Lip Lifts and Fillers

A lip lift shortens the distance between the upper lip and the nose, enhancing the shape and definition of the lips while increasing the visibility of the upper teeth, which creates a more youthful and feminine appearance.

The procedure involves removing a small amount of skin beneath the nose (or sometimes the corners of the mouth) to reposition the upper lip.

Yes. A lip lift will “roll out” the upper lip to expose more of the “red lip” (the part of the lip you put lipstick on), making it thicker and fuller.

Lip fillers add volume to the lips by injecting a gel (typically hyaluronic acid), which is a temporary treatment. A lip lift shortens the distance between the base of the nose and the upper lip by removing a small amount of skin, and rolls out the upper lip to make it appear fuller and thicker. Both procedures will increase fullness of the upper lip; however, an important difference is that lip filler will actually lengthen the upper lip (hiding teeth during speaking/smiling), whereas a lip lift will elevate the entire upper lip, showing teeth more during speaking/smiling. Increasing tooth-display creates a more youthful, feminine appearance.

While any skin incision will leave a scar, if the incisions are created and closed meticulously, the scars are typically imperceptible at 3-6 months, sometimes sooner. The incisions for a lip lift are made at the base of the nose, where they are well-hidden in the natural folds of the skin. Proper postoperative care will help the scars heal better and faster. This includes sun block, silicone gel, and avoiding sun exposure during the healing phase.

A properly performed lip lift should not interfere with your smile or lip movement, but will improve it. 

You can typically wear makeup around the incision area within 7-10 days, once the site has healed sufficiently.

There are two main types of candidates for lip lift: 1) aging patients with “senile” upper lips which have lengthened over time and become thin and flattened. Here there is a significant decrease of the visible part of the lip and the lip covers the teeth completely at rest. 2) Younger patients with hereditarily long upper lips that violate proportions of the lower facial third (aesthetic ideal standard). These patients also have a minimal amount of “tooth display” during speaking and smiling. Because the upper lip is thin and turned in, they often seek lip fillers; however, because filler will lengthen the upper lip, they will have even less tooth display and are poor candidates for lip filler without a lip lift.

Most patients can resume work and are considered “restaurant-ready” within 1-5 days, and the incisions are fully healed and imperceptible at 3-6 months.

Incisions are typically right under the nose, and sometimes the corners of the mouth.

Most patients can resume work and are considered “restaurant-ready” within 1-5 days. For social events such as weddings (guest), graduations, or holidays, one should allow 1-2 weeks for recovery.

Yes, many patients combine lip lifts with complementary procedures like a face lift, eyelid surgery, or chin augmentation.

We typically ask patients to remain in town for a period of 1-2 weeks before flying. However, car rides of 2-4 hours are ok the following day in most cases. Dr. Hanna would still like to see you for a postoperative visit at the 1-week mark.

Forever.

Yes: Subnasal bullhorn, Vermillion advancement, and Corner lift (commissuroplasty) are the most common. They each have very different indications, pros and cons, benefits, and considerations and are therefore tailored to each individual.

Lip lift surgery has two very important elements: 1) there is an incision underneath the nose in the center of the face, so the surgeon must have the training/skill to meticulously design and close the incision for an imperceptible scar. 2) Achieving the ideal amount of tooth display without overcorrection is critical to avoid difficulty closing the lips at rest and during speaking and for ideal smile aesthetics. The surgeon should understand smile and dental aesthetics and be able to cooperate closely with your cosmetic dentist.

A good lip lift is one that has an incision that is placed and designed perfectly, sutured meticulously, and with the precise amount of lifting, (not over- or under-corrected), taking into account overall aesthetic proportions of the face as well as the upper and lower lips themselves, as well as smile architecture and tooth display.