Are you thinking about getting a lip lift? If you’re self-conscious about having thin lips, surgery is the perfect way to plump them up.
The procedure can also make your mouth appear younger and help improve your smile. One thing that stops people from getting the surgery is the lip lift scar.
While there’s no avoiding scaring, it won’t last forever. As you recover, it will fade.
The healing process will happen faster if you follow your doctor’s aftercare instructions. Avoid smoking, stay elevated, and use a cold compress to reduce swelling.
These are only a few things to consider with lip lift scarring. Continue reading to learn more.
How Does a Lip Lift Procedure Work?
The first healing step is knowing how lip lift surgery works. The surgeon will make a tiny cut under your nose.
The placement of the incision will depend on the type of lip lift surgery you decide to have.
Subnasal
The subnasal procedure involves taking a small amount of tissue from under the base of your nose.
From there, the surgeon will raise your lip to expose more of the redness of your upper lip before stitching it in place.
Gull-Wing
During the gull-wing lift, your surgeon will remove skin and tissues from under the nose to bring more attention to your natural lip color.
After making the incision, your doctor will alter the shape of your lips and make them appear fuller.
Corner
This lip lift procedure is ideal for those whose lips have a natural downturn. Instead of making an incision under the nose, your surgeon will go for the outer edges of your upper lip.
They will then remove some of the tissue to position the corner of your lips upward.
Does It Leave a Scar?
Anytime an incision occurs, scarring follows. It could take a year or so for you to fully heal. However, your surgeon will give you a gel that will help your scars fade faster.
Of course, every person is different. Where one patient’s scars might be almost undetectable after a month, yours may remain red longer.
Smiling will look and feel off for up to two weeks after the surgery. You should be fine when your swelling stops.
Lip Lift Healing Tips and Tricks
Again lip lift scarring is different for everyone. There are ways that you can speed the recovery process along.
If you smoke, you should quit now. Research surgeons, sleep while elevated, and follow your surgeon’s wound-cleaning instructions. If you have a lot of swelling, you can reduce it with a cold compress.
Stop Smoking
The chemicals in cigarettes can hurt your health and delay the lip lift healing process. It can cause infections and increase the appearance of scarring.
Smoking can also speed along the aging process. That’s a bit counterproductive to getting a lip lift.
Research Surgeons
To get the best results (and reduce your chances of lasting scarring), you need to choose a lip lift surgeon you can trust.
They should work with you to make sure you meet your surgery goals. If they aren’t willing to hear you out, the results won’t be what you want.
Ask for lip lift before and after photos. Some surgeons put these pictures on their site, but you can ask for them directly.
If you know someone that’s had a lip lift surgery, get the name of their surgeon. While you shouldn’t choose a doctor because your friend likes them, their opinion will help narrow your choices.
Once you have the names of a few surgeons, look up online reviews and testimonials.
Test the Waters
The results of your surgery will be better, and your scarring will heal faster if you know how you want your lips to look when it’s all said and done.
Grab a pencil and use it to lift your lip. When it looks the way you want, take a picture to show your surgeon during your consultation.
Stay Elevated
For two weeks after your surgery, you’ll have to stay elevated while you sleep.
You can achieve this by placing three pillows underneath you. It will be uncomfortable at first, but it will help you heal.
Follow Your Surgeon’s Wound Cleaning Instructions
After your procedure, your surgeon will hand you a list of wound healing instructions. You’ll have to follow these instructions to the letter.
Don’t eat anything that will cause you to stretch your mouth. Cut your foods into smaller pieces and stick to soft meals for a while.
Your doctor will give you a prescription. Take it every day as directed until you run out.
Use a Cold Compress
For the first 48 hours or so after your surgery, you may experience some swelling. You can use a cold compress to reduce the swelling and heal faster.
Don’t place the bag of frozen peas directly against your mouth. To prevent skin damage, wrap it in a towel first.
Don’t Move Your Face Too Much
If you stretch your face too much, it could alter the results of the surgery and make your scarring worse. Again, avoid eating anything that would force you to stretch your mouth open.
You’re allowed to laugh but try not to do wide-mouth laughing. Excessive chewing is a no-go as well.
You Will Have a Lip Lift Scar
Getting a lip lift could help improve the appearance of your smile and make you look younger. There will be some scarring right after your procedure, though.
The good news is that there are ways to speed up your recovery process and fade your lip lift scar. All you have to do is follow your doctor’s careful instructions.
For more tips that will help you get through your lip lift surgery, check out our blog daily for additional posts.
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