Everything You Should Know About Non Surgical Lip Lifts

A lip lift is supposed to shorten the distance between your upper lip and the nose, aiming for a balanced and youthful look. However, numerous sources promote dermal fillers for non-surgical lip lifts yet, fillers don’t offer the results of a true lip lift. The same goes for Botox — which is popularized as a lip lift solution, yet it is a lip flip solution. 

No doubt, fillers and Botox do make your lips look fuller, at times yielding a mild lift. Nonetheless, a true lip lift should make your smile look more open and inviting. It should pull your lip upward, showcasing more of your teeth. 

Unlike fillers or Botox, a true non surgical lip lift lasts a long time before requiring a retouch. And, that’s what we are exploring right here. In this guide, you will learn everything you should know about non surgical lip lifts to make informed decisions, minimizing your likelihood of dissatisfaction.

Procedures for a True Non Surgical Lip Lift 

To achieve a true non surgical lip lift, two procedures stand out — Ellacor and lip threading. Both are less invasive procedures, with little to no downtime. Here is how they work: 

1. Ellacor

A lot of people confuse Ellacor with microneedling or radiofrequency microneedling. This is because it involves the use of similar devices. However, note that Ellacor is neither microneedling or radiofrequency microneedling, and the device is specifically used for non surgical lip lifts.

So, what is Ellacor and how does it work?

Ellacor is  a technology that involves the use of a specialized device to accurately remove tiny columns of skin from the upper lip region.  

By default, a qualified cosmetic dermatologist or practitioner must assess your facial anatomy, skin type, medical history, and expectations. Then, the practitioner must take you through the potential risks of Ellacor and psychologically prepare you for the procedure.

On the day of the procedure, the practitioner cleans the treatment area and applies topical anesthetic to manage discomfort throughout the procedure. Then, the practitioner uses the specialized device for micro-coring (removing columns of skin from the treatment region). This should take 30 to about 60 minutes.

Creating the micro-extractions triggers your body to initiate its natural healing process, contracting and tightening the skin between your upper lip and nose. Over time, the distance between the two shortens, leaving you with a noticeable lip lift that lasts for one to two years. 

2. Lip Threading

Compared to Ellacor, lip threading instantly lifts your upper lift. Like Ellacor, your practitioner must take you through a comprehensive consultation session to determine suitability and prepare you psychologically.

What follows the preparation phase?

During preparation, the practitioner examines the upper lip area, cleans it, and creates a pattern of points along the lip border. The marked points help the practitioner focus on the areas to be lifted, optimizing results. 

Once the pattern is in place, the practitioner applies numbing cream to minimize discomfort. Then, following your lip’s natural contour, the practitioner precisely inserts dissolvable PDO (Polydioxanone) threads as initially pictured.

After inserting the threads, the practitioner gently pulls and anchors each thread, lifting the upper lip immediately. The threaded pattern on your upper lip provides support, sometimes making your lips look fuller.

Besides getting an immediate, balanced, and natural-looking lift, lip threading boosts collagen production, gradually maintaining the lip lift effects — ensuring they last for 6 to 12 months.

Overall, lip threading and Ellacor have less recovery time and risks compared to a surgical lip lift. These two procedures primarily lift your lip, with higher chances of your lips looking fuller. That’s why some practitioners may combine the two procedures with complimentary ones like dermal fillers to boost volume and contour. Let’s explore some of the complementary options.

Complimenting Procedures to Amplify Your Non Surgical Lip Lift

Even though some practitioners recommend these complimenting procedures for a lip lift, they don’t create a true “lift.” An experienced cosmetic dermatologist or practitioner should recommend them as add ons to create a fuller look or enhance the structure and texture of the skin between the upper lip and the nose.

Here are some of the techniques your practitioner may pair to grant you a more balanced and rejuvenated lift:

1. Lip injections (Lip fillers)

As you age, the distance between your upper lip and the nose increases due to changes in bone structure and diminished collagen production. This makes your lips appear less defined and thin. Depending on how thin your lips look, using Ellacor or PDO threads for a lip thread may not yield the desired results.

So, to address pronounced lip thinning, your practitioner may recommend combining either of the primary lip lifting techniques with an injectable or non injection lip filler. Lip fillers are gel-like substances of different kinds that are injected into your lips to add volume.

Fillers are strategically injected along the edge of your lip (the vermilion border) or within the lip’s body (the tubercles), enhancing the natural shape of the lip. 

Sometimes, the fillers are used to correct minor asymmetries resulting from lip threading. Either way, fillers offer a fuller and defined appearance, lasting for about 6 to 12 months.

2. CO2 or Fraxel laser treatments

Apart from extreme lip thinning, you may have fine lines, wrinkles, or pigmentation around the lip region. Rather than lifting the lip and leaving these cosmetic concerns in place, your practitioner may recommend a CO2 or Fraxel laser treatment.

Laser treatments involve the use of focused laser energy to enhance collagen synthesis. Laser energy penetrates deep into the target skin and triggers your body’s natural healing process, promoting collagen and cell renewal. This results in improved firmness, elasticity, and skin texture around the treated area.

Of the two laser treatments, Fraxel is gentler. It is used to get rid of pigmentation, fine lines, and subtle texture concerns. CO2 laser treatments, on the other hand, are intense — addressing deeper wrinkles and extensive skin textural issues.​​

3. Botox Lip Flip (Not a Lip Lift, but Still Effectiful)

Even though it does not last longer like fillers do, your practitioner may use Botox in place of fillers. Unlike fillers that physically enhance volume, Botox creates an illusion of a fuller lip. 

A practitioner rotates your upper lip slightly outward and injects Botox, aiming to temporarily relax or paralyze the orbicularis oris muscle. This is the muscle surrounding your mouth. It is responsible for the controlled movements of the lips. Some call it the “kissing muscle.”

Targeting the orbicularis oris muscle makes the upper lip “flip” outward, creating an illusion of a pronounced or fuller lip.

Examine lip flip before and after photos, you’ll notice the procedure exposes more of your upper lip’s surface. This is because the injected muscle can’t pull the outward rotation back to its initial position. 

The impression of a full lip lasts for about 3 to 4 months, making it ideal for those who want a short-term lip enhancement or augmentation.

Pros of Non Surgical Lip Lifts

Now that you are aware of the available non surgical lip lift options, let’s delve into the pros and cons of this procedure before guiding you on when to get a non surgical lip lift. General pros of this procedure include:​

1. Reduced recovery time

While a surgical lip lift would have you waiting for weeks before healing, Ellacor and lip threading takes a few days. Ellacor is known to take about three to five days, while lip threading may take less.

Moreover, you may use makeup to conceal lip threading, allowing you to resume your normal routine swiftly. However, you only get to do this under the directives of your practitioner.

2. Minimally invasive alternative to surgery

With Ellacor and lip threading, there’s no need for incisions. While Ellacor involves micro-coring of tiny columns of skin from the upper lip region, lip threading involves the insertion of PDO threads to create a lift effect. Generally, PDO threads are less invasive compared to Ellacor because there’s no skin removal.

3. Authentic-looking lift

Lip threading and Ellacor are designed to create a subtle and natural lift. A lift that does not drastically change the way you talk or move your lips contrary to what a surgery does.

Since a surgical lip lift involves cutting of the skin or muscle, you may have to adapt to speaking in a certain manner to avoid interfering with the lift. Also, if not well cared for, the scar left behind after the surgery may negatively affect your facial aesthetics.

4. Continued additional benefits

Along with offering a subtle and naturally looking lift, Ellacor and thread lifting provide added benefits both during the recovery period and afterward. Both stimulate collagen synthesis, rejuvenating the upper lip area over a long period without the need for frequent touch-ups.

Cons of Non Surgical Lip Lifts

1. Potential side effects and complications

As highlighted, your practitioner must always explain potential risks or complications after assessing your suitability for either procedures. 

Ellacor carries some risk of side effects like redness, scabbing, and minor swelling. However, its complications are not well documented, considering its novelty. 

Lip threading’s side effects include minor bruising, swelling, or asymmetries. Some complications include infections, scarring, visibility of threads, or nerve damage. These complications may arise during or after the procedure, compromising healing and expected results.

2. May get pricey

Both non surgical lift procedures are affordable upfront. However, with the need for regular examinations and repeated sessions, the costs can add up fast. Among the two, Ellacor is more expensive because it's an advanced technology. Plus, it offers long-lasting results in contrast to lip threading.

3. Produce soft, subtle changes

Ellacor or lip threading may not satisfy your needs if you desire a dramatic lift. Both offer subtle lifts, with Ellacor holding the potential to create a greater lift unlike lip threading. 

To achieve a more dramatic lift, a surgical lift does the trick. Else, if you go down the non surgical path, prepare to have a soft, gentle, and natural lift. Here are more factors to help you know when to opt for a non surgical lift.

When to Opt for a Non Surgical Lip Lift

1. To test out changes before committing to a surgical lip lift

Considering the side effects and complications of a surgical lip lift, a non surgical option gives you the chance to experience the benefits of a lip lift before committing. The effects of non surgical lip lifts last for a specific period, making it an ideal way to test out changes before getting a more permanent solution.

2. Desire for a natural, subtle enhancement

Non surgical lip lifts spare you the troubles of scarring, poor wound healing, and allergic reactions to sutures. You get a mild to moderate lip-to-nose distance adjustment, resulting in a subtle and natural lip lift with minimal to no complications. 

3. Preference for easily adjustable results

If you desire to retain control over your aesthetics as they evolve, a non surgical lift becomes the suitable option. Ellacor lasts for about 2 to 3 years, while lip threading lasts for 6 to 12 months, allowing you to drop both procedures after a specific period or keep getting touch-ups to maintain the lift.

4. Budget considerations

If you are on a budget, non-surgical lip lifts are a more affordable option. However, note that long-term commitment is not as budget-friendly as the beginning. So, it is critical to consider the added costs over time to avoid disappointments.  

Wrapping Up

 So far, we’ve cleared the air about the best non surgical lip lifts capable of creating a true lip lift and the complimentary options. With an Ellacor or lip threading, you get a mild and natural lift, one that’s reversible after some time, giving you the flexibility of switching in between either.

Remember, even though non surgical lip lifts are less invasive and offer a short recovery time, they don’t apply to all. Ensure to have an experienced practitioner examine you to determine suitability and prepare you psychologically for the procedure.

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