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Full, Youthful Lips

The lips might be a small portion of the face, but they play a significant role in aesthetics and appearance overall. Genetics, age, or other factors might get in the way of having the lips you want, but a lip lift at Sykes Facial Plastic Surgery can give you a fuller, more luscious, youthful pout.

Why Choose Dr. Jonathan Sykes?

At his practice in Beverly Hills, Dr. Jonathan Sykes proudly offers personalized cosmetic surgery with results that transform you into the best version of yourself. As an expert cosmetic facial surgeon, Dr. Sykes has helped over 20,000 of patients achieve their aesthetic goals over his 37-year career.

While in Dr. Sykes’ care, he will listen to you and help you determine your wants while doing a systematic diagnostic examination to see what would maximally suit your face. His expert communication and observation skills put his patients at ease, and the quality results always reflect what they had in mind.

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What is a Lip Lift?

A lip lift is a cosmetic surgical procedure that modifies the shape of the lips by removing excess skin or simply tightening the area around the mouth. This will result in a fuller, more youthful appearance to the lips. Many patients choose the procedure to improve the shape and position of their upper lip, but additional aspects can be changed as well, such as the curve of your lips. Different types of lip lifts can be performed, depending on your goals and desired results. Dr. Sykes will work with you to determine the best lip lift procedure for your needs.

Am I a Candidate?

Ideal candidates for lip lift surgery are in good physical health, non-smokers, have realistic expectations, and seek to improve their lips' shape or position. During your consultation with Dr. Sykes, he will assess your candidacy for lip lift surgery and answer any questions you may have about the procedure.

 For patients who do not want to commit to a surgical procedure, we also offer non-surgical alternatives, such as injectable fillers. These treatment options can provide impressive results through quick visits, but the results will fade over time. Together, you and Dr. Sykes can find the best solution for your plans and goals.

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What is the Procedure Like?

Lip lift surgery is usually performed by Dr. Sykes as an outpatient procedure, meaning you can go home the same day. The lip lift surgery is typically relatively quick, taking only about 30 minutes to complete. We start by ensuring you are completely comfortable, usually through local anesthetic, but sedation is also available.

Dr. Sykes will make incisions in the desired area and remove the skin and tissue necessary to achieve your goals. The incisions are then closed with dissolvable sutures. Once Dr. Sykes confirms the procedure was successful, you can return home immediately. For safety reasons, having someone drive you home is ideal.

Benefits of a Lip Lift

  • Fuller shape to your lips
  • Enhanced confidence in your appearance
  • Have the lips you want
  • Reduce fine lines on the upper lip
  • Lifelong results
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The Recovery Process

After your lip lift in Beverly Hills, you can expect some swelling and bruising around the mouth and lips. These effects are temporary and will dissipate over the following days and weeks. Most patients take about a week off before feeling comfortable enough to return to their regularly scheduled activities. It is vital during this time to follow all post-operative instructions provided by Dr. Sykes to ensure optimal healing. We are happy to provide any additional information or help if you have any questions or concerns during your recovery.

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When Can I See the Results?

Lip lift surgery provides patients with immediate results that will continue to improve in the following days and weeks as any swelling subsides. The results of lip lift surgery are long-lasting, provided you take care of your skin and lips post-operatively. With proper care and a healthy lifestyle, you can enjoy the benefits of your lip lift for a lifetime.

Do I Need Both an Upper and Lower Lip Lift?

Usually, patients do not require a lift to both the upper and lower lips. In most cases, injectable fillers or an upper lip lift will draw the mouth upward enough to satisfy the client’s aesthetic goals. For those who have tried injectable fillers and an upper lip lift and are still dissatisfied with the shape of the mouth or the exposure of bottom teeth, the lower lip may be lifted with fat transfer augmentation, sometimes called “fat grafting.” 

A minimally-invasive procedure, fat grafting can be done under local anesthesia. It involves harvesting fat from other areas of a patient’s body and injecting them into the lower lip and surrounding areas, plumping up the lower third of the face and giving it a more lifted and youthful appearance. Lower lip incisional procedures are less common since the lower lip vermillion (red part) can be altered easily with filler or fat injections.

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Lip Lift Techniques

Bull Horn Lip Lift

A bullhorn lip lift – or a “subnasal lip lift” – is the most common type of lip lift and gets its name from the shape of the incision made on the philtrum, or the section of skin between your upper lip and nose, which looks like a bull horn. The irregularly shaped base of the nose tends to hide the incision better than a straight-line incision. 

Bullhorn lip lifts are very popular because they create a beautiful cupid’s bow shape at the top of the lip while raising the outer sections. This permanently heightens the lip line and exposes more pink tissue while concealing any scarring within the fold beneath the nose.

Corner Lip Lift

Also called a “grin lift,” a corner lip lift works best in cases where the natural aging process has caused the edges of the mouth to turn downward toward the chin, creating “marionette lines” on the lower third of the face. 

In a corner lip lift, two incisions are made above the corners of the mouth. A small section of skin is removed on each side and stitched back together so that the edges of the upper lip are turned ever-so-slightly upward when at rest. This truly age-defying procedure gives clients a warm and inviting look. Unlike a subnasal incision, the corner of the mouth incision may be slightly more visible.

Gullwing Lip Lift

Also called a “direct lip lift,” a gullwing lip lift raises only the center of the top lip, creating a more prominent and dramatic border. This lip lift may leave a small scar, as the incision is made just above the top lip rather than under the nose, as in a bullhorn lift. Nevertheless, a gullwing lip lift may be a good option for clients who still retain volume toward the outside of their lips, as they may not need to raise the perimeter of the entire lip to achieve the desired effect.

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Thread (Non-Surgical) Lip Lift

A thread lip lift is an alternative for those intolerant of a subnasal scar seeking more definition and height to the upper lip line. This procedure provides some lift to the lip but is likely less secure and provides less lift than a surgical lift with cutaneous excision. 

In a thread lip lift, the upper lip is numbed with a local anesthetic, and dissolvable sutures are threaded into the skin above the lip, drawing the lip’s outline upward. This is another relatively quick and easy option that can be done in an hour in-office. Though a thread lip lift is a bit more expensive than injectable fillers, the effect of the procedure usually lasts for a good year — twice as long as fillers typically last.

Botulinum Toxin Lip Lift

Unlike a traditional lip lift, a botulinum toxin lip lift – or “lip flip” – does not involve any incisions or skin removal from above the lip. In the lip flip procedure, botulinum toxins are injected into the orbicularis oris muscle, a sphincteric muscle that squeezes the lips together when it contracts, making the lips protrude.  

By injecting specific points above the upper lip with botulinum toxin, the targeted facial muscles relax, allowing the upper lip to roll or “flip” very slightly upward. This exposes more of the pink surface of the lip, adding more plumpness and volume. A botulinum toxin lip lift is a more subtle option for those seeking a minor, short-term enhancement.

Lip Lift Before & After

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Schedule Your Consultation Today

With a lip lift, you can achieve a pair of stunning lips that match your desired appearance. Dr. Sykes works closely with you to discover your aesthetic wishes and then builds a plan to reach them. Call our office today or use our online form to schedule your consultation with Dr. Jonathan Sykes for your lip lift in Beverly Hills.

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