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The lips are an important feature of your facial appearance. It is one of the first things women address as they begin to show signs of aging in the face. They are looking for a more youthful appearance, but think they need a lip augmentation. In other words, they think that making their lips fuller will make them more attractive. However, often times, the real solution is not a lip augmentation, but a lip lift.
Most beautiful lips have these defining characteristics :
- well shaped cupid’s bow
- 1.1 cm distance between the bottom of the nose and the top of the red part of the lip
- a degree of fullness
For some reason, society has focused on the ‘fullness’ part, with a complete disregard for the other features that make beautiful lips. The result is that there are a lot of duck lips out there. I know you have seen them–Not to pick on Melanie Griffith or Goldie Hawn, but all of those fillers just made the lips stick out–ala duck lips. Why? The reason is that when the upper lip length (distance between the bottom of their nose and the top of their lips) is more than 1.5 cm (>>1.1 cm), the upper and lower lips run into each other as you bring the jaws together. Thus, with fillers the lips have no where to go but out! The real solution to their lip problem would have been to raise the upper lip. A lip lift alone can make a HUGE difference.
So–do you need a lip lift or a lip aug? The first step is to measure the distance between your upper lip and the bottom of the nose. If that distance is longer than 1.1 cm, or if you can’t see the upper teeth with the mouth slightly open, you would benefit more from a lip lift than fillers. The reason is that a lip lift would reshape the cupid’s bow, restore some fullness, and shorten the upper lip. Fillers, on the other hand, don’t shorten the upper lip, and can givve you the “duck lips” look.
I have been doing the lip lift procedure for years. It’s a wonderful procedure and I wish that more people were aware of what a difference it can make!
Ricardo L Rodriguez, MD
Board Certified Plastic Surgeon
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46 Comments
February 3, 2012 at 5:07 pm
Jessica:
Contact Kelly at kelly@cosmeticsurg.net for info on pricing, she’ll be happy to hear from you.
As far as age, how old are you? Generally, we would like patients to be above legal consent age (18-21 years old), but may consider younger patients after discussion with legal guardian.
February 3, 2012 at 9:51 am
How much is a lip lift? and is this procedure fine on young ladies?
January 8, 2012 at 4:39 pm
Julianne:
We are located in Baltimore, and we get patients from all over the US.
The procedure is done under local anesthesia, so it is very convenient to get it done with a short 24hr layover.
We’d love to hear from you!
January 8, 2012 at 3:58 pm
Melissa:
The lift can be central, or go to both sides of the cupid’s bow, that depends on the patient and what her/his goals are.
I have a bias towards doing the rhinoplasty first because sometimes the nasal surgery drops the lip a little bit.
Hope to see you soon!
January 8, 2012 at 3:05 am
I am interested in the lip lift. Can you tell me where you’re located
Thank you Julianne
December 31, 2011 at 2:32 am
Hi Dr. Rodriguez,
Can you tell me if the lip is lifted only in the center or is it lifted on both sides of the cupid’s bow during this procedure?
Also, I’m considering a Rhinoplasty as well. I understand I cannot have both procedures done at the same time- which would you reccomend having first?
Thanks!
Melissa
October 30, 2011 at 2:09 pm
Paris:
You can read this post for a technical description of the procedure.
The upper lip skin is not attached to the skin of the nose. The skin’s deep layer is attached to the bone membrane to take the stress and pull of the lip. The nose is not distorted with my procedure. Also, because the skin is not taking the load, the scar is very thin and almost invisible.
Contact Kelly at kelly@cosmeticsurg.net, she’ll give you more info, furthermore, she has had the procedure herself and can give you a patient’s perspective.
October 8, 2011 at 6:44 am
Doctor Rodrigues,
I would like to ask you: if you short the lip upper skin only, how the lifted skin may bear the weight of the lip then?
Does the tighten skin may pull down the nostrils immideately after the surgery, or later? That’s what scares me a lot.
June 26, 2011 at 9:33 pm
Meadow:
Thanks for your inquiry.
Yes, in your case I think it is best to set up a virtual consult to decide what is best for you. I will need to see pictures from various angles.
Contact Kelly at kelly@cosmeticsurg.net, she will get you all the details so we can talk.
I’m looking forward to hearing from you.
June 26, 2011 at 9:18 pm
Sandra:
Contact number is 410 494-8100
You can email Kelly at kelly@cosmeticsurg.net, she’ll be more than happy to help.
I love doing the procedure and will be very happy to help in whichever way I can!
June 25, 2011 at 4:03 am
i am looking for a cotact number for dr. rodriguez. i am definately a candidate for a lip life and would like your office to contact me. thanks
June 17, 2011 at 12:29 pm
Hello Doctor I wanna have this procedure done but have some concerns. when my lip are at rest i see only the bottom part of my top teeth. I think i would benefit from this surgery but my nose is a short nose and you can see the base of my nose from a foward view. you say when you make the incision on the bottom of the nose will hide the scar I dont think my kinda nose would hide the scar because my nose sits up. What can you recomend that i could do to make this surgery possible for me a person with a short nose. oh and if i have sorta full lips will a lip lift make my lips look too big. you think a lip reduction as well as a lip lift would be beneficiary in my case. Oh and i would love to do a virtual consultation if possible that would be the best so i can get a idea of what if anything you can offer me Thanks doctor for your time.
February 24, 2011 at 12:25 pm
Thanks!
February 24, 2011 at 11:02 am
Sima:
To start out, everybody has some degree of asymmetry in every part of the body you look at. So it stands to reason there will be a small amount of asymmetry after surgery. The amount of lip to be excised is calculated very carefully and when done correctly the asymmetry can sometimes be even less than there was before surgery.
As far as speech impediments, I guess it could be possible, but I have never encountered it. If a person is a singer or depends on exact enunciation I warn them it may take some adjustment after surgery.
The procedure is done under local anesthesia, but you may be done with sedation if you want.
February 19, 2011 at 8:22 am
Thank you so very much for taking the time to reply. You are an absolute love. I will let you know what I decide to do.
February 11, 2011 at 12:20 pm
Thanks Dr. Rodgriguez! One more question…I have heard that a possible complication may be asymmetry or a speech impediment resulting from a complication…Have you experienced this? If so, how often? Also, is this done under local anesthesia or general?
February 11, 2011 at 10:38 am
Sima:
Down time is minimal, basically you can work the next day from home. The week is time enough for the swelling to go down so people won’t know you just had surgery.
Looking forward to seeing you!
February 11, 2011 at 10:28 am
Stephanie:
I have had several patients from the UK. They usually do the surgery combined with a holiday trip as the surgery is done under local anesthesia and easily tolerated so it won’t interfere with other activities.
In your particular case, I would hesitate to make recommendations without seeing pictures of your face. If you are interested in a specific evaluation, you can contact Kelly at kelly@cosmeticsurg.net and she can arrange for a Skype consultation.
I will say that if the fixation sutures are done from the underside of the skin to the cartilage of the nose, there will NOT be a distortion of the nose. I have done more than a hundred of these and I can assure you of that.
I hope this helps.
February 3, 2011 at 4:31 pm
Hi Dr Rodgriguez…I have an appt scheduled with you in early March for a consultation for the lip lift procedure. I am very excited to meet with you and very nervous at the same time. What is the down time like? Can a person resume work in about a week?
February 2, 2011 at 7:20 am
Dear Dr Rodriguez,
I have been researching lip lifts for a few months now having gone through exactly the process you describe. First, around two years ago, I realised something was happening to my lips (I’m 44 and must’ve always had a long lip that maybe just showed, say, a millimetre of tooth, or so) so had some filler around the lip line. This made the lips look nice (they’re a pleasant shape, If i may say so myself, and not thin) but as you point out, that was not really the problem. So, I need a lip lift. The trouble is, I’m rather concerned about distorting the base and nostrils and in between part ( can’t remember the name) of my nose as notice this is mentioned a lot on forums as an area that sometimes alters ‘collaterally’. I have a short, quite upturned nose with largish nostrils (gosh, I sound gorgeous don’t I!) so I really can’t handle any more upturn or distortion of the nostrils and the scars would be more noticeable. I do see that the benefits of a lip lift would be well worth a little scarring. A local surgeon ( I’m English and live in London, England) suggested to me that I’d be best to lose 5mm of skin, still leaving me with quite a long lip as it is currently 20mm (Horrible), but this seems to suit my face. I’d really appreciate your input. such a shame that you’re so far away – I would definitely come to you, otherwise.
Warm regards, Stephanie
November 7, 2010 at 11:18 am
Lyn:
I don’t like cutting muscles or folding them or whatever. The most I will ever do is release it from its insertions so it can reattach later at a more favorable position.
Lyn, thanks for blessing me, that was a sweet touch. God bless you too.
November 7, 2010 at 11:15 am
Lyn:
It is not whether fat is strong or not, rather if it will take. Fat grafts don’t take well in tight areas, but there are ways of loosening up the tissues in there.
There are many ways to approach this problem, and the best way to address it is with a pictures, conversation, etc.
Call Kelly at 410 494-8100, she’d love to hear from you.
November 1, 2010 at 11:47 pm
and one more question if you dont mind… do you fold the muscle over or cut it in the process?
thx and God bless you for your kindness in answering these questions!!
November 1, 2010 at 11:42 pm
Hi, i am considering you for several surgeries that im currently contemplating its hard to find one dr that specializes in *EVERYTHING*…LOL. But so far as my lip lift is concerned my question is this…i had a previous “open” rhinoplasty which left me unnaturally dented *in at the bottom of my nose(where the “columna” meets the lip). Do you think fat is strong enough to fill out that area to make a curve there in stead of a square dent?
October 22, 2010 at 8:07 pm
my lower lip kind of hangs down, and my upper lip is smaller, i know jaw surgry would correct it but would a lip lift evn out my lips? i have trouble talking and i sucked my fingers till i was 13 yrs old, but its not real ba like some. thank you
October 10, 2010 at 9:11 pm
Vanessa:
Not having seen you, there are a couple things your surgeon should know, for example, your facial proportions.
That is what will determine whether you need to lengthen your nose, or shorten your lip, or both.
Also, you have to decide what is more important to you, the appearance of the nose or the lip?
September 24, 2010 at 11:52 pm
I have a special case. My nose is quite short but my upper lip long. My lips are already full and fleshy and if I relax my mouth my teeth show. Is my best bet to lengthen the nose or to lift the upper lip or both. Also my nose is upturn so I am concern the scar would show or not heal right. Nose is 4.5cm, upper lip 1.5cm.
June 19, 2010 at 1:32 pm
Natasha:
I would recommend doing the procedure either well before or well after the rhinoplasty if the rhinoplasty is an external rhinoplasty.
The reason is that in an external rhinoplasty there is a small incision in the columella, very near where the lip incision is.
As far as making a judgement in your individual case, you can contact Kelly (kelly@cosmeticsurg.net) if you are interested in a virtual consultation.
June 17, 2010 at 2:17 am
Hey again Dr. Rodriguez, I’ve looked at this particular blog entry you have several times. It’s really hard for me to tell whether a lip lift would benefit me or not. I think my upper lip height is just at that 1.5 cm line, and when I open my mouth slightly you can see just very little of my top teeth. However, I have fairly small teeth, so that might or might not be taken into consideration. I plan on having rhinoplasty, as I’ve told you. Would you recommend having this procedure done simultaneously or after the nose job? Also, can I e-mail you a picture for you to evaluate whether a lip lift would benefit me? Thanks so much.
-Natasha
April 16, 2010 at 9:16 pm
Lyn:
THANX!!!!!!!!
April 15, 2010 at 4:17 pm
I just want to say Thank you again Dr. Rodriquez for doing an excellent upper lip lift on me. If anyone wants one done, you don’t need to look any further. I did my homework for 1 year looking for someone I can trust and go back to. He did a great job. I didn’t feel a thing. He’s very confident in upper lip lifts. If you want to talk to me I have before and after pictures. you could e-mail me with any questions. You are in good hands with the best Plastic Surgeon for Upper Lip lifts. No more injections into my lips. Go for it.
April 9, 2010 at 1:26 am
absolutely, waaaay big bang for your buck. it has really given me a more youthful look and i haven’t had to use any filler at all. fillers over time cost sooo much more than a lip lift especially when you all you need is a one time lip lift. the scar is imperceptible, i find yellow cover stick works wonders on it and then just a light pat of translucent powder to set it and you’re done. i forgot to say that during recovery, you should try and keep your mouth slightly open at all times to put the least amount of stress on the stitches and then still for at least another couple of weeks after the stitches are out…and forget about flossing for at least a couple of days but brushing is surprisingly easy so just eat food that doesn’t get stuck between your teeth. i just had this done a couple of months ago and two of my girlfriends have made appointments to get theirs done, they were blown away by how natural it looks. i don’t know why i took so long to do this.
April 8, 2010 at 10:56 am
Patricia:
I’m so happy for you! Isn’t it great! I love the lip lift, and I think it is the greatest bang for the buck as far as transforming a person’s look.
Spread the word about the video, help others get what they need.
Thanks for the feedback and enjoy your new look!
April 8, 2010 at 4:12 am
believe me, lip lifts are the way to go. i’m so glad i saw this video with the measurement part, it really assured me of my measurements. my nose to lip was 16 mm long and the top lip sat on top of my bottom lip and made it look like i had filler in it…sort of trout mouth, not very cute. my doctor took 5 mm out which i thought would look really dramatic but it wasn’t…it looks completely natural, soft, pretty and you can see bit of my top teeth when my mouth is open. i absolutely love it and i am thrilled it is available. during recovery, talk as little as possible, cut all of your food into tiny pieces and do EXACTLY WHAT THE DOCTOR TELLS YOU!!! the realistic downtime is 2 weeks off if you have a chatty job, you will spend the first week napping and watching tv, enjoy it, you will end up really loving this procedure.
March 28, 2010 at 10:29 am
Faye:
Glad you loved the video.
Please pass it on!
March 28, 2010 at 10:28 am
Faye:
Sorry I took so long to answer, I was working on a grant for stem cell therapy.
From what you are telling me, I would go for a bull horn scar. There are few, if any, indications for the gullwing scar. It is always visible and unnatural looking.
We would love to hear from you, write an email to Kelly at kelly@cosmeticsurg.net
March 21, 2010 at 2:47 pm
I really love your video! I was so happy to chance upon it!
March 21, 2010 at 2:46 pm
Hi, I’m 23 with duck lips. when I open my mouth, I dont see any teeth at all. I have to smile really wide to show my teeth. I was wondering which type of lip lift suit me more? bull horn or gull wing? and will there be visible scars?
February 5, 2010 at 2:42 pm
Dear Fay:
The distance is not as important as the appearance.
If your teeth show, you can probably do a filler safely without worrying about duck lips.
What the lip lift can do is shape the shape of your upper lip border.
I can’t tell what is right for you without seeing pictures, but from what you are saying, both options could give you satisfactory results.
Let us know how it turns out!
January 31, 2010 at 11:33 am
Hello,
My name is Fay and I just stumbled across your video. I’ve been wanting to use filler for my lips for quite some time, then this idea of lip lift came along. My teeth do show when I leave my mouth open so I assumed according to what you said that the lip filler would work well on me. Then I realized that the distance between my bottom nose and the red part of my lips is 1.5 cm, which is quite long? But my teeth are still showing. What would you suggest in such a case?
Thank you for your time.
Sincerely,
Fay Kazzi
November 12, 2009 at 2:32 pm
Kasey:
Without seeing your picture, it is hard to say what would be best for you. But from what you say, I would only do a modified lift. Perhaps take a little less from the central part, and elevate more on the sides.
In any case, for the lower lips, I like fillers a lot.
November 12, 2009 at 11:34 am
Hi there, in regards to your video about lip lifts, you state that fillers would be more suitable for people who are able to see there two front teeth when mouth is slightly opened. I can see my two front teeth but i have already tried fillers and they seem to make my top lip look like a trout. basically i just want my lip a bit closer to my nose and give it a puffy look but at the same time the bottom of my top lip to stay in line as how it initially was, if i go ahead with the procedure will it make my top lip look to high up showing to much of my teeth.
and also is there any way to make bottom lips larger.
thanks heaps
October 27, 2009 at 11:16 am
Lisa:
The lip lift does not lift the corners of the mouth. There are 3 choices for the corner of the mouth. One is a small incision at the corner of the mouth, which is at the lip border.
The other is a procedure called the Depressor Anguli Oris Release, with an incision inside the mouth, where the muscle that depresses the corner of the mouth is separated.
The third is Botox to the corner of the mouth. I like doing Botox first, and if the patient likes it, then proceed to the DAO release.
Follow up is usually at 1 week, just for a look-see, because there are only internal stitches. Many patients come from out of town and leave the next day.
Contact Kelly at kelly@cosmeticsurg.net for pricing info.
Have a Good day!
October 27, 2009 at 10:56 am
Contact Kelly at kelly@cosmeticsurg.net, she can help you out with pricing info.
Have a good day!
October 23, 2009 at 11:57 pm
I saw this youtube about lip lift and I would like to know if it can also lift up the corners of the lip. How much does it cost and what follow up is required? What kind of time is involved? I come to Bethesda about once a year to visit NIH with my daughter. Thank you!
October 22, 2009 at 6:01 pm
How much it cost in Lip Lifts?