Cosmetic surgery of the lips

Lips are the central feature in the lower third of the face. When they are full and well defined, they impart a sense of youth, health, and attractiveness to the bearer. Thin, flat lips, on the other hand, imply fragility and senility. The characteristics of the lips responsible for these qualities are the shape of Cupid's bow, the relative length of the upper lip, and the projection or bulk of the lips. Esthetic guidelines are presented for each of these characteristics, which when understood help the surgeon formulate an operative plan. Lip augmentation techniques using autogenous and alloplastic materials are presented. For patients with a long upper lip, vermilion advancement and nasal base resection are discussed in detail. With a look to the future, a discussion of preliminary experience with carbon dioxide laser lip advancement concludes the article.