Will a Lip Lift Help to Show Upper Teeth when I Smile?

Question

When my mouth is closed it looks pretty normal, but when I smile, my top lip don't lift up to show my teeth. It hangs over my teeth like a curtain. I have really perfect teeth that don't show and I don't know what to do.If i force a smile it shows but does not look natural. Would a Lip lift help?

Ricardo L. Rodriguez, MD · Answer

Measure the distance between the base of the nostrils and the red part of your lip. If it is more than 1.5 centimeters you could get a good result.
If you hold your mouth slightly open and the upper front teeth don't show, lip lift would definitely help.
Check out the video below and the web link for more info to see if you are a good candidate.

Adelle Quintana, MD · Answer

A lip lift raises the central part of the upper
lift. It will shorten the distance between your upper lip and the base of the
nose. Your upper teeth will also become more noticeable. It will help to reduce
that sagging appearance and enhance the overall appearance of your smile.

Gary Linkov, MD · Answer

You do have a relatively long upper "white" lip and so a lip lift may help. One of its intentions is to help reveal the bottom portion of the upper teeth, especially beautiful teeth as in your case.

Farhad Rafizadeh, MD · Answer

You would benefit from a lip lift as your upper lip is long in the vertical direction. Ideally the upper lip has to be less than 1.5 centimeter. in your case, it is probably 2 cm. I place the scars in such a way that it is not visible. I do hundreds of lip lifts and if the scars were a problem, I would not be doing them. It is a technically demanding procedure that requires experience to do it well. But when it's done well, the patients are very happy. Most patients do not hesitate to travel and get this operation done by the right plastic surgeon. Good luck to you in your search.

Thomas Buonassisi, MD · Answer

Hello and thank you for providing your photos,
In my practice, we find that shortening the upper lip allows for more teeth show, a slight increase in the show of vermillion lip (pink) in the midline and a more youthful appearance.The surgery does create a little more teeth show, both at rest and when smiling.
The surgery is done under local anesthetic and the final scar is hidden under the nose where it is nearly imperceptible once healed.
I recommend you have a consultation with a surgeon who specializes in lip lifts, who can examine your face and discuss your objectives thoroughly.The video below shows a recent surgery I performed on a patient who desired more teeth show.

James M. Pearson, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question. The Lip Lift procedure is performed to accentuate the size and/or shape of the upper lip by removing skin from the region just underneath the nose. As the distance is decreased between the nose and the lip, the red lip is 'lifted' which may impart or restore a more favorable balance to lips and face. The Lip Lift is intended to improve 'teeth show' but that is most noticeable at rest. Given the muscle involvement during smiling, increased visibility of your upper teeth during smiling is less predictable. I would advise you to consult in person with a facial plastic surgeon with experience performing this procedure.

Marc Pacifico, MD, FRCS(Plast) · Answer

Dear TamrynMany thanks for posting your question and photograph. From what I can see, it is likely that you would benefit from a lip lift, performed as an office-based procedure under local anaesthetic.It is important to see a plastic surgeon with experience of lip lifts for an in-person examination to ensure that it is the right procedure for you

Jed H. Horowitz, MD, FACS · Answer

Whether you’ve noticed your lips thinning over
time, or simply want fuller lips, JUVÉDERM® Ultra XC or RESTYLANE SILK
 can give you natural-looking results that lasts more than 9 months.
  In fact, 78% of people treated experienced improvement in
satisfaction with the look and feel of their lips 1 year laterA skilled injector can help to perfect a gummy-smile with the simple treatment of lip augmentation!#RestylaneSILKlips   #JuvadermULTRAlips    #lipenhancement

Larry S. Nichter, MD, MS, FACS · Answer

Whether you’ve noticed
your lips thinning over time, or simply want fuller lips, JUVÉDERM® Ultra XC or
RESTYLANE SILK  can give you natural-looking results that lasts more than
9 months.   In fact, 78% of people treated experienced improvement in
satisfaction with the look and feel of their lips 1 year later!We suggest finding a reputable practice with expert injectors for
the blend of science and artistry! Filling the upper lip to cover a gummy-smile is an simple solution!
#lipenhancement    #JuvedermUltra
 #RestylaneSilk

Young R. Cho, MD, PhD · Answer

Thank you for question and sharing your photo.  A lip lift procedure would be ideal to shorten the distance between your upper lip and the base of the nose.  It is a simple office-based procedure, often done with local anesthesia and can help you achieve more teeth show when you smile as well as more lip show.  Consult with a board certified plastic surgeon who performs lip lifts as part of their practice.