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What is a Lip Lift?

A lip lift is a simple but highly effective surgical procedure which shortens the distance between your nose and the red part of your upper lip. This space, also considered part of the upper lip, can be disproportionately long due to genetics or age factors, such as sagging skin. A lip lift shortens the higher part of the upper lip and beautifully unfurls the red part of the lip, which plumps it and makes its shape more appealing, attractive and aligned into the “cupid’s bow” appearance. 

While fillers and Botox can be used to lift and enhance the lips, they are limited in what they can achieve, and their main drawback is that they don’t last. The results you can achieve with filler can also be produced with a lip lift that achieves such long-lasting results, the procedure can be considered permanent.  In addition to providing many of the same results you get with fillers, a lip lift puts the upper lip in proper proportion with the rest of the mouth and facial features, giving you an appealing, attractive result.

Benefits of a Lip Lift 

The popular lip lift procedure includes a number of outstanding benefits:

  • A fuller, unfurled, attractively plump upper lip
  • Enhanced lip shape and position
  • Rejuvenated appearance in the lip and mouth area
  • An appealing smile that reveals your upper teeth attractively
  • No more “gummy smile”
  • Long-lasting results that are considered permanent
  • Short, simple procedure
  • Short, relatively easy recovery period

Am I a Candidate For a Lip Lift?

Candidates for a lip lift in Calabasas are those who are looking for a more permanent approach to enhancing their lips, and do not wish to continue having to get injectable treatments to achieve their aesthetic goals. Ideal candidates should meet the following requirements:

  • Are in good health
  • Have no serious medical conditions or blod clotting issues
  • Do not smoke
  • Have adequate distance between the upper lip and nose
  • Have an overly long distance between the upper lip and nose and/or the upper lip is very thin
  • Are ready for a permanent, surgical approach to lip enhancement

What Concerns Does a Lip Lift Resolve?

Many people have a longer upper lip area, which can elongate the face and put the feature out of balance and harmony with each other. Another common concern is a thin upper lip, caused by genetics or age, that makes a person look older or even unhappy.  The upper lip can also sag over the teeth or curl inward when you smile, either obscuring your teeth or showing a wide section of your gums (called a “gummy smile”). These issues and more are effectively addressed with a lip lift procedure:

  • The curving or rolling inward of the upper lip
  • An upper lip that sags and covers the upper teeth when you smile
  • A “gummy” smile that shows disproportionate gum tissue
  • A thin, narrow upper lip that causes you to look older or unhappy
  • Sagging and drooping of the upper lip
  • A disproportionately long distance between the upper lip and the nose
Young woman smiling gently touching her chin

Before & After

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What Should I Expect During a Lip Lift?

Before your lip lift procedure, you will have a thoughtful, detailed consultation with Dr. Tansavatdi. She will review your medical history, examine your lips and skin, discuss your aesthetic concerns, explain the procedure in detail, and design a personalized treatment plan to help you reach your aesthetic goals. 

Once your procedure begins, Dr. Tansavatdi will inject local anesthesia into the upper lip area. She will then draw marks under your nose where the incision will be made. This incision is made precisely to ensure scarring is kept at an absolute minimum. Dr. Tansavatdi will then remove a small section of skin under the nose. She will lift the remaining skin very gently upward to the base of the nose and secure it with sutures.

Tansavatdi Cosmetic & Reconstructive Surgery

Recovery

After your lip lift procedure, your upper lip will be sore and swollen for the first few days. This is usual and expected after a lip lift procedure. Keep your incision clean and apply antibacterial ointment to the area as instructed by Dr. Tansavatdi. 

Some patients find they need little time to rest and are up and about within a day. Others need a couple of days to feel up to their usual routine. Take the time you need to heal and feel comfortable moving around. You will likely feel fully recovered in about a week, but it’s important to avoid exercise or strenuous physical activity for about two weeks, as your body is still healing and there is still swelling, even if it is not apparent. 

The final results will be most visible after about two months. Any remaining swelling is gone by this point, and the healing is fully complete. You will be able to see refined facial proportions, a fuller, more plump upper lip and an appealing smile.

What Procedures Can Be Combined With a Lip Lift?

Because it’s a simple procedure, the lip lift is often combined with other procedures patients would like to have, such as rhinoplasty, a brow lift, an eyelid lift or a neck lift can also be conveniently combined with your lip lift. Dr. Tansavatdi will discuss your options during your consultation if you’d like to achieve more aesthetic goals beyond lip enhancement.

Why Choose Dr. Tansavatdi For My Lip Lift?

Dr. Kristina Tansavatdi is a fellowship-trained, double-board-certified plastic surgeon with more than 15 years of hands-on surgical experience. She provides outstanding facial rejuvenations, which include lip lifts in Calabasas. Dr. Tansavatdi’s meticulous, precise eye and practiced, artistic hand are part of the reason her results are so outstanding. She dedicates herself to her patients and their ideal outcomes, and she is honored to help them achieve their goals. Call today for a consultation.

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*The content/images on this website are not a guarantee of individual results. Individual results may vary. The information provided on this site is for general informational purposes only, and does not replace the need for a formal consultation with a plastic and reconstructive surgeon before undergoing a surgical procedure or skin care treatment.

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