Lip lift surgery reduces the length of the upper lip and restores a beautiful smile. This procedure is also referred to as a subnasale lip lift, a subnasale upper lip lift and/or a bullhorn upper lip lift.
As we age, the length between the lowest point of the nose and the start of the red lip lengthens. This creates an aging peri-oral region with reduced ‘tooth show’ at resting posture and when smiling. Sometimes, individuals may be born with an elongated nose to lip distance which can be corrected with a lip lift procedure.
During the upper lip lift procedure, excess skin is removed in the upper lip area to shorten its vertical length. The incision is often hidden just below the nose and can be contoured to the nose as well. Lip lifting requires some tailoring of the procedure for each individual and the incision placement is often customized to achieve the lip lift required for optimal aesthetic results. Once the excess amount of skin is removed, the upper lip is lifted by suturing the cut edges together. It is important to close the incision in layers – meaning it is vital that sutures are placed deep underneath the skin to provide adequate strength for the lip to maintain proper shape. Once the deep sutures are placed, the skin edges are then meticulously aligned to make the incision as least visible as possible.
In some, a corner lip lift is often added, lifting the corners of the mouth directly to provide optimal lip balance. On occasion, fillers can make the lip lift as well as bring the upper and lower lip volume into balance.
