What is Lip Feminization Surgery?

The lips and Gender Recognition

We define the lip area as the entire space from below the nose to the bottom lip. It includes the surrounding skin, the upper and lower lips, as well as the vermilion (the colored part of your lips). Although lips come in all shapes and sizes irrespective of gender, there are certain traits which are generally perceived as more feminine.

Traits of a masculine lip

Masculine lips have a greater distance between the nostrils and the border of the upper lip. We also refer to this as the height or length of the upper lip. More space between the nose and the upper lip is recognizable as a masculine trait. A lack of lip volume may have a masculinizing effect if it is not counterbalanced with other feminine secondary characteristics. 

Traits of a feminine lip

A characteristic of a youthful, feminine face is a shorter distance between the base of the nose and the upper lip. This means that when the face is relaxed, there is subtle visibility of the upper teeth. Good lip volume may be perceived as a feminine feature, although this is a cultural perception. 

How is Lip Feminization Surgery performed?

Specialists in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery with experience in facial feminization should perform this procedure, normally under general anesthesia. Experts in this procedure will be able to explain problems that result from an improper lip technique as well as how it may be combined with a feminization rhinoplasty or dental work for an optimal effect. 

We use two procedures in lip feminization surgery. First, our specialists assess your needs and goals regarding feminizing your lip area. Then, we recommend the most suitable course of action, be it lip lift surgery and/or lip augmentation. 

Lip Lift Surgery

We remove a specially-shaped segment of skin from directly under your nose to shorten the distance between it and the lip. By doing this, your upper lip becomes closer to the nose. The procedure transforms your lip from a masculine, low lying position to a more raised position that shows the teeth.

A lip lift has the following advantages:

• more projected upper vermilion that appears fuller; 
• natural exposure of upper teeth when your face is relaxed;
• a less visible incision in the crease under the nose. 

Although a lip lift can create the illusion of a fuller lip, it does not make the lips fuller. Therefore if you want fuller lips, we can offer lip augmentation, which is explained further down. 

With over 14 years of experience, our methodology, backed by the outcomes of over 462 successful procedures since 2008, has been recognized and acclaimed in renowned scientific journals.

Recovery

Recovery and aftercare of lip feminization is relatively easy. Our post-op team will guide you during your recovery as part of Facialteam’s comprehensive care. All patients receive personalized pre-op and post-op support that meets the highest standards in transgender healthcare. 

Initially you will feel sore, swollen and may have some bruising. You will slowly regain normal feeling and function as the healing evolves. Recovery times vary for each patient. Generally, you gently return to all your everyday routines within days or weeks of having a lip lift. We recommend waiting 6 weeks before taking part in any high impact activities. 

Result

You will likely notice a difference immediately, despite the swelling and bruising. Your lips will continue to settle over the following months, so patience is key. At some point it may seem like your lip is descending, but you may be confident that internal stitches help keep the lip’s new position stable. 

As is the case with all our procedures, we may conduct a final assessment after a year. Scar healing will indeed still be in process, but we are able to evaluate more definitive results. 

Remember, as with all soft tissues, the lips are subject to the effects of aging over time.

Lip Augmentation with Fat Transfer (FLF)

Naturally fuller lips, in harmony with your face.

Lip feminization is not simply about making the lips bigger. It is about achieving the right balance between volume, shape, projection, and the surrounding facial features.

At Facialteam, one of the options we offer is Facial Lipo Feminization (FLF), a technique that uses a small amount of your own body fat to enhance the volume and contour of your lips.

Unlike synthetic fillers, this approach uses your own living tissue, offering the possibility of a natural-feeling enhancement with potentially long-lasting results.

Our goal is to achieve a soft, balanced, and natural-looking result that complements your individual facial features.

How is the procedure performed?

The procedure involves three main steps:

• Fat collection

We usually collect a small amount of fat from the abdomen through a tiny incision near the belly button.

Using a gentle mini-liposuction technique, we extract the small quantity of fat needed for the procedure. The incision is usually closed with a dissolvable stitch.

• Fat preparation

The collected fat is carefully processed and purified to separate the fat cells from blood and unwanted fluids, preparing it for transfer to the lips.

• Lip augmentation

Using very fine, blunt-tipped microcannulas, we carefully introduce small amounts of the prepared fat into the upper lip, lower lip, or both, depending on your anatomy and treatment goals.

The amount transferred is usually just a few milliliters. Our aim is to create a balanced enhancement rather than excessive volume.

What happens to the transferred fat?

One of the most important aspects of fat transfer is understanding that not all the transferred fat will survive.

During the healing process, your body naturally reabsorbs part of the fat. Some of the remaining fat cells may establish a blood supply and become integrated into the surrounding tissue.

However, the amount that survives varies considerably between patients. This is particularly relevant for the lips, which are highly mobile structures.

At Facialteam, we therefore prefer a conservative approach. We avoid deliberately overfilling the lips to compensate for possible reabsorption, as this could produce an excessive result if more fat than expected survives.

The final amount of volume retained cannot be precisely predicted or guaranteed.

Recovery and results

Immediately after the procedure, your lips will appear fuller than the intended final result because of postoperative swelling.

Temporary bruising, swelling, and tenderness may occur in the lips and at the fat-harvesting site.

During the following weeks, swelling gradually decreases, and some of the transferred fat may be naturally reabsorbed.

By approximately three to four months, we can usually get a clearer preliminary idea of how the result is developing.

However, lip volume may continue to change beyond this period. At Facialteam, we generally recommend waiting at least nine months before evaluating whether an additional volume-enhancement procedure may be appropriate.

Some of the transferred fat may remain for many years, but long-term volume retention varies between patients, and a further treatment may sometimes be needed.

Fat transfer, hyaluronic acid fillers, or lip lift?

Although these procedures can all contribute to lip feminization, they work in different ways.

Fat transfer (FLF) uses your own body fat to add volume, offering the possibility of long-lasting enhancement. However, the amount of fat retained is variable and less predictable.

Hyaluronic acid fillers provide a non-surgical, temporary alternative for increasing lip volume. Their duration depends on the product used and individual patient characteristics.

A lip lift is a different procedure. Rather than adding volume, it surgically shortens the distance between the nose and the upper lip, changing its position and potentially increasing the visibility of the upper teeth.

Depending on your anatomy and goals, these procedures may be considered individually or in combination.

Are there any risks or limitations?

As with any surgical procedure, fat transfer involves some risks.

Temporary swelling, bruising, and discomfort are common during early recovery. Other possible complications include asymmetry, uneven volume distribution, small palpable lumps, infection, and minor scarring at the fat-harvesting site. Rare injection-related vascular complications can be serious.

An important limitation is the uncertainty surrounding long-term fat retention. Even when the procedure is performed carefully, we cannot guarantee a particular increase in lip volume or the exact duration of the result.

A personalized approach to lip feminization

At Facialteam, we believe lip feminization is not about creating a standardized lip shape, but about enhancing the features that make each face unique.

During your consultation, we assess your lip proportions, volume, upper lip length, smile, and the relationship between your lips and the rest of your face.

We then help you understand which procedure, if any, would best suit your anatomy and personal goals.

Our aim is simple: a softer, more balanced appearance that still feels naturally yours.

How much does Lip Feminization cost?

The price of lip feminization can vary, as the combination of procedures are personalized for you. The overall costs for a lip feminization with Facialteam (including a full array of services, hospital and surgeon fees, materials, anesthesia, etc.) may range anywhere from 3 900 € to 4 200 €. The total price will depend on optional aspects such as accommodations. Flights are not included in lip feminization budgets.

Be sure to ask what is included (and what’s not) in the costs.

Consultation

Get multiple consultations with a variety of surgeons, whose approaches will vary, until you feel able to make an informed decision about what is best for you.

Facialteam consultations consist in building a realistic plan for you together. Lip feminization orientations with our experienced FFS specialists are always free.

Our experts will guide a discussion to help you understand your principal needs and what are realistic objectives. We can establish which procedures, if any, are essential for you  to attain the feminine look you want and the results you can expect. We will also determine which procedures are not indicated or will have less of an impact. 

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