Lip Lift
If you notice there is a long distance between the nose and your upper lip, you may be a great candidate for an upper lip lift. The lip lift procedure shortens the upper lip by removing a carefully measured amount of skin between the upper lip border and the base of the nose. The incision is made at the base of the nose in the natural crease, usually leaving the final scar unnoticeable. This surgery is done in the office with local anesthesia and Pronox (laughing gas). Recovery is 5-7days.
Lip Augmentation
Lip augmentation is a cosmetic procedure that gives you fuller, plumper lips. This is a very popular procedure and there are two options to achieve this look. The most commonly used method is injectable dermal fillers such as Juvederm or Restylane. Once injected into the lips, these fillers can last a year or longer.
For patients who prefer a permanent solution, Permalip lip implants are the answer. Permalip lip implants are made of an FDA approved soft, solid silicone polymer. They can be placed in the upper and lower lips and they are available in a variety of sizes. The procedure is performed in office with local anesthesia and Pronox (laughing gas). After the procedure the lips will be very swollen and sore for five days. The swelling and pain will subside over the next 10 days. Lip stretching exercises are done after two weeks. No kissing for six weeks to allow the implants to settle in place.
Silicone Removal from Lips
Liquid silicone injections into the lip are illegal in the United States. Patients with complications from these injections either have had these injections done in other countries or done by illegal practitioners in the USA.
Liquid silicone causes chronic hardening, inflammation and unsightly bulges in the lip over time. It spreads through the lip. It can never be fully removed because hardening makes it difficult to remove.
Dr. Morgan does minor office surgery to trim and reduce the bulges. It is absolutely essential however to understand that the silicone cannot ever be fully removed and that additional bulges may form because of silicone reactions that make the lip hard and inflamed. One procedure is rarely enough to get a good result. This is not the fault of surgery but the expected and predictable effect of silicone irritation of the lip.
No one should expect a perfect result after surgery or return of the lip to normal. It is reasonable to have this surgery if you expect improvement and understand that several operations may be needed to get the result you want. These are spaced 6 months apart.
The procedure is done with local anesthesia, oral sedation and laughing gas in the office. You will have sutures that partially dissolve and the lip will be significantly swollen. Any remaining sutures are removed in the office 1 week after surgery.
You will need to eat soft food for several days and talking may be difficult the first week due to the swelling. It will take at least 6 months to see your final result after each operation.