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New type of plastic surgery for the lower lip

2/8/2004 3:00 PM
By: Ivanhoe Broadcast News

In the world of plastic surgery, some body parts seem to receive all the attention, while others go relatively untouched. Eye lifts, breast jobs, and tummy tucks are the staples of the industry.

Lip implants have been a popular procedure, but most of the emphasis has been on the upper lip. Now, a Beverly Hills plastic surgeon is providing a new kind of "lip service" known as the "lower lip lift." It is designed to reverse the effects of gravity on a patient's face, much like a breast job might do for a woman's chest.

Randal Haworth, M.D., said the lower lip plays an important role in the way we perceive age in the human face. At rest, young lips reveal the upper teeth, while concealing the lower ones. However, as we age, both lips begin to "slide down," and eventually the appearance is reversed: the upper lips are concealed, while the lower ones are evident due to the lower lip, which doesn't remain in place.

"What happens is everything drops, just like the rest of the face and the breasts and other parts of the body ... You can have the best face and brow lift, but if the minor youth cues are not addressed, you're still going to look old," Haworth said.

The lower lip lift involves making an incision inside the front of the lip, then tightening the muscle underneath. The result is a stronger, tighter looking lip that fully conceals the lower teeth. Unlike other lip procedures, the lower lip lift does not involve the injection of any foreign substances, such as collagen, Gore-Tex, etc. Haworth has performed the procedure more than 30 times over the past six months. He reports roughly a 75 percent improvement in 90 percent of his patients.

Patients are usually placed under local anesthesia or a light "twilight" sedation, and the entire procedure takes no longer than 20 minutes. Many patients opt to have additional procedures performed simultaneously, such as lip voluminizing, upper lip lifts, or corner lip lifts. Patients report some swelling and between two weeks to four weeks of tightness following the procedure, but no major complications have been noted.

The lower lip lift costs between $1,000 and $1,500. As it is elective surgery, insurance policies usually do not cover it. Haworth, the pioneer of the procedure, said he is the only plastic surgeon in the country who performs it.

Randal Haworth, M.D.
Plastic Surgeon
436 N Bedford Dr.
Suite 105
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
(310) 273-3000


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