Is it possible to perform a lip lift WITHOUT rolling the red portion of the lip out?

Question

I have seen many before and afters where some patients red portion is relatively the same size as before the procedure whilst others their red lip is a lot larger. I don't want my red lip portion larger, I just want my philtrum shortened. I measured my upper lip and on average laterally and medially its 2cm. So I would like to have a 5mm reduction medially AND laterally, is this possible?

Miguel Mascaro, MD · Answer

Thank you for your pictures and your question! There are a couple of different ways of doing a lip lift - most do involve the lip getting a little larger with more vermillion show.  However, a lip lift with muscle hem can help elevate the lip without causing eversion.  There are risks involved with the muscle hem procedure - so I suggest you discuss this with a surgeon who is comfortable and familiar with this particular technique in lip lifts.  I hope this helps!

Jed H. Horowitz, MD, FACS · Answer

Hello yozzyLip lifts are minor surgical procedures that actually shorten the distance between the nose and upper lip and allow more of your central upper teeth to show both at rest and when you smile. This has sometimes been called the bullhorn procedure because of the shape. The incision at the base of the nose, just within the nostrils, tucks the muscle and shortens the skin providing a youthful upper lip in less than an hour under local anaesthetic
Another method of lip lifting is an excision at the white line or top edge of the lip. This is useful for patients with significant lip lines and lipstick bleed. It will increase the red part of the lip. Filler can be added to make the lip fuller and rounder.
A third surgical treatment uses small incision inside the lip to advance the red part of the lips forward and out to add volume. Lastly a small excision can be performed at the corner of the mouth to raise this part of the lip.

Gary M. Horndeski, MD · Answer

The technique I
recommend is the extended bullhorn lip lift. 
This will elevate the corners as well as the central area.  However, all these techniques do create some
rolling out of the upper lip.  If this is
unsatisfactory to you, excess upper mucosa could be resected internally to
reduce the scar.       Best Wishes,Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Amir Nakhdjevani, MBBS, MRCS, FRCS(Plast) · Answer

Thanks for the questionIt is not always possible to guarantee such a specific reduction. You have to take into account the swelling and scarring. Also, this might just be the photograph showing but your lip is slightly longer on one side compared to the other. Therefore, I would consider removing slightly more from one side than the other to balance this up.With the lip lift, it will pull more vermillion up and therefore it will be more visible. I hope this is of help to you BW

Piotr Osuch, MD · Answer

I know that it may be disappointing for you but shortening philtrum without pulling up your upper lip is not possible. We can achieve more or less dramatic result when it comes to upper lip augmentation, but it will appear larger after this surgery. This is how this surgery works.

From the measurements you provided, you seem to be a good candidate for a lip lift.

best regard, 
Piotr Osuch, MD, PhD

Is it possible to perform a lip lift WITHOUT rolling the red portion of the lip out?

Answers (5)

Answer: Specific measurements not always possible

Answer: Specific measurements not always possible

Answer: Bullhorn lip lift

Answer: Bullhorn lip lift

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Everything you need to know about Lip Lift

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Is it possible to perform a lip lift WITHOUT rolling the red portion of the lip out?

Answers (5)

Answer: Specific measurements not always possible

Answer: Specific measurements not always possible

Answer: Bullhorn lip lift

Answer: Bullhorn lip lift

Browse related questions

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.