Lip Lift Granite Bay, CA

A long-lasting, natural lip enhancement

The mouth is such a prominent facial feature, it’s no wonder many patients come to us eager to enhance the appearance of their lips. While many of us think solely of injectables when it comes to lip appearance changes, there are also precise surgical methods for achieving more substantial and lasting enhancements.

Many patients are most concerned about their upper lip, wishing it was more prominent, and often find fillers cannot solve the issue, as they can provide projection but not lift. This is because your upper lip’s appearance is largely determined by a groove called the philtrum that connects the bottom of the nose to the top of the lip. A longer or aging philtrum may limit how much of your upper lip is visible, making your lips appear disproportionate or simply thinner than you’d prefer.

Whether your lip woes are genetic or part of the aging process, a lip lift can be an ideal procedure to increase the upper lip’s height and apparent fullness and enhance the overall shape of the mouth for a beautifully natural aesthetic.

Benefits of a lip lift

A lip lift is a surgical procedure that can be personalized for patients of all ages. It achieves a noticeably improved upper lip appearance without the use of injections or implants. Additional lip lift benefits include:

• Enhances the shape and curvature of your upper lip
• Reveals more of your upper lip
• Completely natural look and feel
• May allow more of your teeth to show when speaking or smiling
• Helps correct asymmetry between the top and bottom lip
• May create a more balanced facial appearance
• Provides long-lasting results

Lip lift procedure

The goal of a lift lip is to shorten the length of the philtrum. Using a tiny incision along the natural crease at the base of your nose, Dr. Bray will remove a small portion of skin and reposition your philtrum and top lip higher. This adjustment reveals more of your lip, creating a naturally fuller and more youthful look.

During your consultation, Dr. Bray will explain how she can personalize your procedure to achieve the look you want. For example, some patients wish to enhance the “Cupid’s Bow” (the two points in the center of your upper lip that creates a heart or “mountain peak” shape). To achieve a more feminine look, Dr. Bray can remove the skin in such a way that the resulting lip shape appears more distinct.

Lip lift recovery

If performed alone, Dr. Bray can safely and comfortably perform your lip lift under local anesthesia to avoid the effects and longer recovery time associated with general anesthesia. A lip lift may alternatively be incorporated with a surgical facial procedure performed under general anesthesia (such as a facelift or eyelid surgery).

After surgery, your lip lift incision will be swollen for 10-14 days and, while recovery is quite easy overall and requires little actual downtime, you will have to follow some special protocols. You should avoid straining the incision (i.e. excessive chewing or exaggerated mouth movements). You will also need to sleep with your head slightly elevated during this initial healing period. After about 2 weeks, you’ll be able to resume your normal activities and can conceal your scar with makeup.

Lip lift results

Your upper lip will appear fuller and more pronounced immediately after surgery with near-final results visible once the swelling and bruising has resolved, around the 3-month mark. Although no procedure can stop the natural aging process, you’ll enjoy a refreshed, fuller lip appearance for years to come; many patients report their results have lasted for 10+ years! You can protect your results and delay the effects of aging by supporting your skin with periodic laser and non-surgical skin resurfacing treatments—as well as using physician-grade skincare, sunscreen, and protective lip balm daily.

Is a lip lift right for me?

You may be an ideal lip lift candidate if:

• You have a longer philtrum and want more of your upper lip to be visible
• You would like more of your teeth to show when talking and smiling
• Your upper lip appears wrinkled and thin due to lost volume

If a large portion of your teeth and gums already show when you speak or smile, a lip lift may not achieve the overall effect you desire, and Dr. Bray may recommend enhancing your lips with alternative treatments. All candidates should be non-smokers or willing to abstain for a certain amount of time to minimize the risk of complications and encourage long-lasting, optimal results.

Lip lift vs lip filler augmentation

Dermal fillers are a popular choice for both dramatic and subtle lip augmentation; lip filler treatment shares some similarities with a lip lift but overall is quite different:

• A lip lift is a surgical procedure while lip filler is a non-surgical in-office treatment
• Lip fillers add volume while a lip lift adjusts the structure of the upper lip without adding physical volume
• Results of a lip lift can last for years while lip fillers can last for 3-12 months
• A lip lift is performed once while lip filler requires regular touch-up appointments to maintain its effects
• A lip lift targets the upper lip; fillers can target the upper and/or lower lip.
• Fillers can be used to enhance lip lift results, allowing you to enjoy the best of both options.

Lip lift vs. Botox lip flip

Both a lip flip and a Botox lip flip shape the upper lip without adding volume. That said, they are suited towards different patients.

A Botox lip flip is best for patients who want a completely non-surgical option and will be happy with a more subtle, impermanent lip enhancement. It is performed by precisely injecting Botox into targeted locations in the upper lip, which subtly relaxes those muscles and allows the upper lip to roll upwards. This exposes more of the natural lip, making the upper lip appear slightly taller. Lip flip effects last about two months (Botox dissipates more quickly from lip muscles due to their frequent use).

In contrast, a surgical lip lift can deliver more noticeable results that last for many years. A lip lift also allows for more precise control over shaping your upper lips.

Lastly, a lip lift offers a physical lift upwards, while Botox relaxes muscles—as such, patients with lip aging concerns are often better served by a lip lift, while patients concerned with a gummy smile may benefit from a lip flip.

Choose female facial plastic surgeon Dr. Haley Bray for your lip enhancement

If you are interested in lip enhancement, Dr. Haley Bray would be happy to meet with you, discuss your goals, and help you choose the ideal procedure to create a naturally beautiful lip appearance you’ll love. Dr. Bray offers a full range of facial plastic surgery procedures to enhance your natural beauty, such as rhinoplasty, brow lift, and chin augmentation. You can reach Granite Bay Cosmetic Surgery by calling (916) 242-2662 or contact our practice online.