Who is a good candidate for lip lift? The length of the upper lip and the visibility of the upper front teeth are key

Lip lift tends to suit people with a long upper lip (philtrum) and whose upper front teeth are barely visible when the mouth is slightly open. For people with a shorter upper lip or where the jaw bone shape is the main concern, surgery may not result in the desired lip contour. Since this surgery leaves a scar on the upper lip, that aspect is also considered.

What kind of lip contour is suited for lip lift?

People with a long philtrum, a normal or short red portion of the lips, and whose front teeth do not show even when the mouth is slightly open are candidates[1]. There is also an approach to treatment classification based on the proportion of upper and lower lip length and the visibility of the front teeth[2].

In that classification, if the philtrum is long and the red portion of the lips is normal, lip lift is indicated; if the red portion is also thin, a combination of lip lift and lip volumization is used.[2]If the philtrum is normal and only the lips are thin, volumization treatment is a candidate.[2]One study used 22 mm or more in women and 24 mm or more in men as a benchmark for a long upper lip[3].

What if the upper lip is on the shorter side?

Careful consideration is needed. When the upper lip is shorter than 1.1–1.4 cm, lip lift may not be suitable, as has been noted[4].

The length of the upper lip is assessed in balance with the lower third of the face. When the upper lip exceeds one-third of that proportion, it is considered a long upper lip, according to one guideline.[4].

How does surgery differ from lip augmentation with hyaluronic acid?

Surgery tends to have longer-lasting results, but scarring is unavoidable.[1]A review of research showed that surgical results were followed for an average of 31.48 months and lasted longer than non-surgical methods.[1]Hyaluronic acid is a method of adding volume to the lips to balance the proportions.[1].

Layering hyaluronic acid on someone with a long upper lip can produce an unnatural appearance, and lip lift might have been more suitable, according to some observations.[4]If hyaluronic acid is repeatedly injected over years, the upper lip may stretch; in that case, it is recommended to dissolve the filler and wait several weeks before considering surgery.[4].

What about people concerned with protruding lips?

If the cause is skeletal, lip lift alone may not be sufficient. When the upper jaw bone protrudes or is vertically elongated, lip lift alone may result in unnatural tooth display, as has been reported[5].

In that report, 17 people first underwent jaw bone surgery, followed by lip lift to balance upper lip length and front tooth display.[5].

Scarring and other risks?

Since this is surgery that cuts the upper lip, scarring always remains.[1]A summary of 6 studies involving 361 people who underwent lip lift concurrent with nasal surgery showed that mild scarring and temporary numbness were common and settled within a few months[6].

Also, for people with downturned mouth corners, the standard upper lip incision approach may not be suitable.[1]The shape of the mouth corners is another point you want examined beforehand.

Does age affect suitability?

The goal changes. In the West, it is often performed for rejuvenation, while in Asia it tends to be sought by young people who want a shorter upper lip, as research has reported.[5].

It has been suggested that the effect of lip lift may be greatest in young people up to around age 35.[1]However, this perspective is based on methods not being standardized across studies.[1].

Things to confirm before the procedure

There are three benchmarks for judgment. The first is the length of the philtrum and red portion of the lips, and the visibility of the front teeth.[1][2]The second is whether jaw bone structure is involved, such as in lip protrusion.[5]The third is your history of hyaluronic acid injections.[4].

How much you can shorten your upper lip and where the scar will be placed cannot be decided by an article alone. Have your lip contour examined during consultation with the mouth both closed and slightly open, and confirm.