We all know about the common cosmetic procedures like botox, dermal fillers, breast implants and liposuction for physical enhancement but sometimes patients demand much, much more.
South Korea that can be credited with some crazy procedures like double-eyelid surgeries, dimple injections, calf reductions and even double-jaw surgery among others has paved the way for the “smile lipt.”
As per an explanation from the Seoul clinic Aone Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery, “lipt” represents a fusion of the words “lip” and “lift” which is what the surgery does. The cosmetic it tugs the corners of your mouth upward to carve a faint perma-smile.
Dr. Kwon Taek-keun, a plastic surgeon and owner of Aone stated,“Even when you are looking like your normal self, people keep asking you: ‘Why are you frowning?’ That’s a lot of stress.”
$2,000 procedure
The surgery works by slicing the strong jaw muscles that naturally pull the mouth downward and rearranging them such that it leaves a permanent “smiling impression.”
Smile Lipt that costs $2,000 is gaining popularity among young people especially flight attendants, consultants and others in industries that require a smiling disposition.
According to Aone’s Facebook page: “After Smile Lipt surgery, mouth corners lifted upward even with just a little bit of movement and makes smiling lips, thus the middle part of upper lip won’t be lifted to show the gum. If gum is exposed with smiling, Smile Lipt is the most effective and simple method. At the same time, the smiling feature becomes very elegant.”
Revival of old trend
Ironically, “Smile Lipt” is the revival of an old trend. It has been around for over 50 years and was medically known as “Valentine anguloplasty,” (because those muscles are heart-shaped). The procedure originally promoted as an anti-aging procedure now has women in their 20s and 30s as its common clients.
The Aone blog says Smile Lipt is an improvement of the older procedure. The technique uses a different “lifting direction” that moves the muscles used for smiling “up toward the cheekbones.”
