Lip Lift

The so-called “ideal” lip proportion is a 2:1 ratio of the height of the lower lip to the height of the upper lip. As we age, the upper lip becomes longer. Restoring a more youthful lip contour can be accomplished in a number of ways:

• Lip filler to try to increase the height of the upper and lower lips
• Upper lip botox to try to lift the upper red lip and shorten the white lip by paralyzing the orbicularis oris muscle (the muscle that allows us to close the mouth and pucker)
• Lip lift to surgically remove several millimeters from the upper lip to shorten and slightly evert it (flip it out slightly)

The lip lift procedure is a great option for someone who has either tried filler and is no longer interested in annual visits for more filler or found that their lip filler migrated or made their lips look or feel heavier. It is suitable for anyone who is looking for a more permanent option for lip augmentation.

A lip lift is performed under local anesthesia only. It involves numbing shots around the upper lip and mouth, similar to going to the dentist. Patients can drive themselves home. The recovery involves a variable amount of swelling of the upper lip for about 3-4 weeks. The scar is located just under the nose and fades over time, with most of the visible scar becoming nearly invisible by 6 weeks. Scar revision treatments such as micro-needling with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and lasers can be done as well to make the scar nearly invisible.