Lip Lift


A lip lift shortens an abnormally long upper lip to enhance the smile and dental aesthetics. When a person is resting, others should view a couple of millimeters of the incisor teeth. When they smile, others should see a couple millimeters of the gum tissue. Upper lip lift makes an incision under the nose and a small strip of skin and tissue is removed. The lip is lifted while exposing a larger portion of the pink part of the lip and the teeth. A corner lip lift is performed on the edges of the mouth for those who have a permanent frown because the corner of the mouth is turned down. The procedure removes a little triangle of tissue from the corner of the lips and turns it upwards.

Patients with an elongated upper lip due to a thinning of the upper jawbone or gravity are good candidates for the procedure. In addition, older patients with a longer lip due to muscle atrophy and changes in the bone are ideal candidates. Other ideal candidates include patients with thin and flat lips and those who have teeth that do not show when they smile. Someone with a full upper lip should consult with a surgeon as the lip lift outwardly rotates the upper lift and it can make a full upper lift look too large.

The cost of a lip lift is in the range of $1000-$5000. The final price depends on the amount of work necessary since lip lift surgery is customized for each patient. It also depends on the type of lip lift performed and any fees charged by the doctor or the facility.

The results of a lip lift are mostly permanent since it involves the removal of skin and tissue. The doctor needs to be conservative when planning a lip lift so the final results are aesthetically pleasing. The incision design needs to be right between the nostrils and the upper lip as any higher or lower is very noticeable. If the scar does not look the way the patient desires, the doctor can always resurface the scar.

Lip Augmentation

Lip Augmentation

submitted on   Wed Feb, 04, 2015 by Misbah Khan, MD     
Lip augmentation alters the appearance of the lips through lip fillers, fat grafting or lip implants. Patients who are not genetically blessed with naturally full lips can still gain plump lips. There are several different ways to make the lip look natural and proportionate to the patient’s...