What is a Lip Lift?
For the right candidates, lip lifts can permanently give the lips a fuller and more youthful appearance. Interestingly, the procedure improves the look of the lips without touching them. Instead, these lifts work by shortening the expanse of skin between the bottom of your nose and upper lip.
The result is a fuller, more proportionate smile with improved upper lip definition. When necessary, the procedure also serves to lift down-turned mouth corners and cover overly exposed teeth. And it does it all without changing the structure of your nose or vermilion (the red part of your lips).
How Lip Lift Surgery Works
You may be feeling a bit skeptical at this point, wondering how our plastic surgeons improve your lips without touching them, but it can be done! Removing skin beneath the nose and pulling it tight naturally lifts the top lip. When done well, it creates a natural, fuller look. Here is a step-by-step overview of how it’s done:
- You are placed under general anesthesia or given a local anesthetic along with mild sedation, depending on your preference.
- Your plastic surgeon makes a small, well-hidden incision beneath your nose. The exact shape and location vary based on your specific needs.
- We remove a small amount of skin. We’re talking about removing just a few millimeters as opposed to doing something drastic.
- Next, we lift your upper lip and carefully suture it in place. The suturing process focuses on keeping (or creating) lip symmetry while utilizing stitching techniques that minimize scarring.
Your lip lift will take around 45 to 75 minutes to complete, depending on its complexity. You’ll be able to go home the same day as your surgery, but you won’t be able to drive yourself if you’ve had general anesthesia or sedation.
Types of Lip Lift Procedures
Your plastic surgeon has several different incision shapes to choose from during a lip lift, including the Italian, central, and gullwing. They will be happy to discuss the specifics of your lift during your consultation, but we’ll briefly touch on the two most common lip lift types, the bullhorn and corner lifts, here.
Bullhorn (Subnasal) Lip Lift
During this type of lift, your plastic surgeon will make an incision directly under your nose in the shape of a bull’s horns. This is the most common and versatile type of lip lift, and it hides any post-op scarring beneath the nose. Plastic surgeons use the bullhorn lift to elevate the center of the upper lip, maintain a natural lip curvature, and increase the amount of tooth surface that shows when you speak and smile.
Corner Lip Lift
Another common type of lip lift, the corner lift, is often combined with the bullhorn lift. Focusing on lifting the outer corners of your lips, this lift creates a softer, more upturned expression. If the corners of your lips turn down, or if your mouth always looks sad, the corner lip lift may work well for you.
What Makes a Lip Lift Different from Fillers
Today we’re talking about lip lifts, but lip fillers are quite popular and better known. Upon learning about lifts, patients often wonder how they differ from filler. The main differences lie in their results and permanence.
The two procedures don’t accomplish the same things. Dermal fillers make the lips plumper and more voluminous. Lifts, on the other hand, physically alter the lip’s position. Fillers are also temporary, requiring regular upkeep every few weeks to months. Fall behind on your filler injection schedule and your lips will fall too. Lip lift results are permanent, however. (We’ll talk a bit later about what permanent means when it comes to plastic surgery.)
It’s also worth noting that lip lifts avoid the potential complication of filler migration. This happens only rarely, but it can happen.
Who is a Good Candidate for a Lip Lift?
At your free virtual consultation, your surgical coordinator will answer your questions about lip lifts and determine whether you’re a good candidate for the procedure. There are both medical and aesthetic concerns that impact candidacy. Good candidates:
- Possess good skin elasticity
- Have a long philtrum (the space between the nose and lip)
- Want a permanent solution rather than ongoing lip filler treatments
- Display little to no teeth when smiling and speaking
- Understand what the procedure can and can’t accomplish
Note that active smokers and uncontrolled diabetics do not make good candidates. You will need to remedy these conditions to be approved for the procedure. If you have a history of poor wound healing, you may be ineligible for a lip lift or require special accommodation.
What to Expect After Lip Lift Surgery
Immediate Recovery
In the first few hours and days after your lip lift, you should expect the following:- Swelling and tightness, which may get worse before getting better
- Suture removal in five to seven days
- Avoiding excessive mouth movements, heavy exercise, and wide smiles for one to two weeks (Your funny friend may not be the best choice of initial caregiver.)
- To be placed on a liquid and then soft food diet to prevent chewing
- Skipping makeup until your incisions fully heal (typically seven to 14 days)
Long-Term Healing and Results
You will notice a visible improvement in your lips in a few weeks when the swelling eases. Fully recovering from plastic surgery takes time, however, and requires patience. In the long term, know that:- Most swelling resolves within two to three weeks
- Residual refinement continues for six to 12 weeks
- Scars mature and fade over six to 12 months with proper care
Frequently Asked Questions
Plastic surgeons consider lip lift results to be permanent. However, the natural aging process will continue after your procedure. This means that the position and fullness of your lips may still change with time. You will enjoy your results for many years, but your plastic surgeon cannot promise you that nothing will ever change.
Although uncommon, some patients require revision surgery soon after their lip lift. The practice is rare but sometimes required if there is an over- or under-correction during the initial procedure. Revision surgeries can also correct asymmetry.
The goal of plastic surgery is always to create a natural look. The best way to get that look is to put yourself in the hands of a skilled and experienced plastic surgeon. Look for someone who has mastered both the technical and artistic skills necessary to create favorable lip lift outcomes.
It’s important that your doctor plans the procedure to ensure that your results create proper tooth show and don’t disrupt your smile movement. A conservative approach is often taken to avoid over-shortening the area beneath your nostrils, which can distort both the nose and the lips.
At Mia Aesthetics, our plastic surgeons have a track record of creating natural-looking lip lift results. They have extensive experience with facial surgeries and utilize layered suturing techniques to minimize scarring. Our doctors create excellent results, and our patient care team stands ready to assist you with everything from scheduling to recovery for a seamless experience.
We can’t promise that the scar from your lip lift will be completely invisible, but people aren’t likely to notice it unless you point it out. Scars are hidden beneath the nose and mature over the course of six to 12 months, fading as they do. You can help minimize scar visibility by protecting the area from the sun and using silicone gel scar treatments.
Patients with long upper lips, reduced tooth show, or aging-related sagging see the best results after a lip lift. Many people also report that they don’t miss scheduling ongoing lip filler touch-ups. They see this once-and-done surgery as a terrific alternative.
Yes. Lip lifts are often combined with chin lipo, facelifts, or fat transfer to the lips. Combining the procedures helps to balance your rejuvenation efforts across all of your problem areas. When possible, we complete all combination procedures in a single visit. It is sometimes necessary, however, to stage a treatment plan across multiple sessions.
Yes and no. A lip lift will enhance your smile, creating more tooth show for a brighter, more youthful smile. You will still look like yourself, though, and the basic shape of your smile won’t change.
Absolutely! You can have a lip lift after you’ve had lip fillers, but we will wait for any remaining filler to dissolve fully before proceeding with the lift. The reverse is also true—you can get lip filler after having a lip lift. You must wait for the lift to fully heal first.