Lip Lift: The little procedure that can make a big difference.

Lip Lift

 This is a small surgery performed under local anesthesia that can make a big difference to the area around the mouth.

Age

There is no set age for this procedure. Lip lifts can be done at any age after 18 but are most commonly performed as other signs of facial aging become apparent in the late 40’s and older. Upper lips tend to lengthen with age and the lips themselves become thinner.

Surgical Technique

Surgery involves excision of skin at the base of the nose so that the scar is barely visible. Healing is rapid so that within 14-21 days the scar is easily hidden.

Philosophy

Failing to recognize a long upper lip can limit the benefits of other surgery such as a facelift or a peri-oral chemical peel. A long upper lip affects the smile, preventing the ideal dental show of the upper incisors on smiling and can give an aged appearance.

Surgical time and recovery

Surgery takes about one hour. The recovery period is about a week. Stitches are removed from 3-7 days. As in all surgeries it can take 6-12 months to see the final result.

Related Procedures

A lip lift can often be combined with fat injections to the upper and lower lips and a chin implant to improve the peri-oral aesthetic proportions. Lip lifts are done at the same time as a facelift.