LIFT' before you LIP'

Let’s tweak the popular saying to lips don’t lie. Lip augmentation or for that matter, changing the size, shape, volume of lip or lip lifts might not be everyone’s cup of tea but lip lifts are becoming a popular trend when we talk about cosmetic treatment that people want to know more about. Now there can be a lot of mixed opinions  when it comes to cosmetic treatments involving the lips. You’ll find a lot of people stating why one shouldn’t get any tweaking done on the lips while others support it. But people should follow this rule  Do what makes you happy.  So what exactly is a lip lift? It is a procedure to shorten the skin above the upper lip, which gives the lips a more pouty and augmented appearance. Moreover, there could be a lot of reasons as to why women might want to get a lip lift done.

Age: With time, the production of collagen reduces, which leads to much thinner lips. Also with aging, the lips get longer, they turn down at corners and the philtrum drops and  the top teeth become hidden behind the upper lip. With the lip lift, the upper lip is shortened to create a shorter, poutier mouth with turned — up corners. Making one look much younger.

For a pouty look
With pouty lips gaining more popularity by the day, what better way to achieve that than with a upper lip lift. This procedure is done as a part of facial feminisation in a trangender patient shortening the distance between the upper lip and nose really feminises a person’s look.

How is a lip lift done?
Lip lifts are a minor surgical procedure that recreates a more youthful look by shortening the distance between the nose and the upper lip. The upper lip is rolled out to increase the pout and also show more of the lip pigment (pink part).
There are two main techniques that are commonly used. One uses an incision hidden right under the nose. The advantage is an inconspicuous incision, but it only affects the central ½ to 2/3 of the upper lip. The other technique involves an incision right at the upper border of the lip, which usually heals very well. This can help shape the entire lip and often helps strengthen the definition at the border. The duration for such a procedure is anywhere between two to four hours.

Result: The result is a more youthful smile with an overall shape and more teeth showing, which typically makes for very happy patients.

Ideal Candidates
An ideal candidate for the lip lifting surgery should not be affected by any sort of infection or skin disorder. He or she should also not have active cold sores or keloid scars. Good physical and mental health and no smoking are also necessary for this purpose.

Recovery Time
Even though there will be a little swelling and soreness for the first few days after the surgery, you will be able to resume your everyday schedule within seven to 10 days. The incision will take anywhere between two and three weeks to heal completely

Cost
The price for the procedure ranges from Rs 30,000 — Rs 60,000.

— The writer is a cosmetic surgeon.
 Disclaimer: Always check with a cosmetic surgeon before going ahead with this procedure.