Restored the proportions of my face... - San Diego, CA

Thanks for your support and encouragement, everyone--I'm reposting pictures. I'm about five weeks post-op now and am really pleased. The reduced distance is a HUGE improvement on my face, my upper lip is fuller from the vermillion "roll out," and my scar is fading nicely. But I am contemplating going back to have 2 more mm removed. I'm not sure this would finally result in tooth show, but I'm so close right now that it's possible. Dr. Hilinski has very kindly offered to excise more skin at no extra charge should I decide that's what I want. But he is concerned with maintaining a natural result (as I am) so I'm going to wait a few months and see how things settle. But I'd love any of your opinions...

I was also wondering if anyone out there had a strip of mucosal edge removed--one doctor on the Q&A section said that this procedure is sometimes necessary to achieve tooth show. If you don't already have an abnormally large lip, this seems a bit drastic to me, but I'd love to hear about any first-hand experiences.

Shortened length and improved angle from the side.

I've been researching lip lifts for about a year. Age and a rhinoplasty had elongated the distance between my nose and mouth, which prior to surgery measured about 17mm. I was really impressed with Dr. HIlinski's before and after photos; some of his patients had narrow noses with lips that extend a bit beyond the nasal base (like mine) and he was able to give them a natural (but noticeable) result without hiking the center part of the lips up, rendering the sides too "slopey."

Dr. Hilinski measured my face and decided to excise 5mm in the center and 6 going out toward the sides, at the longest point, leaving me with a distance of about 12mm. He only cuts skin, not muscle, and I've had no problems with movement or function of my mouth. After one day of pain I was fine. No bruising at all. My stitches were neat and tidy and my scar (after an initial bit of redness) is healing nicely. I had to fly out for the surgery, and the doctor is always quick to respond to follow-up emails and address any concerns.

I was hoping to have a bit of tooth show when all was said and done; I do have more when I smile, but not when my mouth is relaxed. That's the fault of my jaw anatomy, though, and not the doctor's--if he had removed any more I think I would have looked unnatural and "hiked up." I'm especially pleased with the increased vermillion show; he was able to "roll it out" and give me back a cupid's bow.

Here's one before and after; I'll post more later.