Surgical Lip Lift

The upper lip, like the rest of the body, will lengthen with age as skin elasticity declines. A long upper lip further accentuates the appearance of facial ageing. As a result, an upper lip lift is becoming a more popular procedure for reducing signs of ageing (a long upper lip) and increasing the appearance of fuller-looking lips (similar to lip fillers but without the repeat injections). If your upper teeth are always hidden beneath a long and thin upper lip, this can also be done to improve dental show.

Upper lip lifts are performed by making an incision at the base of the nose, where the incision line is carefully hidden. A small amount of skin and some of the upper lip are removed. The skin is released to allow it to re-drape nicely. After that, the skin is pulled upwards and closed in layers.

Following an upper lip lift, there is usually little to no aftercare. Normal swelling and bruising are present. Dr. Szeto will see you in 5-6 days to remove some of the tiny sutures himself. Dr. Szeto recommends that no makeup be applied to the incision for at least 48 hours after the sutures are removed.

The upper lip lift will produce noticeable results right away; however, the final lip position will be obtained after 3-6 months, when the surgical site has had time to fully mature. It will take a year for the scar beneath the nose to fully mature. All scars thicken to some extent early on, and Dr. Szeto will advise you on how to best care for your scar, such as avoiding the sun, using SPF facial moisturizer, scar gel, and scar massage.

Prior to your consent, the risks of surgery will be discussed. Dr. Szeto is always available to answer your questions and provide any further information you may have about this procedure.