How is a Lip Lift different from a Lip Augmentation?

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As we age, the upper lip sags and becomes longer in the vertical dimension. Normally, a small portion of the teeth are visible at rest, and a large portion of the upper teeth are visible when smiling. With a droopy upper lip, the teeth are not at all visible at rest and barely seen with smiling – this makes people look much older. A lip lift can dramatically improve the way your mouth and smile appear.

Lip lift is a highly specialized procedure that very few surgeons offer in Los Angeles. There are several different types of lip lifts – gull wing, sub-nasal, and thread techniques. During your preoperative examination, your plastic surgeon will determine the method that is appropriate to meet your cosmetic goals. In a sub-nasal lip lift, a small strip of skin is removed just below the nose to reduce the upper lip length and create a lift. The scar is well hidden because it falls within the natural shadow just below the nose. After surgery, the vermillion, or red part of the lips, will curl outward, and be more visible and more attractive. It will create the illusion of a mild lip augmentation. The surgery can also improve lip asymmetry.

Lip augmentation is different because it involves adding volume to the lips. Lip augmentation is performed non-surgically with injections of Juvederm or fat injections. When fat is used, it can be placed in the vermillion as well as the upper lip. Lip augmentation is typically a great procedure for younger patients that want fuller, more attractive lips. Patients over the age of 50 will benefit from a lip augmentation to improve the fullness, but may also require a lip lift to correct the long upper lip and lip position.

A lip lift is performed as an outpatient surgery in our Los Angeles plastic surgery center. Most of the swelling and bruising resolves within two weeks. Overall, it is a well tolerated operation.