Do Lip Lifts Look Natural?

Lip lifts can be a very satisfying operation. It must be well planned and well executed.  In order to perform one the patient needs to be evaluated and be determined to be a good candidate.  There are specific areas of concern that should be addressed by the doctor. As with every surgery the benefits  should be far out weighed by the risks. Good luck. 

There are surgical and non-surgical approaches to lip augmentation. Non-surgical approaches include botox (slight lift, reducing gum show) and filler (volume restoration). Surgically, you can have two separate incisions under the nose (italian), one incision under the nose (bull horn), one incision at the red/white upper lip junction (gull wing) or two separate incision at the corners, or a combination, depending on your desired look and anatomy.
A lip lift is natural looking if executed well on the right patient. The scarring can be minimized with the correct technique. 
Best of luck.
Gary Linkov, MD

Good day! For your guidance, the subnasal bullhorn lift is a technical variant of the gull-wing lip lift. An upper lip lift can drastically improve the aesthetic of one’s smile and facial proportions. You are correct that the amount of lift varies because the procedure is tailored for each patient to create youthful, natural looking results. The procedure can create a more proportional smile and reduce the signs of aging around the mouth. Although the gull wing and bull’s horn upper lip lifts were utilized sparingly in the past, newer modifications have made this a truly stunning procedure. Find a board-certified plastic surgeon that has extensive experience with this procedure and discuss realistic goals and expectations. Best of luck! #RealSelf100

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 underneath the nose. As the distance is decreased between the
nose and the lip, the red lip is 'lifted'. In appropriate individuals,
shortening this distance may impart or restore a more favorable balance to lips
and face.

The simple appearance of a long upper lip does not
necessarily suggest that a person would benefit from this procedure. The
procedure may be applied to individuals
that are bothered by the appearance of an elongated upper lip, who may
appreciate the change imparted by the lip lift and who are accepting of the
associated scar.

In appropriate patients, results following a lip lift can be
natural appearing.

Lip lift procedures can improve your lip contour. Some scars from these procedures can be quite dramatic and our office continues to specialize in lip scar treatments to improve the visibility of your scars afterwards. Best, Dr. Karamanoukian 

There is a very pleasing curve of the upper lip that is only preserved and enhanced by the bullhorn Lip Lift. Most women over 40 that are considering a lip augmentation really need a lip lift instead.

As a patient you should know that the Lip Lift is very technique dependent.  Be sure to ask your surgeon these questions, as well as ask for photos:


Which technique are you using?

Where is the scar?

Will the nose be distorted?

How many Lip Lifts have you performed in your career?


Please see my video below which explains the Lip Lift in greater detail.

 

Ricardo L Rodriguez, MD

Baltimore Plastic Surgeon

 

 

 

This is intended to achieve a subtle correction of a long upper lip. A dramatic change is not a realistic outcome. It also frequently requires the use of a corner lift. If not only the central one third of the lip is really lifted with this technique. 

An aging lip looks unnatural as it becomes longer, flatter and covers up your upper teeth during a smile. A properly performed upper lip lift can restore the natural beauty to the lip and create harmonious facial proportions. The scar remains hidden in the subnasal groove and careful measurements and proper technique produce natural results. See an expert.

The short answer is yes. If the incisions are placed in the right location, the amount of skin removed is appropriate, the closure is done meticulously, and the patient is a good candidate. The absolute length of the upper lip skin does not matter. what matters is the proportion of this to the face and important, the degree of upper tooth show. It can look unnatural if done on the wrong person or done too aggressively. 

A lip lift can produce a natural and youthful appearing upper lip. As one ages, the upper lip progressively becomes longer and thinner. This significantly masculinizes and ages the face even when many other procedures have been undertaken to create a more youthful look. I see many women getting more and more filler to correct this, but their result has more of a cartoonish appearance. You should be sure to go to an experienced surgeon before having this procedure. The amount and shape of skin removed only comes with experience. The incision heals very nicely with few exceptions, though.

To better determine whether you are a good candidate for a lip lift or not, look at your mouth with it slightly open but relaxed. If you cannot see your upper teeth in this position a lift lip will likely be a good option.

Good luck to you,

Sarah Saxon, MD