ABSTRACT
Lips are the central feature in the lower third of the face. When they are full and
well defined, they impart a sense of youth, health, and attractiveness to the bearer.
Thin, flat lips, on the other hand, imply fragility and senility. The characteristics
of the lips responsible for these qualities are the shape of Cupid's bow, the relative
length of the upper lip, and the projection or bulk of the lips. Esthetic guidelines
are presented for each of these characteristics, which when understood help the surgeon
formulate an operative plan. Lip augmentation techniques using autogenous and alloplastic
materials are presented. For patients with a long upper lip, vermilion advancement
and nasal base resection are discussed in detail. With a look to the future, a discussion
of preliminary experience with carbon dioxide laser lip advancement concludes the
article.
