Lip lift before and after photo courtesy of Dr. Miguel Mascaro, board-certified plastic surgeon in Delray Beach, Florida. Results may vary.
Lip lift before and after photo courtesy of Dr. Miguel Mascaro, board-certified plastic surgeon in Delray Beach, Florida. Results may vary.
Lip lift before and after photo courtesy of Dr. Miguel Mascaro, board-certified plastic surgeon in Delray Beach, Florida. Results may vary.
Lip lift before and after photo courtesy of Dr. Miguel Mascaro, board-certified plastic surgeon in Delray Beach, Florida. Results may vary.
A lip lift is an in-office surgical procedure that removes a small strip of skin under the nose to shorten the philtrum between the base of the nose and the top lip. The benefits of a lip lift include:
Some patients opt for a corner lip lift, which raises the corners of the mouth by removing a small amount of skin, or skin plus muscle, at the corners of the mouth.
This highly customizable outpatient procedure can be performed under local anesthesia. It usually takes about an hour and leaves a discreet scar. It’s commonly done as an add-on to a facelift.
“The procedure has a big impact for several reasons,” explains Dr. Ricardo Rodriguez, a board-certified plastic surgeon who performs both upper and corner lip lifts at his practice in Baltimore, Maryland. “When people look at faces, they focus mostly on the eyes and the mouth, so the lips have a very important role in how others perceive you. Secondly, we all recognize the appearance of the lips as a marker for aging. Finally, the relation of the upper lip to the nose determines the relationship and harmony between the lower and middle thirds of your face, so the length of your upper lip plays a big role in facial proportions.”Â
Lower lip lift procedures, commonly called lower lip advancement, are less common. They’re performed on patients who have an especially thin lower lip or oversized upper lip, to make them look more proportionate.
ProsÂ
Cons
The price you pay for this cosmetic surgery will depend on your provider’s credentials, level of experience, and practice location, as well as the details of your procedure.
Cosmetic procedures like this one aren’t covered by insurance, but most surgeons offer payment plans or accept financing options like CareCredit.
The lip lift photos in our gallery have been shared by the provider who performed the procedure, with the patient's consent.
Good candidates for an upper lip lift have at least 10 mm (and, ideally, 12 mm or more) between the base of the nose and the upper lip.
Patients choose the procedure for several reasons. “I have been doing the lip lift for over 20 years, and there is no typical patient,” says Dr. Rodriguez. “Every patient has their own needs, and it is important to get a clear understanding of not only the length the patient wants, but the shape. Some patients want a pronounced Cupid’s bow, others not.”
These are some of the most common motivations.
There are a few different approaches to an upper lip lift.
Related: The Ultimate Guide to Fuller Lips—From Plumping Glosses to Silicone Implants
Lidocaine will be injected to numb the area, so you should feel no pain during the procedure. IV or oral sedation is also an option. Once you’re numb and relaxed, the entire procedure will take about an hour.
Here’s what typically happens during a surgical lip lift:
The ideal philtrum length is considered 10–12 mm, but your doctor may decide not to go that short. “For example, if the philtrum starts at 20-plus mm, reducing it down to 10 mm, or even 12 mm, is a major distortion to the facial features,” says Dr. Linkov. “So for someone with a length of 20-plus mm, I will frequently bring them down to about 14–15 mm.”
Most people return to work after about 1 week of downtime. Here’s what you can expect during your recovery:
Lip lift results can last for over 10 years. Your lips will continue to age along with the rest of your face, but they’ll always look more youthful than if you hadn’t had the procedure.
If you lose volume over time, that can be remedied with lip fillers or a more long-lasting solution, such as fat transfer or lip implants.
According to Dr. Rodriguez, poor surgical technique can result in a fallen lip lift. “The upper lip may elongate 1-2mm over a long period of time, but most elongation in a short timeframe, or elongation greater than 2mm, is due to a lack or failure of proper fixation of the upper lip to a stable base,” explains Dr. Rodriguez.Â
“The skin of the columella and nostrils is mobile, and the skin of the lip adheres to the muscle of the lip. The constant action of the lip creates constant tension on the base of the nose," he explains. "This can drag down the columella and nostrils, making the lip appear longer.”
This increased tension can also change the shape of your nose. “That is why some patients complain that their nose got longer or the tip turned up after a lip lift,” says Dr. Rodriguez.
The risks of a lip lift include bleeding, infection, poor scarring, numbness, changes to the base of the nose, an unsatisfactory result, speech issues, and asymmetry.
This procedure can yield a perfect result, “or it can be a disaster, depending on how it is performed,” according to Dr. Brent Moelleken, a board-certified plastic surgeon in Beverly Hills, California.
Most complications are due to a lack of proper fixation during surgery.
“When the upper lip is not fixed to a stable base, the tension of the highly mobile lip will manifest in several ways,” according to Dr. Rodriguez.
“If the patient requests an aggressive lift, has a long midface, or already has good tooth show before surgery, the possibility of a gummy smile should also be considered,” says Dr. Rodriguez.
Look for an experienced, board-certified plastic surgeon who can assess whether you have the right lip-to-nose ratio to achieve your desired results.
RealSelf Tip: There have been some safety concerns around combining a lip lift with open rhinoplasty because of the proximity of the incisions in the columella. Since only a small island of skin is left between the two procedure incisions, skin necrosis (tissue death) or excessive scarring is possible. If you are considering combining these procedures, make sure you discuss these risks with your doctor.
You may also want to consider one of these lip augmentation or rejuvenation procedures, keeping in mind that none of them shortens or lifts the lip.
Related: Botox Lip Flips vs. Filler: Which Option Is Better?
Updated December 29, 2023