Real patient results Book a consultation Read our FAQs
Woollahra Sydney . Wollongong NSW
A long upper lip or philtrum is a sign of ageing and can prevent your upper teeth from showing. While some people are born with pursed or thin lips, lips can also roll in as we age, as the tissue and skin above the lips become more lax.
Plastic Surgeons Dr Jeremy Hunt and Dr Maryam Seyedabadi perform Upper Lip Lift Surgery for their patients in Sydney and Wollongong, New South Wales.
They can use different Lip Surgery techniques customised to your needs, including the subnasal Bullhorn Lip Lift, Central Lip Lift, Corner Lip Lift, and Direct Lip Lift.
What Is an Upper Lip Lift?
An Upper Lip Lift is a cosmetic surgical procedure that aims to make the lips larger in appearance. The key indicator for the surgeon lies in shortening the distance between the base of the nose and the border of the upper lip (cupid’s bow). This area under the nose is called the philtrum. By shortening the philtrum and pulling the upper lip upward, more “pink” will roll outward. This pink part of the lips is called the vermillion.
Different Types of Lip Lift
There are several types of Lip Lifts to choose from:
- Direct Lip Lift
- Subnasal bullhorn Lift
- Corner Lip Lift
- Italian Lip Lift
- Central Lip Lift
Your plastic surgeon will help you choose the optimal Lip Lift Surgery for your cosmetic goals. The procedure can treat lip volume and signs of ageing around the mouth.
Why Patients Might Consider Lip Lift Surgery
Lip Lift is a one-day cosmetic procedure that Dr Hunt performs. There are many reasons why a patient might choose to undergo Lip Lift Surgery, including:
- Results are regarded as permanent
- A subtle way to lift the lips – no foreign material injections
- Aims to improve the proportions of the face – shortening the philtrum and augmenting the upper lip
- Aims to improve the mouth shape at rest – more “pink” showing, slight space between lips
- Broadening the smile
- It takes under 30 minutes to perform
- It can be done under local anaesthesia
- Has a recovery period of 2 to 3 weeks
Lip Lift Surgery doesn’t just create the appearance of larger lips. Your overall facial appearance depends on the proportion of different facial structures. When the space between the nose and lip (philtrum) is too large, it can affect your facial proportions.
Our surgeons aim to reduce the philtrum and augment the lips to be proportionate with the rest of the face.
Who Is a Good Candidate for the Lip Lift Surgery?
A Lip Lift is a cosmetic procedure and can be suitable for both younger and older patients. A Lip Lift may help if:
- You have a thin upper lip – either due to genetics or early ageing
- You want to avoid getting volume treatments every few months
- Volume treatments are giving you unsatisfactory results
- You want to reduce wrinkles above your lips
- The space between the base of the nose and upper lip is more than about 1.5 cm
- You’re willing to stop smoking at least 4 weeks before and after the surgery
- You are generally in good health
There’s no one single cause for thin inverted lips. It can be a result of ageing. As we age, skin loses elasticity, and the philtrum lowers, causing the upper lip to reduce in size. Some people, on the other hand, are just born with small slender lips.
How Is Lip Lift Surgery Performed?
There are several types of Upper Lip Lift Procedures. Dr Maryam and Dr Hunt will help you choose the most appropriate surgery that suits your individual condition. In general, all the different types of Lip Lift Surgery can be done under local or general anaesthesia. They all involve an incision in the skin between the nose and upper lip. Before the incision, your surgeon will use a surgical marker to draw the surgical lines. The location, shape, and size of the lip lift incision depend on the type of Lip Lift you get:
Bullhorn
Lip Lift
Also called “Subnasal Bullhorn Lip Lift”. It involves a curved incision along the lower border of the nose. The incision resembles a Mustache or Bullhorn.
Your surgeon will precisely cut out a bullhorn-shaped piece of skin from under the nose. The lower edge of the incision is pulled up, lifting the upper lip and rolling it out. The incision is then closed with fine sutures along the base of the nose.
The Bullhorn Lip Lift is one of the most commonly performed Lip Lift techniques at our clinic in Sydney. The scar is generally well-concealed under the natural curve of the nose.
Direct
Lip Lift
Also called “Gullwing Lip Lift,” a Direct Lip Lift involves a skin incision right at the vermillion border. That’s right above the lip, instead of under the nose (as with Bullhorn Lip Lift). After cutting a thin piece of skin, your surgeon will roll the lip out and suture it in place. A Direct Lip Lift aims to create a more defined upper lip border. However, it can leave a thin scar above the lip. Nevertheless, the scar is usually only noticeable by close observation.
Corner
Lip Lift
A Corner Lip Lift, also called a “Grin Lift,” aims to address the shape of the patient’s smile.
A Corner Lip Lift involves 2 incisions, one at each corner of the mouth. Your surgeon will pull the sides upward and outward. You can combine a Corner Lip Lift with a Bullhorn or Gullwing Lip Lift depending on your desired results.
Italian
Lip Lift
An Italian Lip Lift is another option. It involves smaller incisions compared to Central and Bullhorn Lip Lifts. An Italian Lip Lift involves 2 small incisions, one under each nostril. Skin is cut out, and the lip is lifted and pulled up.
Central
Lip Lift
A Central Lip Lift is another surgical procedure to make the lips appear bigger. It involves a single incision right under the nose. It’s a smaller incision, compared to Bullhorn and Gullwing Lip Lifts. This type of Lip Lift focuses more on the middle part of the upper lip, lifting and rolling it out.
In most cases, a Lip Lift can be done in the clinic. A hospital stay may not be required. You can go back home soon after surgery.
Recovery After Upper Lip Lift Surgery
Recovery after getting an Upper Lip Lift is usually straightforward. Symptoms include slight bruising, lip swelling, pain, and numbness. The intensity will likely peak on days 2 to 3 and should then gradually start decreasing.
You can go to work 1 to 2 days after your Lip Lift Surgery. Gently resume physical activity over time. However, it’s recommended that you avoid contact sports when recovering (risk of trauma). You can eat and drink normally; however, it might be a little uncomfortable the first couple of days. Your sutures need to be removed after 5 to 7 days (unless they are dissolvable sutures). Additionally, ensure that you avoid smoking and vaping throughout recovery.
Your surgeon’s team will give you specific post-op instructions and aftercare tips after your Lip Lift procedure.
Recovery After Upper Lip Lift Surgery
Lip Fillers are an alternative option to help provide a fuller appearance of the lips. Here are some common reasons why patients choose Lip Lift over non-surgical volume treatments:
- Volume treatments are temporary – you will need fillers every 4 to 6 months to keep the desired look
- Volume treatments can be painful for some people
- Although generally safe, getting frequent volume treatments means more likelihood of complications
- Costs can build up with recurrent treatments
A Surgical Upper Lip Lift is considered a long-lasting option. It’s a procedure that you only need to undergo once.
