The lips play a central role in facial expression and lower-face balance. At Mr Mattine’s practice, treatment is tailored to your individual anatomy rather than a one-size-fits-all approach. Mr Mattine offers a personalised range of lip procedures designed to improve shape, definition, proportion and harmony.
LIP LIFT
To shorten the upper lip and improve vermilion show, eversion and tooth show.
TWO MAIN TECHNIQUES
• Central / Bullhorn Lip Lift
• Lateral / Corner Lip Lift
A MORE REFINED, EXPRESSIVE MOUTH
LIP ADVANCEMENT
For patients with a very thin lip, limited visible mucosa, or lip asymmetry, creating greater visible lip show and improved balance.
GREATER DEFINITION AND VISIBLE LIP SHOW
LIP AUGMENTATION
Using fat grafting or fillers to improve volume, shape and contour.
RESTORE VOLUME. ENHANCE CONTOUR.
LIP REDUCTION
To reduce excessive lip volume and create better facial proportion.
A MORE BALANCED, HARMONIOUS PROFILE
Lip surgery may be beneficial for patients with a relatively long upper lip, limited upper-tooth show, poor eversion, age-related thinning, loss of lip definition, dissatisfaction with repeated filler, or excessive lip size or imbalance.
The key question is not whether the lips should simply be made larger, but what change will create the best relationship between the lips, nose, teeth, chin and overall facial proportions.
For one patient, the right treatment may be a lip lift. For another, it may be lip eversion, augmentation or reduction. Treatment is planned according to individual anatomy, proportion and aesthetic goals, with the aim of preserving a natural, balanced result.
Younger patients may seek lip surgery because of their natural anatomy rather than ageing.
Common concerns include a long upper lip, limited tooth show, thin lips, asymmetry or excessively prominent lips.
Treatment should focus on proportion and anatomy rather than simply increasing volume.
With ageing, the lips may lengthen, lose definition and volume, show less tooth and become less everted, with fine lines and downward turn at the corners of the mouth.
Depending on the pattern of ageing, treatment may involve lip lift surgery, corner lip lift, fat grafting, filler or a combination of procedures.
THE MOUTH SHOULD NOT BE TREATED IN ISOLATION
Lip appearance is influenced by the relationship between:
Mr Mattine assesses lip shape and volume in relation to the entire face. A lip that is attractive in isolation may not necessarily be proportionate to the rest of the facial features. The aim is facial harmony rather than a predetermined lip size or shape.
INDIVIDUALISED TREATMENTS FOR NATURAL, BALANCED RESULTS
Am I a good candidate for a lip lift?
Am I a good candidate for a lip lift?
Am I a good candidate for a lip lift?
Am I a good candidate for a lip lift?
Lip lift surgery is not a single procedure. Different techniques are used depending on where the lip has lost height or show, the length of the upper lip, tooth display, and the position of the mouth corners.
The two principal approaches are:
Central or bullhorn lip lift surgery
Lateral or corner lip lift surgery
They address different parts of the lip and may be performed independently or, in selected patients, combined.
A central lip lift is designed primarily for patients with an elongated upper lip, reduced upper-lip show, or thinning of the upper lip.
By removing a carefully planned amount of skin beneath the nose, the upper lip is elevated and gently everted. This can increase visible pink lip and improve upper-tooth show without relying simply on added volume.
Generally more appropriate when the main concerns are a long upper lip, reduced upper-lip show, thinning of the upper lip, and reduced upper-tooth display.
A lateral or corner lip lift focuses on the outer lips and the corners of the mouth rather than the central upper lip.
It is useful when the corners of the mouth are downturned, or where thinning is concentrated toward the lateral part of the upper or lower lip. The aim is subtle elevation and improved balance, not an exaggerated smile.
Generally more appropriate when the concern is downturned mouth corners, descent of the oral commissures, thinning toward the outer lips, or imbalance between the central and lateral parts of the mouth.
The purpose of lip lift surgery is not simply to make the lips larger. The aim is to improve the shape, position, tooth show and proportions of the lips in relation to the rest of the face, while preserving a natural appearance.
LIP REDUCTION SURGERY
Not every patient seeking lip surgery wants greater volume.
Some patients naturally have very full, thick or prominent lips that they feel are disproportionate to the remainder of the face.
Lip reduction surgery, sometimes referred to as reduction cheiloplasty, is designed to reduce excessive lip volume while maintaining a natural lip shape and contour.
This may be appropriate where:
Naturally fuller lips occur across many populations and facial types, including in some patients of African or Caribbean heritage, but suitability for surgery is determined by the individual anatomy and the patient’s desired proportions rather than ethnicity itself.
How IS LIP REDUCTION PERFORMED?
Lip reduction surgery involves carefully removing a controlled amount of mucosa and underlying soft tissue from the inner aspect of the lip.
The incision is positioned inside the mouth wherever possible, meaning there is normally no visible external scar.
The amount of reduction is individually planned according to:
The objective is not simply to remove as much tissue as possible, but to create a smaller, better-proportioned lip while preserving natural shape, movement and expression.
Lip augmentation can be used to increase volume, improve contour and enhance the shape of the lips.
This may be appropriate for patients with:
naturally thin lips
age-related volume loss
asymmetry
reduced projection
loss of definition
volume deficiency following previous surgery or trauma
Augmentation can be performed using either:
Fat grafting
Dermal fillers
The choice depends upon the degree of augmentation required, the desired longevity and the patient’s preference.
Fat grafting uses the patient’s own fat to enhance lip volume and surrounding soft tissues.
A small amount of fat is harvested from another area of the body, carefully prepared and then injected into the lips.
Potential advantages include:
use of the patient’s own tissue
soft and natural-feeling augmentation
the ability to treat adjacent areas at the same time
longer-lasting volume than temporary fillers in appropriately selected patients
Fat grafting can be particularly useful where the aim is soft restoration of volume rather than an obviously augmented appearance.
Because not all transferred fat survives permanently, the final retained volume can vary between patients.
Dermal fillers can be used to enhance lip shape, projection and definition without surgery.
They are particularly useful when the principal concern is:
mild loss of volume
asymmetry
contour refinement
enhancement of the Cupid’s bow
temporary augmentation
The advantage of fillers is that treatment is relatively quick and does not require surgery. However, the result is temporary and generally requires repeat treatment over time.
Fillers are less effective where the principal problem is a long upper lip, poor vermilion show or limited tooth show, because adding further volume does not correct the underlying position of the lip.
Lip vermilion advancement, sometimes called lip advancement surgery, is a precise procedure designed to increase the visible pink portion of the lip. A carefully planned incision is made along the junction between the vermilion and the surrounding facial skin. A narrow strip of adjacent skin is removed and the vermilion is advanced outward, allowing the lip to appear fuller and more defined.
This may be useful where:
very thin lips require increased visible lip show
enhancement is needed from corner to corner
there is poor definition of the vermilion border
the Cupid’s bow is flat or asymmetrical
improved shape and contour are desired
Unlike fillers, which primarily add volume, vermilion advancement is a structural procedure that increases visible lip surface and can create a more defined lip contour.
Because the incision lies at the lip-skin junction, careful patient selection and meticulous surgical planning are important.
While the procedure can be effective in selected patients, the scar sits along the lip border and, if it heals poorly, may become visible or affect the natural lip roll.
For this reason, full-length vermilion advancement is used selectively and must be considered in the context of the patient’s anatomy, priorities and tolerance for a potentially visible scar.
Best suited to carefully selected patients seeking greater visible lip show and contour definition.
The aim is not simply to enlarge the lips, but to improve visible vermilion show, refine contour, and create better proportion in relation to the rest of the face.
The procedure should be tailored carefully to achieve a natural result rather than an overdone or obviously operated appearance.
Mr Matine is internationally recognised for his expertise in facial surgery and for his contribution to the advancement of surgical techniques and education.
He is regularly invited to lecture, deliver keynote presentations and teach live surgery at leading international meetings and conferences, sharing his knowledge and experience with surgeons worldwide.
His international reputation reflects a career devoted not only to achieving exceptional results for his patients, but also to advancing facial surgery through innovation, education and the sharing of expertise.
London Facial Surgery Symposium
European Aesthetic Congress
International Rhinoplasty Society
Global Facial Feminisation Summit
British Association of Facial Surgeons
The lips are part of the whole face. For many patients, combining lip enhancement with complementary procedures can enhance facial balance, refine proportions and create a more harmonious result.
Rejuvenating the mid and lower face can enhance the appearance of the lips and restore facial harmony.
Using your own natural fat to restore lost volume can enhance facial contours, support the lips and improve overall balance.
Improves lip texture, fine lines and perioral skin quality for a smoother, more refined appearance.
Improving chin projection and definition can enhance lip proportion and create a more balanced facial profile.
LONDON | BIRMINGHAM
EXCLUSIVELY FACIAL SURGERY
Expert care, thoughtfully coordinated around your journey.
We regularly welcome patients from the United States, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and beyond who travel to the UK for facelift surgery. Our team understands international travel and will support you at every stage, making the experience as smooth and comfortable as possible.
Your initial consultation can often take place virtually, allowing you to meet Mr Mattine, discuss your concerns and explore your options from wherever you are in the world. An in-person consultation will then be arranged before your surgery to finalise your plan and answer any remaining questions.
We can assist in coordinating any required pre-operative tests and investigations, help with accommodation, and advise on practical arrangements for your stay in the UK. Your early recovery, follow-up appointments and return travel will be thoughtfully planned to ensure you feel supported throughout your journey.
Our aim is to provide the same continuity, personal attention and standard of care wherever in the world your journey begins.
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Appointment
ADDRESS – 1
10 HARLEY STREET
LONDON W1G 9PF
ADDRESS – 2
38 HARBORNE STREET
BIRMINGHAM B15 3HE
A selection of common questions about lip lift surgery, lip proportion and treatment options.
Am I a good candidate for a lip lift?
What is the difference between a central lip lift and a corner lip lift?
Will a lip lift make more of my pink lip visible?
Can a lip lift improve upper-tooth show?
What is the difference between a lip lift and lip fillers?
Will I have a visible scar after lip surgery?
REAL EXPERIENCES. REAL RESULTS.