Lip Lift is a minimally invasive procedure that shortens the space between the nose and the upper lip area. A plastic surgeon creates a small incision in the lip area or under the nose and cuts off excess skin to lift and enhance the appearance of the lips, cupid’s bow or other sagging and misshapen areas of the mouth. A lip lift is usually received under local anesthesia because general anesthesia is many times not required for the minimal amount of pain associated with this type of cosmetic surgery. Lip lifts may benefit certain patients more than lip fillers because the individuals may not react well to filler substances or represent those participants who wish to avoid the “duck lips” look that can accompany incorrectly filled lips. With older patients, the lips tend to decrease in volume and get longer with age. But even younger patients can take advantage of a procedure that lifts the upper lip and provides a better “tooth show,” especially for people whose upper teeth are rarely on display, even when smiling.

There are several types of lip lifts. It’s important to know the types and techniques so you can have an informed discussion with your surgeon about which is right for you. A direct lip lift, sometimes called a gull-wing lip lift, creates a more defined lip border. The sub-nasal bullhorn is one of the more common lip lift procedures. A surgeon will make an incision that’s typically hidden along the base of the nose where it’s less visible. A central lip lift is similar to a subnasal bullhorn lift. It shortens the space between the nose and the lips by an incision at the lower nose. An Italian lip lift requires two incisions below each nostril, and other than that detail, it’s very similar to the bullhorn. Lip lifts are also a permanent solution, so they can be helpful for people who are tired of the upkeep of filler.

Dimple surgery (also known as dimple creation surgery or dimpleplasty) is an elective plastic surgery procedure that’s done to create dimples on the face. The surgery involves the formation of a dimple with the creation of scar tissue in the dermis between the muscles of the face using small instruments and incisions, and a small amount of tissue is removed. Once your doctor creates the space for the future dimple, they then position a suture (sling) from one side of the cheek muscle to the other. The sling is then tied to set the dimple permanently in place. Your dimples will be visible immediately, although final results aren’t typically seen until two months afterward. Dimples on cheeks enhance facial beauty and expression. For that reason, many people are interested in this procedure. Recovery from dimpleplasty is relatively straightforward. You don’t need to stay in the hospital. In fact, you can usually go home immediately after the surgery. Soon after the procedure, you might experience mild swelling. You can apply cold packs to reduce swelling, but it will usually go away on its own within a few days. Even though this surgery is relatively non-invasive and quick, the skill of your plastics surgeon can determine the results of the procedure.