An upper lip lift, also known as upper lip shortening, is targeted to patients who are unhappy with the length of their upper lip area. Typically done under local anesthesia in less than an hour, the operation shortens the space between the bottom of the nose and the top of the lips- the philtrum, by carving out a bullhorn-shaped strip of skin just below the nostrils. If the upper lip is excessively long, it can drape over the dentition to the point where even smiling will not allow sufficient visibility of the teeth.

Gravity, changes in the facial skeleton and ligament laxity can all lengthen the distance between the upper lip and the base of the nose, making you appear older than you really are. While age is the leading cause of a longer upper lip, some people are simply born with one.

What Can I Expect Afterwards?

You won't be on the sidelines for long. Stitches remain in place for a week; then the scar will heal and fade within a year. You may need one to two weeks off from your social calendar, but any scarring can be covered with foundation within two weeks of your operation.