Lip Lift
Some people are born with naturally thin lips, while others notice their lip volume diminishing with age. Lip fillers provide a temporary method of enhancement. But not everyone wishes to go the injectable route. A lip lift offers a permanent way to broaden the upper lip, define the Cupid's bow, and highlight your smile by increasing the visibility of your upper teeth. This minimally invasive cosmetic surgical procedure involves removing a small amount of tissue between the upper lip and the bottom of the nose to broaden the upper lip and restore a crisp, elegant border.
Double-board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Paige Kennedy has the advanced training, precise technique, and eye for natural aesthetic balance needed to deliver beautiful results with this delicate procedure. Specializing exclusively in facial rejuvenation, she brings a nuanced and empathetic female perspective to planning and performing every procedure. We invite you to book a personal consultation at our boutique Breaux Bridge practice to explore your options in an honest, unhurried environment.
Increases natural tooth show, defines the Cupid's bow, and adds permanent fullness to the upper lip.
Performed as an outpatient procedure, a lip lift takes about 1 hour and can be completed comfortably under local anesthesia.
Most patients experience swelling for the first week but feel ready for social outings within ten to fourteen days.
Delivers permanent results that enhance your lower facial harmony and balance for years to come.
A lip lift is a cosmetic surgical procedure that shortens the vertical distance between the base of the nose and the upper lip, an area known as the philtrum. By removing a small strip of excess skin, the procedure gently rolls the inner lip tissue outward to reveal more of the natural pink lip border. This fine adjustment creates the illusion of fuller lips without adding synthetic volume, offering a lasting alternative to other lip augmentation procedures.
There are several lip lift techniques available, with the best method selected based on your anatomy and aesthetic goals. The subnasal lip lift, often called a bullhorn lift because of the incision shape, is the most common method, focusing on lifting the entire central portion of the lip. Other options include a central lip lift for targeted middle fullness, an Italian lip lift, which uses two smaller hidden incisions under the nostrils, or a corner lip lift to lift downturned lips at the corners of the mouth. A direct lip lift removes skin directly above the lip border, though it is usually reserved for mature patients. The overall purpose of the treatment is to restore youthful proportions to the mouth area, providing permanent results that look incredibly natural.
A lip lift is a brief and minimally invasive outpatient procedure. Dr. Kennedy most commonly uses local anesthesia to fully numb the treatment area. While general anesthesia or intravenous sedation is available if you prefer to be fully asleep, most patients choose a local anesthetic because it allows for a comfortable experience with minimal downtime.
Once the area is completely numb, the surgeon makes a small incision nestled directly in the natural crease beneath the base of your nose. Dr. Kennedy carefully removes a small strip of skin, taking care to protect the underlying muscle layer. She then precisely lifts the remaining lip tissue upward, anchoring it with microsutures hidden in the shadows of the nostrils. The entire surgery is completed in about an hour, after which your incisions are dressed, and you are free to return home to rest.
An upper lip lift addresses structural changes caused by gravity, natural aging, and genetics. Reducing the philtral distance between the upper lip and the base of the nose increases the amount of visible lip tissue, resulting in a fuller upper lip. The procedure can also be tailored to address downturned lip corners, lifting the tissue back to its ideal position to restore a bright, youthful expression. For patients whose tooth show is obscured by a long or descended upper lip, a lip lift helps reveal the small flash of upper teeth during speech and smiling.
A lip lift helps restore your smile's most natural, aesthetically balanced proportions. Rather than building volume with synthetic fillers, it modifies the structure of the upper lip to provide long-lasting rejuvenation that moves naturally with your expressions. Fillers add volume but cannot shorten a long space above the mouth, and over time, excessive filler can migrate or look heavy. This surgical alternative provides a permanent solution for fuller lips, saving you time and the need for ongoing injections to maintain fuller, more defined contours. Dr. Kennedy performs each lip lift treatment with an eye for balance and symmetry, providing a subtle but impactful enhancement that harmonizes beautifully with your other features.
Patients of any age may be good candidates for a lift, including younger patients with a naturally long or thin upper lip, as well as more mature patients seeking to address changes resulting from the natural aging process. A lip lift is an excellent fit if you want permanent fullness without relying on fillers. Candidates must be in general good health and have realistic expectations about the results. It's important to understand that a lip lift does not add volume to the lower lip. Instead, it enhances the fullness and contours of the upper lip.
The lip lift procedure is not typically a good fit for patients with a naturally short philtrum. Smoking or using nicotine impairs your skin's surface healing, which increases the risk of noticeable scarring. Patients must completely stop smoking well before and after surgery.
While the lip lift recovery period is manageable, with most patients returning to desk jobs in 7-10 days, proper aftercare is essential to protect your results. You will experience swelling and bruising around the mouth and lower nose. Discomfort is generally mild and easily managed with over-the-counter pain relievers and the gentle application of cold compresses.
During the first week, resting with your head elevated helps reduce swelling. You will need to stick to soft foods and avoid opening your mouth excessively wide to protect the fine sutures under your nose. Dr. Kennedy will remove your stitches at a follow-up visit within one week. Any residual bruising can typically be camouflaged with makeup after ten days, allowing you to return to social activities comfortably. Expect to avoid strenuous activities for two weeks post-surgery to promote optimal healing.
The final, elegant results of your cosmetic procedure will emerge as residual swelling fades over the few weeks following surgery. Patients see an immediate increase in upper lip volume, a crisper Cupid's bow, and better tooth show when they speak and smile. The results of a lip lift are permanent, meaning you can enjoy your refreshed smile for decades to come. While your lower face will continue to age naturally over time, your mouth area will maintain more youthful proportions, serving as a beautiful, long-term investment in your self-confidence.
Your smile is an incredibly personal, defining aspect of your identity, and it deserves the care of a dedicated specialist. Dr. Paige Kennedy is a facial plastic surgery specialist, ensuring an exceptionally high level of clinical expertise. As the only female facial plastic surgeon in Breaux Bridge, she pairs elite credentials with a keen eye for detail and a deeply personalized approach.
Dr. Kennedy’s background includes ten years of competitive postgraduate training at premier surgical programs in Houston, Chicago, and Austin. This rich diversity of learning experiences allows her to bring world-class technical skill back home to Acadiana. Recognized as a Castle Connolly Top Doctor, she takes a highly personalized approach to every patient, providing beautifully refreshed, natural-looking results.
During the first two weeks of your recovery process, your upper lip may feel tight or stiff due to temporary swelling, which can briefly affect your speech or smile movements. However, as the delicate tissues soften over the following weeks, your natural movement will fully return. The procedure is performed with strict attention to the underlying muscles, ensuring your expressions remain completely fluid, expressive, and authentic.
A subnasal lift places an incision directly under the base of the nose to raise the entire body of the upper lip, making it ideal for shortening a long philtral space and adding central volume. A corner lip lift utilizes tiny incisions right at the outer edges of the mouth to specifically elevate downturned lips. Dr. Kennedy often evaluates your lower face during a consultation to see if a single method or a combination of techniques will provide the best balance.
Dr. Kennedy places her microscopic incisions precisely along the natural curves and shadows at the base of the nose, which makes the eventual scar incredibly discreet. While the incision line may appear slightly pink during the first few weeks of healing, it gradually fades into a faint, practically invisible line over a few months. Following our structured scar aftercare guidelines will help ensure your skin heals smoothly and beautifully.
Yes, many patients choose to combine their lift with other treatments to achieve comprehensive facial balance during a single recovery period. It pairs beautifully with a deep plane facelift, eyelid surgery, or laser skin resurfacing to address multiple signs of aging simultaneously. Dr. Kennedy will build a tailored treatment layout based on your lifestyle, preferences, and long-term aesthetic goals.
The total lip lift cost can vary based on the specific surgical techniques used, whether the procedure is performed under local or general anesthesia, and if it is paired with multiple procedures. Because every surgical plan at our boutique practice is completely customized to your anatomy, we provide a transparent, detailed financial summary after your personal evaluation. We believe in honest communication so you can plan your investment with absolute peace of mind.
If you have a naturally long space between your nose and mouth or your upper lip rolls completely inward when you smile, temporary fillers may not give you the result you want. Fillers add volume but can make a long upper lip look heavy or projected from the side profile. A surgical lift is the gold standard for physically shortening that space and restoring a youthful, structural balance that fillers cannot replicate.
As with any surgical procedure, potential side effects include temporary swelling, minor bruising, asymmetry, or localized numbness beneath the nose. Choosing a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon who operates in accredited settings significantly minimizes these clinical risks. Dr. Kennedy utilizes precise technical methods and provides close follow-up care to prioritize your safety and ensure an optimal, beautiful healing process.
True facial harmony requires balancing the relationship between the upper lip, bottom lip, and chin structure. Dr. Kennedy takes a highly conservative, artistic approach to ensure your upper lip does not overpower your lower lip after surgery. If your lower lip naturally lacks volume, she can discuss combining your lift with a subtle facial fat transfer or temporary dermal fillers to maintain a perfectly proportioned profile.
