Lip and Perioral Surgery

Overview

Who May Benefit

• Patients with a long upper lip that hides the front teeth
• Patients with lips that are disproportionately large for the face
• Patients with down-turned mouth corners
• Patients with lip asymmetry after injury or previous surgery

Conditions Treated

• Long upper lip
• Lip hypertrophy
• Down-turned oral commissures
• Lip asymmetry

Diagnosis

Lip length and volume are assessed, along with tooth display at rest and on smiling, and the relationship of the lips to the teeth and jaws. Lip protrusion or excessive gum display may stem from jaw or tooth position, which is treated very differently from lip surgery itself.

Treatment Planning

Changes are planned conservatively in millimetres, since over-lifting or over-reduction is difficult to reverse. Non-surgical options such as fillers, and timing relative to any planned jaw surgery, are discussed.

Surgical Overview

In an upper lip lift, a strip of skin is removed just beneath the nose and the scar is placed in the natural nasal base crease. Lip reduction removes tissue from the inner lip with no visible scar. A corner-of-mouth lift removes a small amount of skin at the commissure. These procedures are usually performed under local anaesthesia.

Recovery

Swelling is marked in the first days and mostly settles within two weeks, while the final shape takes several weeks. External sutures are usually removed within a week, with specific guidance on eating and oral hygiene.

Risks & Considerations

All surgery carries risk. Potential risks are discussed in detail during consultation, and may include:

• Swelling and bruising
• A visible scar beneath the nose in some patients
• Asymmetry
• Temporary altered sensation
• Change in lip movement or smile appearance
• More tooth display than expected if over-lifted

Frequently Asked Questions