Lips are more than merely a cosmetic feature, they impact speech. Lip deformities severely impact communication and self-confidence. However, lip reconstruction surgery helps overcome these challenges because the surgeons are focused on recreating beautiful and functional lips to help patients improve their life’s quality. Plastic surgery of the lips depends on the area and defect size of the pout. Depending on the surgical procedure used, recovery takes a few days to a week.
Lip reconstruction is an intricate process to restore its physical appearance without hindering its function. It restores the natural and delicate balance of the lips, caused due to a prior injury or a treatment. This surgery is a complex procedure and requires specialists to perform the surgery.
Primary closure: This surgery creates a straight-line scar by joining the two edges of the open wound.
Rotational flap: This surgery requires an incision to rotate the adjacent tissue to cover the defect area.
Pedicled flap: This surgery gathers tissue from adjacent area closer to the open wound to cover and close the large area with the living skin flap.
Lip deformities can occur at birth or later in life. Lips shape and movement are important for speech and expressing emotions. Deformed or abnormalities in lips impact muscles and nerves surrounding the area, which leads to poor functionality and appearance. Deformity can occur due to the following reasons:
Lip reconstruction surgery involves eliminating the defective tissue and rebuilding the area with normal tissue to preserve the function and appearance of lips.
A surgical procedure called vermilionectomy is performed on the deformed area to remove the skin and inner parts of the lips, and a new vermillion border is created. To improve the cosmetic appearance of the lips, tissues from surrounding areas or other body parts are grafted on the surgical area.
Other less-invasive techniques include wedge-shaped lip defect removal through incision closure with intricate suture. This process is useful in minor surgeries.
Healing takes a few days to week, prescribed medication and follow-up should be done.
Depending on the type of lip reconstruction treatment performed, patients may experience pain, discomfort, and swelling. They can return to work usually after a few days or within a week. Stitches are removed after a week post the surgery.
Swelling may reappear in the first year of the surgery, its visible in the morning and fades away during the day.
Treatment of scars start at three-weeks post-surgery. Laser resurfacing and dermabrasion helps to flatten the reconstructed areas. However, scars take a year to mature and fade away.
Lip reconstruction surgery requires deep knowledge and technical expertise to recreate natural-looking and functional pout. Our team of plastic and cosmetic surgeons are certified by the prestigious Indian Board of Plastic Surgery, and hence provide top-notch medical care. Before suggesting a suitable procedure, they evaluate the patient’s health records, and screen the area to check for any underlying causes that may hinder the procedure or post-surgery healing.
People with deformed lips due to a trauma, birth defect, or cancer surgery are good candidates for the surgery. However, people seeking cosmetic enhancements also can opt for this procedure.
Lip reconstruction like other surgeries involve suture, dressing, and side effects. The dressing can be removed after a day of the surgery, but the stitches are removed after a week. You can apply makeup to hide the scars until the tissue heals. You may return to work after 3-4 days, however, its advised that allow 1-2 weeks for complete cosmetic recovery before returning to work.
Studies indicate that dermal fillers of hyaluronic acid can treat scars, effectively. It involves locking water molecules in the upper layers of the skin for a prolonged time, and this concept is used for enhancing the shape and volume of the lips.
If your scars are due to the thickness of the original wound, or the scar tissue itself, it’s best to opt for derma fillers.
Lip reconstruction surgery brings same complications and risks like other facial surgeries do, namely – swelling, pain, bleeding, infection, accumulation of fluid under surgery site, excessive scarring, and undesirable aesthetic outcome.
Your doctor will help you decide which surgery to opt for post examining the shape, size and need for your lips. For aesthetically defining your lips a less-invasive surgery may be needed, while a general anaesthesia may be administered to reconstruct deformed lips due to burn, scars, or birth defects.
Mohs surgery is used for removing skin cancer growth. With its micrographic technique, the surgery is highly efficient in treating facial cancers. However, this procedure may leave big and deep-seated scars that requires reconstructive surgery. If you prepare well in time, lip reconstruction surgery can be performed on the same day as the Mohs surgery.
We provide effective surgical and non-surgical treatments for all parts of the body. At Cutis Hospital, our cosmetic and plastic surgery team is committed to giving patients safe and high-quality care.
