Considering a lip lift? Here's what you should know

Written in association with: Mr George Christopoulos
Published: | Updated: 05/06/2023
Edited by: Conor Lynch

Top Doctors recently had the opportunity to quiz highly esteemed London-based plastic surgeon, Mr George Christopoulos, on what exactly a lip lift procedure entails, and who the ideal candidates are for the facial operation.

What exactly is a lip lift?

A lip lift is a local anaesthetic procedure with an inconspicuous scar that is well-hidden in the natural crease under the nose or inside the lip. The traditional lip lift technique involves the excision of a specific pattern scheme under the nose in order to reduce the distance between the nose and the mouth, to increase the height of the red part of the lip, and to evert the lip.

 

The enhancement of the upper lip with the inner approach involves a scar that is hidden inside the mouth, which can also invert the upper lip.

 

How long does this procedure take, and is it safe?

Lip lift surgery takes approximately 40 minutes, and can be performed under local anaesthesia. We use tender anaesthetic injections to numb the upper lip. The sutures are removed around one week after the operation.

 

The scar is generally very well-disguised and leaves an aesthetically pleasing result. However, some people have the tendency to develop thicker scars, which is the main risk involved.

 

In terms of results, what can patients expect?

After a lip lift, there is some degree of swelling that settles after a few weeks. At that point though, the results are pretty impressive, as with our technique, we can decrease the distance between the nose and mouth, increase the height of the red part of the upper lip, and evert the upper lip.

 

As a result, we can change the proportions of the lower face in a more aesthetically pleasing manner.

 

Who is the ideal candidate for a lip lift?

The ideal candidates are those who have quite a distance between their nose and mouth, and those who have thin or inverted lips. Patients who are experiencing facial ageing are also ideal candidates.

 

What are the main risks involved?

Bleeding, infection, asymmetry, and scar problems are the main risks associated with a lip lift. Careful planning and delicate execution are of utmost importance.

 

If you are considering having a lip lift, make sure to book an appointment with Mr George Christopoulos today via his Top Doctors profile

By Mr George Christopoulos
Plastic surgery

Mr George Christopoulos is a renowned and highly experienced aesthetic doctor and plastic surgeon based in London. He specialises in a range of aesthetic procedures including breast augmentation, reduction and lifting, as well as abdominoplasty (tummy tuck). He is also expert in facial aesthetic procedures including lip lift, blepharoplasty and skin rejuvenation.

Mr Christopoulos obtained his medical degree from the Medical School of Athens, Greece in 2007 before completing surgical training at the city’s largest National General Hospital. During this period, he also undertook a clinical fellowship within the plastic surgery department of the  Hospital of Skin and Venereal Diseases within the University of Athens, where he would later go on to also complete both a master’s and a PhD on skin cancer treatment.

In 2014, Mr Christopoulos relocated to the UK and was awarded positions in the burns and plastic surgery departments of the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital as well as the city’s Wythenshawe Hospital. In 2018, he was awarded a further master’s degree with distinction specialising in reconstructive microsurgery from the Queen Mary University of London. Following this, he underwent a further two fellowships within NHS Hospitals, as plastic surgery senior clinical fellow at East Grinstead’s renowned Queen Victoria Hospital and as trauma and reconstructive fellow at Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals. Mr Christopoulos now sees patients in private practice at The Ghanem Clinic.

Mr Christopoulos is a well-established academic contributor in the plastic surgery field and regularly presents and lectures on his areas of expertise. He is an associate professor in aesthetic medicine working as director of the MSc course in facial aesthetics at Ulster University’s College of Medicine and Dentistry. Additionally, Mr Christopoulos has been appointed OSCE examiner at Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry.

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