Lip Lift

A youthful, sensual lip is one that is full and balanced, with a few millimeters of upper tooth show when the mouth is in repose. Dr. Brace offers two main procedures for lip enhancement. Kitchener and Milton residents are a quick drive away. One popular solution is to fill the lips with a hyaluronic acid filler. This result is temporary. The other solution is a lip lift procedure which affords a more permanent result. A consultation with Dr. Brace is the best way to determine which procedure is best for you.

Model looking into camera touching her cheek

Lip Filler

A lip lift is a powerful and natural procedure to enhance the upper lip aesthetic by creating a fuller and taller lip while increasing upper tooth show as necessary. It is a wonderful solution to correct lips that have been overfilled for years.

Fillers

Who is a candidate for a lip lift?

When the skin between the nose and the upper lip is excessively long it gives an aged appearance to the lower face. Candidates for an upper lip lift are women who have a small upper lip, a long philtrum (skin between the nose and lip), asymmetry of the upper lip, a heavy upper lip from excess lip filler, severely wrinkled upper lip skin, minimal to no upper tooth show, and those seeking facial feminization.

Rarely men also seek this surgery to correct lip asymmetry or an elongated philtrum.

Lip Lift Before & After

View More Lip Lift Results

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Lip lift by Dr. Brace

As a facial plastic surgery specialist, Dr. Brace approaches each lip lift with care and forethought to the functional and aesthetic role of the lip. There are no cookie cutter lip lifts and his results are natural and beautiful. He employs masterful surgical technique in designing and closing the incision and the best in class laser technologies to care for the resulting scar. As the only cosmetic surgical procedure that places an incision in the center of the face, his commitment to flawless healing and perfect incisions ensures the best lip lift results.

Your consultation

During a consultation Dr. Brace will discuss your concerns and determine your candidacy for a lip lift. Your lips will be photographed and measured for documentation. Dr. Brace will then recommend a treatment plan to give you the best lip lift result.

Lip lift surgery: What to expect

Lip lifts are frequently done as a stand-alone procedure under local anesthetic. However, they can be incorporated into a larger facial rejuvenation procedure in the OR under general anesthetic.

On the day of the procedure, Dr. Brace will measure your upper lip and make markings under your nose where the nasal skin meet the upper lip skin. Dr. Brace will then inject the upper lip with local anesthetic. This will create a heavy and numb sensation to the lip and often the tip of the nose. The incision is made once you are numb, and a strip of skin is removed.

Depending on the goals of the procedure there will be a varying degree of skin elevation down toward the lip. Dissolvable strong sutures are then placed under the skin to elevate the lip and close the incision. Some sutures are passed just inside the nose to anchor the lift. Tiny black stitches are then placed in the skin. The procedure takes 30-45 minutes. Ointment is applied. Antibiotics and pain medication are provided. If you wish to learn more, contact us today and schedule a consultation to receive a lip enhancement. Milton and Kitchener residents are a short 30 minute drive to our office in Guelph.

Recovery timeline

Day 0: your upper lip will be numb for a few hours and feel heavy. Bruises and swelling will start to form on the upper lip. Mild to moderate discomfort with speaking and eating is normal. Ice application is started.
Day 1-5: Bruises and swelling peak. Incision line cleaned gently. Ice applied. Lip feels week and does not function well.
Day 6/7: Follow up with Dr. Brace. Sutures removed. Incision examined and is red and obvious. Lip is swollen and weak with difficulty pursing, drinking from a straw, and pronouncing certain sounds.
1 month: Follow up with Dr. Brace. Incision is red. Swelling is significantly reduced. Lip still feels weak. Pulse dye laser treatment to incision. Possible injection of anti-inflammatory medicine into scar.
2 months: Follow up with Dr. Brace. Incision dark pink to pink. Pulse dye laser treatment of scar. Lip still feels weak but is improving. Swelling nearing resolution. Scar injected again if required.
3 months: Follow up with Dr. Brace. Incision pink/light pink. Lip regaining proper mobility and strength. Swelling essentially resolved. CO2 laser or pulse dye laser treatment of scar as necessary. Photographs taken.
6 months: Follow up with Dr. Brace. Incision light pink to white. Pulse dye laser if necessary. Photographs.
1 year: Follow up with Dr. Brace. Scar fully matured and faded. Final photographs taken.

Lip augmentation with dermal fillers

Dermal fillers are a popular and effective option for lip augmentation. Using hyaluronic acid-based fillers, Dr. Brace can precisely re-contour the lips, adding subtle volume and definition. Whether you want fuller and plumper lips or a subtle enhancement to improve lip symmetry, dermal fillers offer natural-looking results that last for several months, after which another treatment can be performed.

Customized lip enhancements

At Guelph Facial Plastics, we believe in creating lip enhancements that complement your facial proportions. Dr. Matthew D. Brace takes a personalized approach, carefully evaluating your facial anatomy and speaking with you about your aesthetic goals. Whether you are looking for a subtle enhancement or a dramatic transformation, the treatment plan will be customized to match your vision to create a look that is uniquely you, while appearing entirely natural.

Lip lines and aging lips

Smoker's lines or lipstick lines can develop as the years pass. These lines can be smoothed with chemical peels, CO2 laser, and/or surgical lip lift techniques, which help restore a more youthful appearance naturally.

A diet rich in hydrating antioxidants can help counteract signs of age on the lips or other facial areas, to ward off the damage from the sun's harmful UV rays. Use sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher to protect your skin for the long term.

Natural-looking lip enhancements

With an eye for balance and aesthetics and an unwavering commitment to patient satisfaction, Dr. Brace strives to create ideally balanced lips that enhance your facial look without appearing fake or overdone. Injections with hyaluronic acid-based dermal fillers produce results that last for months before re-treatment is needed, and is reversible.

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Lip enhancement treatments in Guelph, near Kitchener and Milton

At Guelph Facial Plastics, our expertise in lip fillers allows us to create lips that enhanced while maintaining a natural and balanced appearance. Dr. Matthew D. Brace's artistic approach to lip augmentation is focused on creating the most natural-looking outcome.

Why choose us?

Dr. Brace specializes in surgery of the face. Through vast experience with cosmetic surgery, as well as cancer and trauma surgery, Dr. Brace’s intimate knowledge of facial anatomy and filler expertise is rivaled by few colleagues who share his training and similar experiences. Dr. Brace spent a dedicated year of training at Ohio State University where he mastered the art of facial fillers as part of his facial plastic surgery fellowship. With hundreds of cases of facial filler and thousands of syringes of experience, he brings unrivaled expertise to residents of Guelph, Kitchener, Milton, and the surrounding communities. The art of facial filling demands a provider with an artistic eye, coupled with an intimate knowledge of facial anatomy, and a breadth of understanding of the technique used. The correct product and placement is key for natural, safe, and beautiful results. Unnatural results occur when too much filler is used in an attempt to correct a facial feature better treated by laser or surgical modalities.

Learn more…

To learn more about the topic, Dr. Brace has created a YouTube video that you may find informative. Remember to like, comment, and subscribe while you're there! If you have additional questions or want to schedule an initial consultation, please use our online contact form or call us at (226) 702-8830.