fullness to their lips.
To get this procedure, your provider starts by numbing your lips, usually using a topical numbing cream. Once they’re completely numb, your clinician uses a thin needle to make injections into your lips.
You can expect your lips to swell up to 48 hours after the procedure. Results last for up to 18 months after the procedure.
A lip lift is an outpatient surgical procedure that reduces the space between your upper lip and nose. The lift makes your lip appear fuller, uplifts corners of your lips that are turned down, and can reduce the appearance of fine lines.
Before getting a lip lift, you receive local anesthesia, which ensures you won’t feel any pain during the procedure. Your clinician makes incisions, which can be in your lips or the skin between your nose and upper lips, to lift the lip into position and remove any extra skin.
Once finished, your clinician stitches up the area. These procedures usually take under an hour to complete.
You’ll return to have the stitches removed a few days after surgery and can expect to be completely healed within two months. Results from this procedure are permanent.
A lip flip is a nonsurgical procedure using Botox® or a similar botulinum toxin brand to relax the muscles surrounding your upper lip. The procedure helps your lip appear larger by causing it to flip upwards.
This procedure creates fuller-looking lips, reduces the appearance of wrinkles, and diminishes the appearance of large gums. A lip flip is a quick procedure that doesn’t usually require numbing cream or anesthetic.
You can expect your clinician to inject botulinum toxin with a thin needle into areas around your upper lip, which might cause small amounts of quickly diminishing pain. Usually, the procedure is over within 20 minutes.
Any sensitivity or swelling in your lips caused by the procedure should disappear within a day. Results last up to five months.
The procedure you select depends on the type of results you’d like. Lip flips and fillers are temporary procedures, while a lip lift offers permanent results.
Lip fillers are the best choice for you if you’d like to increase the actual volume of your lips. Lip lifts and flips don’t change the actual volume of your lips and offer more subtle and sometimes more natural-looking results.
The best procedure for you depends on the type of results you’d like to achieve. Our team can advise you on the best choice for your needs at a consultation.
For some people, the best option is to combine multiple procedures. This can include getting some combination of lip fillers, lip lifts, and lip flips, as well as adding enhancements like other injectables or a facelift.
If you’d like to change the size, volume, or appearance of your lips, contact us to discuss your needs and make an appointment.
