Lip lift is an often overlooked but effective transformative procedure for plastic surgery patients

While many plastic surgery patients recognize that wrinkles and lines are the inevitable—if unpleasant—effects of aging, many of these same patients might not be aware of the other physical impacts of aging, and of the simple procedures that can help combat these effects. Plastic surgeons in San Francisco and around the world are beginning to focus on recapturing the youth in patients’ lips, and while many patients might think that fillers are the only method of accomplishing this goal, the American Society of Plastic Surgeons wants plastic surgery patients to be aware of the transformative effects of a lip lift, or lip shortening.

While fillers are undeniably helpful for certain patients, these products and procedures often fail to address the true effects of aging on a plastic surgery patients’ lips. Specifically, the length of the upper lip increases with age, resulting in the appearance of thinner lips. While injecting fillers into the lips might plump them back up, they sometimes also produce an unnatural shape that fails to address the actual problem. In fact, by adding weight to the lip, improperly utilized fillers might actually exacerbate the problem.

The solution as revealed by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, and according to “Lip Shortening Surgery Often Overlooked in Facial Rejuvenation, ASPS Study Reveals,” is a quick, effective lip shortening procedure that takes about an hour and takes place in the doctor’s office utilizing a local anesthetic, making it one of the least intense plastic surgery procedures. The doctor starts by making an incision under the patient’s nose and removing skin, which has the effect of both pulling the lip up and rolling the lip out in a manner that creates a slight pout that is both youthful and realistic. San Francisco plastic surgery patients leave the office the same day, and their stitches are removed the following week. It’s an effective and fast method of looking 10 years younger in a single procedure. Patients who choose to utilize fillers after the procedure can still do so and a lip filler plastic surgery procedure can be performed in conjunction with a rhinoplasty.

American Society of Plastic Surgeons member John E. Gatti, MD, who authored the study on the benefits of lip shortening as a means of creating a more youthful appearance noted, “Plastic surgeons should carefully discuss the pros and cons of lip shortening with their patients … however, lip shortening surgery does improve facial aesthetics and should be utilized by plastic surgeons to treat the aging face.”

Besides alerting plastic surgery patients to a quick, effective procedure that can help reduce the impact of age on their face, the study highlights the fact that even the most savvy plastic surgery patient likely doesn’t know all the available procedures, products, and technological advances. By consulting with a trained and licensed plastic surgeon, patients can ensure that they’re receiving the best treatment for their specific and unique needs. The filler that worked great for a friend isn’t necessarily the answer to every patient’s needs, but the patient won’t know for certain until they talk to an experienced plastic surgeon.

Dr. Stanley Jacobs is triple board certified through the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the American Board of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, and the Royal College of Surgeons of Canada. He serves as an elected house delegate for the California Medical Association, is a member of the European Academy of Facial Plastic Surgery, and has hospital privileges in both Santa Rosa and San Francisco. Despite decades of plastic surgery experience, Dr. Jacobs regularly attends conferences to improve his understanding of new techniques and in facial plastic surgery, and he shares his knowledge through articles on subjects ranging from cosmetic surgery to radiation physics. For San Francisco plastic surgery patients seeking the perfect blend of experience and up-to-date knowledge and understanding, Dr. Stanley Jacobs Cosmetic Surgery is the perfect match.