Direct Upper-Lip Lifting: A Safe Procedure
George Felman, M.D.
Tel Aviv, Israel
Abstract. Thin lips and an aging lower third
of the face are increasingly the focus for surgical improvement. Thin and tightly
pursed lips imply a certain resignation or even bitterness, especially in older
women. Excessive application of lipstick to enhance the shape and color of thin
lips was a solution but a poor camouflage. The desire for well-defined and full
lips, as seen today on many models and
actresses, is the motivation behind the increasing demand of women with relatively
normal looking lips to turn to cosmetic surgery. They often present the surgeon
with photographs of the shape and fullness of lips they desire to achieve. In this
article the author recommends the use of the direct upper-lip lifting method as
a more effective and successful approach to enhancing the shape of the upper lip.
For plumping the lower and upper lip, the author recommends using autologous collagen
augmentation.
Key words: Direct upper lip lifting—Lip plumping—Auto-logous collagen augmentation.
Patient Selection.
Because the perioral region is, after the periocular structures, the most important
site of facial expression, it is important that the problem of scarring and complications
be explained thoroughly to candidates for perioral region correction. Problem patients
should be excluded from treatment. Selection of the
appropriate treatment and the careful selection of the patient, particularly where
surgery is involved, should bring the surgeon closer to a completely satisfying
patient.
The nonsurgical methods for plumping lips are as follows:
(1) bovine collagen injections
(2) autologous collagen augmentation
(3) medical-grade liquid silicone injections
These materials are used on lips that have enough contour but are “empty” and “languid.”
These conditions are mainly found in older women. I prefer the use of autologous
collagen augmentation since the material used is of natural origin and has minimal
risk.
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