The no-scar lip-lift: upper lip suspension technique

Area of Science:

• Plastic Surgery
• Facial Aesthetics
• Reconstructive Surgery

Background:

• Addressing a long upper lip presents aesthetic challenges.
• Existing surgical techniques like subnasal skin excision and vermillion advancement often result in visible scarring.
• A scarless lip lift technique is needed for patients who desire lip shortening without compromising aesthetics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy and outcomes of a no-scar lip suspension technique for upper lip shortening.
• To assess improvements in lip height, projection, incisor show, and vermillion show.
• To determine patient satisfaction and complication rates associated with the intranasal lip lift.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective review of 92 patients undergoing an intranasal lip suspension technique.
• The procedure involves an intranasal incision and a suspension suture anchoring the upper lip to the anterior nasal spine.
• Pre- and postoperative results were assessed by three plastic surgeons for lip shortening, projection, incisor show, and vermillion show.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements were observed in lip parameters: 85% showed lip shortening, 79% increased sagittal projection, and 74% increased incisor show.
• 25% of patients experienced increased vermillion show, and all patients had improvement in at least one assessed category.
• Minor complications included two cases of suture abscess and one of suture unraveling.

Conclusions:

• The intranasal lip suspension technique effectively improves overall lip contours, particularly lip height and sagittal projection.
• This scarless approach provides a viable solution for upper lip lengthening concerns.
• The technique offers a favorable aesthetic outcome with minimal complications.