Lip Lift
A lip lift enhances perioral aesthetics by shortening the distance between the upper lip and nose.
What is a Lip Lift?
A lip lift enhances the shape and proportion of the upper lip by shortening the distance between the nose and the red lip, increasing upper tooth show, and creating a more youthful, defined appearance. This procedure benefits both younger patients with naturally long or thin upper lips and older individuals experiencing age-related elongation, thinning, and volume loss. Unlike temporary fillers, a lip lift provides structural enhancement, creating lasting balance and proportion between the lips, nose, and chin. When performed with expert precision, a lip lift enhances one of the most expressive areas of the face, restoring youthful vibrancy while maintaining natural harmony with your unique features.
What concerns does a lip lift address?
- Thin lips
- Deflated lips
- Shorter upper lip
- Down-turned lip corner
- Correction of age-related lip changes
The Dr. Azizzadeh Difference
As a renowned speaker at national and international conferences and the lead editor of Master Techniques in Facial Rejuvenation, Dr. Azizzadeh is the foremost authority in advanced facial rejuvenation, lip enhancement, and aesthetics. With decades of experience in lip lifts, fillers, deep plane facelifts, facial reanimation, and humanitarian work with cleft lip patients, he has redefined the lips as a central element of beauty and facial harmony for patients of all ages.
Dr. Azizzadeh’s approach seamlessly integrates the lips with surrounding facial structures—teeth, cheeks, buccal fat pads, chin, and nose—while addressing volume loss, tissue laxity, and lip quality. He emphasizes that true aesthetic success lies in holistic harmony, where even well-shaped lips require balance with the entire face. As the pioneer behind the seminal “Facial Anatomic Subunit Analysis,” Dr. Azizzadeh’s unparalleled expertise delivers transformative results that enhance beauty while preserving natural expression, solidifying his reputation as a trusted leader.
Dr. A's Insider Tips
“Excessive or poorly executed lip filler treatments often result in an unnatural “duck lips” or an overfilled look. This trend, known as “filler fatigue,” arises when repeated filler use diminishes aesthetic returns.“
Lip Lift
Non-Surgical Alternatives
By shortening the upper lip, a lip lift achieves results that non-surgical treatments cannot replicate. However, non-surgical options can enhance the lips for those not ready for surgery or complement surgical outcomes when applied thoughtfully. These include:
Lip Flip with Botox® or Daxxify™
A small dose of neuromodulator relaxes the upper lip muscle, causing the lip to gently roll outward, enhancing its natural shape.
Hyaluronic Acid Fillers
Products like Restylane®, Juvéderm®, and RHA® add volume, define the border, and soften lines, offering immediate results with minimal downtime.
Laser Resurfacing
Fractional laser treatments can smooth fine lines around the lips, improving texture and enhancing the overall perioral area.
While these treatments offer flexibility and subtle enhancement, they cannot replicate the structural benefits of a surgical lip lift. The most natural, balanced results come from selecting an injector or surgeon with deep expertise in lip anatomy and a refined aesthetic approach.
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FAQ
It’s normal to have questions before a procedure. If you have additional questions or concerns, book a consultation today.
Yes, a lip lift can be combined with facelift surgery – and often needs to be – to achieve comprehensive facial rejuvenation. While a deep plane facelift addresses the face and neck, improving sagging skin and contour, a lip lift enhances the upper lip and perioral area. Combining these procedures can create a more balanced, youthful appearance by addressing multiple areas of concern simultaneously. Synchronizing the recovery periods for both surgeries may also reduce overall downtime. It’s important to consult your plastic surgeon, who can assess your unique needs and determine if this combination is the right approach for your goals.
A lip lift is an excellent option for enhancing the upper lip, offering long-lasting results by shortening the distance between the lip and nose for a more defined, youthful appearance. Unlike fillers, which temporarily add volume, a lip lift provides structural improvement, particularly for those with a long upper lip or limited tooth show.
That said, some patients may benefit from combining a lip lift with non-surgical treatments like dermal fillers or a Botox® lip flip for a more tailored result. Fillers can add volume and enhance definition, but over-reliance on them can lead to an overfilled or unnatural look, especially if surgery might be the better solution.
For those not ready for surgery, non-surgical options are a great starting point—but it’s essential to work with an experienced injector who focuses on balanced, natural enhancements to avoid over-injection and maintain harmony with your facial features
Lip lift procedures are generally safe but, like any surgery, carry potential risks and complications. These may include scarring, asymmetry, infection, overcorrection or under correction, and temporary or permanent changes in sensation near the incision. In rare cases, patients may experience difficulty with certain facial expressions or an inability to fully close the mouth. Other risks include allergic reactions to surgical materials, bleeding, poor wound healing, prolonged tightness, smile irregularities, or speech challenges.
One specific complication of a poorly executed lip lift is the “Joker” or “Grinch” smile, where the central portion of the lip is disproportionately elevated compared to the corners. This imbalance occurs when the outer portions of the lip are left in their original position, disrupting the natural harmony of the lips and resulting in an artificial or exaggerated appearance. To avoid such issues, it is crucial to lift both the central and outer portions of the lip in proper proportions. A skilled surgeon must thoroughly evaluate the patient’s anatomy and customize the procedure to complement their unique lip structure. This tailored approach ensures a balanced and natural result that enhances the overall facial aesthetics.
A successful lip lift depends on your surgeon’s expertise, precise technique, and aesthetic understanding, combined with open communication and realistic goal-setting. With careful planning and execution, the procedure can achieve a refined, harmonious outcome that meets the patient’s expectations.
There are several types of lip lift procedures, each offering unique benefits, and the most skilled surgeons, like Dr. Babak Azizzadeh, tailor the technique to your specific anatomy and aesthetic goals. A one-size-fits-all approach simply doesn’t work—achieving optimal results requires careful customization. Depending on the individual, the surgery may involve skin only, or both skin and muscle, with precise adjustments to ensure a natural and harmonious outcome.
Cosmetic dentistry and lip aesthetics go hand in hand, forming a powerful synergy to enhance your overall facial beauty and youthfulness. A radiant smile isn’t just about your teeth—it’s about how your teeth harmonize with the surrounding soft tissues, especially your lips. When cosmetic dental procedures like veneers, whitening, or full-mouth reconstruction are combined with lip enhancements such as a lip lift or carefully applied fillers, the results can be transformative.
By integrating these treatments, we can take a comprehensive approach to facial rejuvenation. Teeth whitening and veneers brighten and reshape your smile, while lip fillers restore lost volume, smooth vertical lines, and enhance lip contours. Together, they address multiple aspects of aging, creating a more balanced, youthful, and natural appearance. Additionally, dental work like orthodontics or implants can redefine facial structure, and pairing it with lip enhancements ensures all facial features are in harmony. This holistic approach doesn’t just elevate your appearance—it can also boost your confidence and enhance your quality of life.
There is no universally “ideal” age for lip lift surgery, as the procedure can benefit individuals across a broad age range. Many patients in their 40s, 50s, and 60s undergo lip lifts to address age-related changes, such as an elongated upper lip or diminished lip volume. However, younger individuals in their 20s and 30s may also be excellent candidates, particularly if they have naturally long upper lips or seek to enhance their lip aesthetics.
The decision to undergo a lip lift is deeply personal and depends on factors like facial anatomy, aesthetic goals, and overall health, rather than age alone. Younger patients may choose the procedure to address genetic predispositions for thinner lips, while older individuals often seek it to restore a youthful appearance. It’s worth noting that younger patients may have a slightly higher risk of scarring due to increased stromal-cell-derived factor 1 (SDF-1) production, though skilled surgeons can employ advanced techniques to minimize this risk.
Ultimately, the best time for a lip lift is when the individual feels confident in their decision and the procedure aligns with their aesthetic goals, regardless of their chronological age. A consultation with an experienced surgeon ensures the approach is tailored to each patient’s unique needs and expectations.
Lip augmentation with fillers, fat grafting, and lip lift surgery offers distinct approaches to enhancing the lips, each tailored to specific aesthetic goals and patient needs. While fillers and fat grafting primarily focus on increasing lip volume, a lip lift addresses structural concerns. This surgical procedure shortens the distance between the upper lip and nose, increases the vertical height of the red lip, and exposes more of the upper teeth—hallmarks of a youthful, balanced, and attractive appearance.
Fillers, such as Restylane®, Juvéderm®, and the RHA® Collection, are quick, in-office treatments that enhance lip volume and shape with minimal downtime. They provide precise, customizable results and are ideal for younger patients seeking temporary enhancements. In contrast, fat grafting is a minimally invasive surgical option that transfers the patient’s own fat—usually harvested from the abdomen or thighs—to achieve fuller, more voluminous lips. While fat grafting offers the advantage of using natural tissue and potentially longer-lasting results compared to synthetic fillers, it has limitations. The procedure is more invasive, with recovery often involving swelling and bruising for 10 to 14 days. Additionally, fat grafting may result in color mismatch, as the yellowish hue of fat tissue does not always blend seamlessly with the reddish-pink lip mucosa. This can lead to visible irregularities and a less natural appearance. Fat grafting also offers less precision than fillers, making it difficult to achieve subtle contouring, and the body’s potential to reabsorb some of the transferred fat can result in unpredictable outcomes, asymmetry, or lumps.
Dr. Babak Azizzadeh employs fat grafting judiciously, particularly in patients undergoing deep plane facelifts with fat grafting. For individuals who are not candidates for a lip lift due to anatomical factors or personal preferences, fat grafting may be used as an alternative to enhance lip volume. However, Dr. Azizzadeh emphasizes careful patient selection and meticulous technique to minimize risks and achieve natural, harmonious results.
The type of anesthesia used for a lip lift procedure depends on whether it is performed alone or in combination with other facial surgeries. For standalone lip lift procedures, local anesthesia is typically used to numb the area around the mouth while the patient remains awake. This approach is safe, effective, and well-tolerated by most patients.
When a lip lift is combined with more comprehensive procedures, such as a deep plane facelift or eyelid surgery, intravenous (IV) sedation or general anesthesia may be employed. These options provide enhanced comfort and optimal surgical conditions for more complex cases. The choice of anesthesia is influenced by the procedure’s complexity, the surgeon’s preference, and the patient’s unique needs and health considerations. A thorough consultation ensures that the anesthesia plan aligns with the patient’s safety and comfort.
Combining a lip lift with rhinoplasty is possible, but its safety and suitability depend on several factors. Traditionally, endonasal rhinoplasty has been considered safer when performed alongside a lip lift due to its less invasive nature and minimal impact on the blood supply. However, recent studies suggest that open rhinoplasty can also be safely combined with a lip lift in select cases, particularly for primary rhinoplasty patients without prior surgeries or trauma in the oronasal region. This makes the combination a viable and effective option in appropriate circumstances.
Despite these advancements, caution is essential in specific situations. For revision rhinoplasty cases, combining the procedures is generally discouraged unless an endonasal approach is used, as the blood supply may already be compromised from previous surgeries. Similarly, patients with prior alar base modifications or a poor soft tissue envelope (SSTE) should consider postponing the combination to minimize risks. In higher-risk cases, post-operative hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBO) may be recommended to enhance healing and reduce complications.
Ultimately, the decision to combine a lip lift with rhinoplasty should be highly individualized. Factors such as the patient’s anatomy, surgical history, and overall health, along with the surgeon’s expertise, play a critical role in determining the safest and most effective approach.
Preparation
For the best results and swiftest recovery, we recommend the following leading up to your procedure.
Preparation for a lip lift is critical to achieving optimal results and ensuring a smooth recovery. Each patient’s preparation plan is customized based on your unique needs and health history, so consulting with Dr. Azizzadeh and his team is essential for personalized guidance.
Discontinue smoking, vaping, and any nicotine products, as they can impair healing and compromise your surgical results. Maintain a healthy lifestyle with a balanced diet, hydration, and regular exercise to optimize your overall health. If you have had recent non-surgical treatments, such as dermal fillers or botulinum toxin injections, discuss these with Dr. Azizzadeh to ensure there are no interactions or residual effects that could interfere with your lip lift procedure. Dr. Azizzadeh sometimes recommends dissolving your previously placed HA fillers before the lip lift procedure. Plan time off work, arrange for post-operative care and ensure you have any supplies needed for recovery.
If your lip lift is performed under local anesthesia, you may not require any testing before surgery. Otherwise, you need to complete any necessary pre-operative tests, such as blood work or an EKG, if required. Discontinue aspirin, anti-inflammatory medications, and certain herbal supplements to minimize the risk of bleeding during and after surgery. Take care of any personal grooming, such as waxing or facial treatments, as these may be restricted during the recovery period.
Attend a pre-operative consultation with Dr. Azizzadeh to finalize your surgical plan and discuss expected outcomes and risks. This is the time to ask any lingering questions and review the detailed instructions for pre-and post-operative care. Stock up on post-operative supplies, including prescribed medications, cold compresses, and comfortable pillows. Arrange for a responsible adult to drive you home and assist you during the first 24-72 hours post-surgery.
If general anesthesia is being used, avoid eating or drinking after midnight. For local anesthesia cases, follow the specific dietary guidelines provided. On the morning of the procedure, shower with antibacterial soap (if instructed), avoid makeup or skincare products and wear loose-fitting clothing that zips or buttons in the front. Arrive at the surgical facility as scheduled, and prepare for a positive experience.
Recovery
Recovery from a lip lift is generally straightforward but requires attention to detail for the best outcomes.
Swelling and bruising are most noticeable during the initial recovery phase. In the first week or two after a lip lift, the lips will appear significantly fuller, and the nasal alar base will look wider than the final results due to post-operative swelling and edema. This temporary swelling occurs as part of the body’s natural healing response, including lymphatic fluid buildup and localized inflammation in the surgical area. The swelling gradually subsides as the lymphatic system clears the excess fluid, revealing more refined and balanced results over the following weeks. Tightness and numbness in the upper lip area are common and will gradually subside. Rest is crucial, but light activity, such as short walks, can promote circulation and healing. Keep your head elevated while resting or sleeping to reduce swelling, and avoid strenuous activities. Most patients can resume light daily tasks toward the end of this period.
By this phase, swelling and bruising will significantly diminish, and the incision line will begin to fade. While you may still notice some redness at the incision site, makeup can typically be used to conceal it. You may return to more regular activities, including social events, but continue to avoid strenuous exercise or direct manipulation of the lip area.
The upper lip will soften, and its shape will settle into its final contour. Any residual swelling or tightness will resolve, and the scar will continue to fade. Dr. Azizzadeh may recommend scar management strategies, such as silicone gels or laser treatments, to optimize scar healing and appearance.
Full healing and maturation of the incision typically take up to a year, resulting in a well-concealed, nearly invisible scar. The enhanced proportions of your upper lip will integrate naturally with your facial features, providing long-lasting results.
Pain Management: Pain following a lip lift is typically mild and manageable. Avoid ibuprofen and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), as they can increase the risk of bleeding and bruising. If you experience severe pain, contact your surgeon immediately for further evaluation.
Medications and Supplements: To promote optimal healing and minimize complications, avoid blood thinners and certain medications for two weeks before and after surgery. These include aspirin, NSAIDs (e.g., ibuprofen, Advil, Naprosyn), fish oil, herbal supplements, and certain vitamins. Additionally, refrain from smoking, vaping, nicotine products, cannabis/marijuana, and illicit drugs during this period, as these can impair healing and increase the risk of complications.
Swelling and Bruising: In the first 72 hours after your lip lift, use cold compresses for 20 minutes per hour while awake to minimize swelling and bruising. After this period, transition to warm compresses applied for 20 minutes, three times daily, to help resolve bruising and promote healing. Arnica and bromelain supplements may also be recommended to reduce inflammation and bruising. Steroids may be provided during surgery or post-operatively to control swelling if necessary.
Diet and Hydration: Stick to soft, easy-to-eat foods during the first few days to minimize strain on the incision area. Avoid spicy or hard foods that could irritate the surgical site. Stay well-hydrated throughout recovery, as this supports healing and overall comfort. If you experience nausea after anesthesia (if applicable), medications like Ondansetron (Zofran®) may be prescribed to alleviate symptoms. Clear liquids and bland foods such as broth or plain crackers are recommended until your stomach settles.
Incision Care: Incisions from a lip lift are typically small and placed discreetly at the base of the nose. Keep the incision site clean and dry, and follow your surgeon’s instructions for applying antibiotic ointment if recommended. Stitches are usually dissolvable or removed within 5-7 days. Avoid applying makeup or skincare products near the incision until fully healed.
Swelling Management and Post-Surgical Support: Swelling is expected in the first few weeks but will gradually subside over time. Elevating your head while sleeping can help reduce swelling. If combined with other procedures, additional post-operative care such as staying at a recovery center or incorporating hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) may enhance healing by increasing oxygen delivery to tissues, reducing inflammation, and minimizing scarring.
Post-Surgery Warning Signs: Monitor your recovery closely and report any concerning symptoms to your surgeon. These include sudden or severe swelling, intense pain unrelieved by medication, signs of infection such as fever, redness, warmth, or drainage from the incision site, or any changes in sensation around the lips. Prompt communication with your healthcare provider is essential for addressing complications early and ensuring a smooth recovery process.
Post-Surgery Warning signs: After a liplift procedure, it is essential to monitor your recovery closely and contact your doctor if you experience any concerning symptoms. Warning signs include sudden or severe swelling, bruising that worsens instead of improving, intense pain unrelieved by prescribed medications, or any signs of infection such as fever, redness, warmth, or drainage at the incision site. Additionally, difficulty breathing, chest pain, or numbness or weakness in the face or neck should be reported immediately, as these may indicate complications. Prompt communication with your healthcare provider can ensure timely intervention and a smooth recovery process.
Healing can vary from person to person, and some individuals may experience a longer recovery period.