Lip shortening is a surgical procedure that creates a full, natural-looking upper lip for people who have a very thin upper lip or, in some cases, no upper lip at all. The procedure is best suited for patients who want a permanent full upper lip, for whom dermal fillers may not be effective or who are simply tired of having to treat the area repeatedly. Enhancing the shape of your lips can have a subtle to dramatic impact on your overall facial appearance.

Lip shortening creates a more balanced appearance to the face by shortening the space between the nose and the upper lip. The procedure involves removing some skin between your lip and nose and shortening the gap. The upper lip is pulled to make the pink part of the lip, known as the vermillion, more visible, resulting in a fuller, more pronounced, and natural-looking upper lip.

You may be a good candidate for lip shortening if you:

• Are generally healthy

• Have a significantly thin upper lip

• Have tried dermal fillers & are looking for a permanent result

• Have a gap between your nose and mouth

• Don’t smoke

• Have realistic expectations

Step One – Anesthesia

The procedure is usually performed under local anesthesia or IV sedation.

Step Two – The Incision

Following anesthetic administration, a tiny incision is made within the nasal sill (the ridge of soft tissue at the bottom edge of your nose, located right at each nostril opening). Excess tissue is removed, and the upper lip is lifted and everted slightly.

Step Three – Closing the Incisions

The incision is then sutured closed, and your lip shortening procedure is done.

Depending on the complexity of your procedure, lip shortening can take approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour to complete.

While recovering from your lip shortening procedure, you may experience temporary swelling, redness, bruising, and sensitivity in the treated area. Patients typically take 5 to 7 days off to recover and majority of the swelling subsides within a week.

You will notice results immediately following your procedure, but swelling may cause your mouth to appear larger than usual. As it dissipates, the optimal results will appear. The final results are usually visible one to three months after surgery.

As with any surgical procedure, although rare, there are potential risks and complications including:

• Poor wound healing

• Scarring

• Nerve damage

• Blood loss

• Anesthesia

The cost of lip shortening can vary depending on the complexity of your surgery. In Canada, the average cost of lip shortening ranges between $2,000 to $5,000.

520/567 people who have received lip shortening rated the treatment “Worth It” (92%).

– Source: realself.com