What are the advantages of a scarless lip lift? | Top Doctors (2024)

Professor Ghassan Abu-SittahPlastic surgery

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Written by: Professor Ghassan Abu-Sittah

Published: 08/09/2023

Edited by: Conor Dunworth

In his latest online article, leading London-based consultant plastic surgeon Professor Ghassan Abu-Sittah explains the advantages of scarless lip lifts over more traditional methods.

What are the advantages of a scarless lip lift? | Top Doctors (2)

When is a scarless lip lift recommended?

To address the question of when a scarless lip lift is recommended, it is essential to delve into the factors that contribute to aesthetic appeal. There are four key elements to consider:

  • Lip length: This refers to the distance between the nose and the bottom of the lip. A desirable length ensures a subtle display of teeth when the mouth is slightly open, as the absence of tooth exposure can convey an ageing appearance.
  • Red show: The proportion of the lip that displays the red, mucosa-rich area is crucial. A greater expanse of red from corner to corner imparts a fuller, more voluptuous appearance.
  • Pout: A gentle J-shaped fullness at the lower part of the lip, especially evident in a side profile, is desirable. This differs significantly from the appearance achieved with fillers, which often produce a straighter, less natural look.
  • Natural movement: Unlike other parts of the body, the lip must retain its beauty while in motion. Fillers can sometimes compromise the lip's elasticity and natural movement, leading to an artificial appearance.

Surgical procedures have been developed to address these characteristics. The most common technique is the bullhorn lip lift, which involves shortening the skin under the nose to lift and turn the lip, enhancing red show. However, this procedure leaves a permanent scar in a conspicuous area and can alter the shape of the nostrils. Moreover, it primarily targets the central area of the lip.

In contrast, the scarless lip lift, also known as the V2Y lip lift, avoids external scarring altogether by making all incisions on the inner surface of the lip, hidden from view. Instead of shortening the outer lip, this method pushes and curls the inner lip outward, increasing red show across the entire lip and concentrating volume at the bottom. This technique achieves a natural-looking, fuller, and more attractive lip appearance.

Who is a good candidate for a scarless lip lift?

The ideal candidate for a scarless lip lift is someone seeking improved red show and increased lip volume while desiring a subtle change. This option is particularly suitable for those dissatisfied with the results of lip fillers.

What does the procedure entail?

The scarless lip lift employs a unique approach reminiscent of the letters "V" and "Y." The method involves moving the two “V” on the inner lip surface downward. When these tissues are moved downward from the nose area, they are then sutured together to form a "Y." This is called the V2Y method.

This process not only elongates the inner lip but also causes it to curve outward, showcasing more red and augmenting volume. The use of absorbable sutures ensures that they naturally dissolve within seven to ten days, reducing concerns about visible scarring and promoting effective healing.

How does it differ from traditional procedures?

The primary distinction lies in the absence of visible scarring, as all incisions are concealed within the mouth. Unlike the bullhorn technique, the V2Y lip lift addresses the entire lip, extending from corner to corner, without altering the nostril shape. However, it is essential to note that the bullhorn method may lead to less postoperative swelling compared to the V2Y lip lift, which typically involves a week of noticeable swelling, followed by a four-to-six-week period during which residual swelling subsides.

What are the advantages of a scarless lip lift? | Top Doctors (3)

Are there any risks or possible complications?

The primary risk associated with the scarless lip lift is prolonged swelling, typically occurring for one week post-surgery. Some patients may experience tightness in the upper lip, which can persist for up to three to six months but rarely affects speech or eating.

When will the final results be visible?

Patients can anticipate seeing the final results of the scarless lip lift between the sixth and tenth week, once all swelling has subsided. This procedure offers a subtle yet natural enhancement of the lips, ensuring an unoperated and full red lip appearance.

If you would like to book a consultation with Professor Ghassan Abu-Sittah, you can do so today via his Top Doctors profile.

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By Professor Ghassan Abu-Sittah


Plastic surgeryin London

Professor Ghassan Abu-Sittah is a highly distinguished consultant plastic and reconstructive surgeon. With more than 25 years of experience, he is internationally recognised for his expertise in cosmetic surgery without scarring, combining a unique approach that incorporates elements of field work, academia and humanitarianism.In London, Professor Abu-Sittah currently sees patients at 121 Harley Street. His highly-skilled practice focuses on face and body treatment procedures, including face...

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By Professor Ghassan Abu-Sittah
Plastic surgery

Professor Ghassan Abu-Sittah is a highly distinguished consultant plastic and reconstructive surgeon. With more than 25 years of experience, he is internationally recognised for his expertise in cosmetic surgery without scarring, combining a unique approach that incorporates elements of field work, academia and humanitarianism.

In London, Professor Abu-Sittah currently sees patients at 121 Harley Street. His highly-skilled practice focuses on face and body treatment procedures, including facelift, scarless lip lift, scarless chin augmentation, minimal access browlift, blepharoplasty and non-surgical rhinoplasty procedures.

Professor Abu-Sittah qualified from the University of Glasgow and completed his postgraduate training in London. Following his specialist registrar training, he went on to accomplish three prestigious fellowships: a paediatric craniofacial surgery fellowship and a cleft surgery fellowship at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Kids, and later, a further trauma reconstruction fellowship at the Royal London Hospital.

He became a fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in 2010 before relocating to Lebanon a year later, where he was appointed Head of the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Aesthetic Surgery at the renowned American University of Beirut, known as Middle East’s foremost medical centre.

During this time, Professor Abu-Sittah notably led Lebanon's first augmented reality operation, in which he guided a surgeon from Gaza to reconstruct the hand of a child. He additionally co-founded the Conflict Medicine Program, a curriculum first-of-its-kind designed to train health professionals in the treatment, recovery and rehabilitation of war injuries and trauma-related afflictions.

Throughout his distinguished trajectory, Professor Abu-Sittah has balanced his clinical work with service as a war surgeon in conflict zones, including Iraq, South Lebanon and Gaza. He is also a consultant for the World Health Organisation’s Operational Trauma Initiative and a trustee at the International Network for Aid Relief and Assistance and at Medical Aid for Palestinians, providing assisted reconstructive surgery for adults and children injured by war.

Further to his clinical work, Professor Abu-Sittah is an honorary senior clinical lecturer at Barts andThe London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London and is on the board of advisors of the Global Research Group on Burn Trauma at the National Institute for Health and Care Research, where he is also a reviewer.

Prior to this, Professor Abu-Sittah directed a course for the Royal College of Surgeons on surgical skills in austere and military environments. As a world-leading figure in his speciality, he has also featured extensively in the media, including the BBC, the CNN and the Wall Street Journal.

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