Which procedure would allow more teeth visibility when smiling? Have tried lip flip in the past. (photos)

Question

I have tried the lip flip and hated it because it actually made my lip come farther down on my front teeth. The main insecurity I have is when I smile my lip actually covers a lot of my front teeth. After doing that, would a lip lift help achieve showing more of my top teeth?

Daniel J. Givens, MD · Answer

Thanks for the question!  There are a few techniques used for a botox lip flip.  If your injector treated higher on the lip that could cause the lip to come down, vs treating at the border should cause it to roll outward.  
I often use a little bit of filler in the lip when patients notice their lip “disappear” when they smile.

A surgical lip lift helps to roll the lip outward as well.  It helps to create just the right amount of tooth show, and can be customized to achieve whatever results we are looking for.  The incision is hidden just under the nose and heals beautifully.  In your picture, the crease on your lip below the base of your nose (columella) would be an indicator of excess lip height and would help to determine how much to treat.
I look forward to seeing you for a consult!

David M. Kowalczyk, MD, MBA, FACS · Answer

Hi there! If you've tried Botox and haven't seen an improvement, a lip flip may be a good option. This procedure involves an incision underneath the nose. The amount of skin to be removed is measured and sutures placed after removal. The goal with a lip lift is to increase the amount of red lip show, teeth show, and reduce white lip length. The increase in teeth show is often modest but noticeable. The results can be quite nice if done well. Hope that helps!

Which procedure would allow more teeth visibility when smiling? Have tried lip flip in the past. (photos)

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Everything you need to know about Lip Lift

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Which procedure would allow more teeth visibility when smiling? Have tried lip flip in the past. (photos)

Answers (2)

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Lip Lift

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.