Lip Lift Sydney

Lip Lift

A lip lift is a procedure that shortens the skin between the base of the nose and the upper lip. That distance, the philtral height, tends to lengthen over time, so less of the upper lip and fewer of the upper teeth show when you talk and smile. Shortening it rolls the upper lip slightly upward and outward, increasing the visible height of the pink lip, or vermilion, without adding filler or implants.

The most common technique is a subnasal lip lift, sometimes called a bullhorn lip lift, where a measured strip of skin is removed at the base of the nose. Variations include a corner lip lift, which raises the outer corners of the mouth, and a direct lip lift at the lip border. Some people are born with a long upper lip rather than developing one with age, and a lip lift addresses either situation.

A lip lift changes proportion and tooth show. It does not add volume the way dermal filler does, though the two are sometimes considered together. Dr Maryam assesses your lip and tooth show at rest and when smiling, along with nostril shape and nose to lip proportions, before recommending an approach at her Paddington rooms in Sydney.

Who it may suit

• The distance between your nose and upper lip has lengthened and the lip looks flat or thin.
• Little or none of your upper teeth shows when you smile.
• You have a naturally long upper lip and want the proportions changed structurally rather than with filler.
• You have had lip filler and want more lip height rather than more volume.
• You accept a fine scar at the base of the nose as part of the trade-off.

What the lip lift procedure involves

A lip lift can often be performed on its own under local anaesthetic, or under sedation or general anaesthetic if combined with other surgery. It usually takes under an hour.

1. Measurements are marked with you sitting upright, since lip position changes when lying down.
2. Local anaesthetic is administered and the planned strip of skin is removed, following the natural creases at the base of the nose.
3. Deeper tissue is secured to support the new lip position where required.
4. The skin is closed with fine sutures placed to keep the scar within the contour of the nose.

Recovery

Most people return to routine activity quickly, though the lip looks unsettled at first.

• Swelling of the upper lip is pronounced for the first several days and usually settles over about two to four weeks.
• Bruising, and tightness when smiling or speaking, are common early on.
• Sutures are generally removed at around five to seven days.
• The scar is pink and firm initially and typically softens and fades over six to twelve months.
• Sun protection and avoiding smoking both influence how the scar heals.

Risks and considerations

Risks include a visible, thickened or asymmetrical scar at the base of the nose, asymmetry of the lip itself, over-shortening or under-shortening, widening of the nostril base, altered sensation, stiffness of the upper lip, restricted mouth movement, infection and delayed healing. Numbness and firmness are usually temporary but can persist.

The change is permanent and not easily reversed, so planning and measurement matter. The scar is placed in the shadow of the nose but always exists, and some people scar more visibly than others. A lip lift does not treat vertical lip lines, thinness caused by volume loss alone, or changes to the lower lip.

Your consultation with Dr Maryam

A referral from a registered medical practitioner is required before cosmetic surgery in Australia, and a referral from your GP is preferred so your medical history is reviewed. A cooling-off period of at least seven days applies between your consultation and booking surgery. Patients under 18 have a three month cooling-off period and an additional assessment requirement.

Dr Maryam Seyedabadi, MBBS FRACS, AHPRA registration MED0001341746, consults at 2c Heeley Street in Paddington and operates at sites including Sydney Day Hospital, The Skin Hospital in Darlinghurst and Double Bay Day Hospital. At your appointment she measures and photographs your lip, explains the risks and the alternatives, including dermal filler and no treatment, and answers your questions before you make a decision. Fees are quoted after consultation. Call 1300 067 668 to arrange a time.