Lip surgery: Everything you need to know about this aesthetic procedure

Lip surgery, also known as cheiloplasty, is a simple aesthetic procedure aimed at reshaping the volume and form of the lips. The goal is to enhance and harmonize the face.

Lip surgery is also performed to correct congenital deformities, injuries, or poorly executed procedures. In fact, it is often used to remove remnants of injected silicone.

What types of lip surgeries exist?

There are several types of cheiloplasty:

• Primary: This is performed on lips that can be aesthetically improved, as they may have wrinkles, asymmetries, or be either too thin or too thick. Depending on the size, lip surgery can be for augmentation or reduction.
• Secondary: This is done to correct defects caused by a previous surgery, such as the removal of injected silicone. In the past, silicone was used in this surgery, but it was later found to cause bulging. Nowadays, other materials are used that do not produce these side effects.

Do I need lip surgery?

Depending on the case, we can find two typical patients:

• People who, for aesthetic reasons, want more or less voluminous lips. They want to enhance their mouth, making their lips have the appropriate shape and volume according to the anatomy of their face.
• Patients who have been injected with permanent filler material in their lips and now present unattractive deformities (such as scars, cleft lip, etc.), or simply wish to remove part of the product because the volume seems excessive to them (secondary cheiloplasty).

How is lip surgery performed?

Lip surgery is always performed under local anesthesia, although deep sedation administered by an anesthesiologist can be used if desired. The procedure typically lasts between 40 minutes to an hour, depending on whether it is primary or secondary surgery.

For lip augmentation, there are several techniques available, and implants are generally easy to handle, with most being injected. The most common materials used include methacrylate, polyacrylamide, hydroxyapatite, polyalkylimide, collagen, thread lifts, and hyaluronic acid. The surgeon will select the appropriate material based on the individual case.

Postoperative care after lip surgery

The post-surgery recovery is manageable, and the procedure itself is not usually painful. However, it is normal to experience some difficulty moving the mouth during the first few days.

Bruising and swelling may occur, but by the fourth day, most patients are recovered, and the lips typically appear normal.

Recovery after lip surgery

It is recommended to apply cold to the lips using a gel pack at low temperatures. The treated area should be kept clean, without creams or makeup, for the first 12 hours.

Sun exposure should be avoided, and as with any surgery, smoking can hinder recovery. For smokers, it is advisable to refrain from smoking or reduce cigarette consumption as much as possible.