Aesthetic Lip Advancement

Full lips impart a youthful and healthy appearance to the face. When the lips are thin as a result of congenital hypoplasia or the aging process, vermillion border transfiguration is one technique to create an appearance of larger, fuller lips. Traditionally, this technique is described as excising full-thickness strips of skin adjacent to the vermillion. The results often have been inconsistent and unsatisfactory. Several modifications have been made by the senior author that have led to more reproducible lip results. Sixty-four lip advancements were performed over a period of 1½ years from June 1989 to January 1991. The technique and retrospective evaluation of these cases are presented.