What’s a lip lift?
A lip lift is a procedure where a small strip of skin underneath the nose is removed to shorten the distance between the bottom of your nose and the top of your upper lip. This lip shortening procedure gives your mouth a more youthful appearance by creating a fuller upper lip and restoring the natural shape of your smile.
Is a lip lift right for me?
As you age, the distance between the bottom of your nose and the top of your upper lip increases. With this elongated distance, you may notice changes to your smile — the top of your teeth don’t show as much as they used to. Your lips may also thin as you age, further aging the appearance of your mouth.
If you want to restore the look of your lips, you may benefit from an upper lip lift surgery rather than seeking other cosmetic procedures. For example, while a facelift rejuvenates the midface and neck, it can exaggerate the appearance of an aging upper lip because the surrounding face appears more youthful in comparison to the area around the mouth.
Similarly, people commonly address aging lips with filler. While that does increase the volume of the lips to create a plumper, more youthful appearance, it doesn’t address the increased distance between the nose and upper lip. If you’ve had filler injections previously or who have had a "lip flip" with Botox, you may still benefit from a lip lift.
What type of results can I expect from a lip lift?
After a lip lift surgery, you should expect to see an upper lip that sits slightly higher than it did before the procedure. It will also appear more full. This will result in more of the upper teeth showing when you smile.
What is lip lift surgery like?
A lip lift can be performed in the office under local anesthesia or in an operating room under general anesthesia. It may also be combined with other facial rejuvenation procedures such as blepharoplasty (eyelid surgery) or a facelift.
Before the procedure, let your surgeon know about any Botox or filler you’ve had to this area as well as any previous surgeries on your nose.
Once the procedure begins, your surgeon will mark an incision underneath your nose and inject some numbing medication into the area. Next, a thin strip of skin is removed just under the nose. Sutures are then placed to hold the skin of the upper lip in a higher position.
What does recovery look like after a lip lift procedure?
Once the numbing medication wears off, you will be able to eat and drink normally. You will likely be asked to:
- Sleep with the head of your bed elevated for at least the first night to prevent swelling.
- Avoid any strenuous exercise for about two weeks.
- Take acetaminophen or ibuprofen to control any pain.
- Return to the clinic in about a week to assess healing and remove sutures
You may have some bruising in the area for a few days. The incision typically heals in about two weeks, but it can stay red for several months. Once your surgeon confirms your incision is healed, you can cover the redness with makeup.
Are there any risks with lip lift surgery?
Other than some temporary numbness in the area, the most common risk of a lip lift is widening of the scar. This can be prevented by carefully following your surgeon's post-operative instructions. You can also minimize the appearance of the scar by diligently applying sunscreen every morning and at lunchtime for one year after surgery. If the scar persists, laser treatments and microdermabrasion can remove it or reduce its appearance.