Facial feminization surgery / Upper lip
Upper Lip Lift
A lip lift shortens the distance between the nose and the upper lip and shows more of the lip. It is a short operation with a small incision at the base of the nose, done on its own or as part of facial feminization surgery with Dr. Steven Ovadia.
Overview
A shorter lip that shows more
The upper lip is measured from the base of the nose to the edge of the pink of the lip. When that distance is long, the lip looks thin, the upper teeth are hidden at rest, and the lower face reads as longer and heavier than it is.
A lip lift removes a measured strip of skin from just under the nose and lifts the lip up to meet it. The lip is shorter, more of the pink shows, and the edge of the lip rolls slightly outward. The change is to the proportion of the lip, which is why it does something filler cannot.
How it works
What happens in surgery
Gold dashes: the incision along the base of the nose. The arrows show the upper lip lifting toward it.
The incision follows the base of the nose
The incision is placed right at the junction of the nose and the upper lip, following the curve of the nostrils and the base of the columella, the strip of tissue between the nostrils. This is where the scar sits in a natural shadow once healed. It generally heals well, though in some people a faint line can still be seen up close.
A measured strip of skin is removed
A strip of skin from the upper lip, just under the nose, is removed. How much is taken is measured and planned before surgery, because it sets the new distance between the nose and the lip.
The lip is lifted and the incision closed
The upper lip is brought up to the base of the nose and the incision is closed in layers. Shortening the lip in this way also rolls the edge of the lip slightly outward, so more of the pink of the lip shows.
Who it is for
When a lip lift makes sense
A long upper lip
The distance from the base of the nose to the edge of the upper lip lengthens with age, and it is longer on average in people who went through a testosterone-driven puberty. A long upper lip hides the upper teeth at rest and makes the lip look thin.
A thin upper lip
Because a lip lift rolls the lip edge outward as it shortens the lip, it shows more of the lip itself. For a thin upper lip it does something filler cannot: it changes the proportion of the lip rather than adding volume to it.
As part of facial feminization surgery
A shorter upper lip that shows a little of the upper teeth at rest is one of the features that reads as feminine. The lip lift is one of the procedures that can be part of a facial feminization surgical plan.
On its own
A lip lift is also a procedure on its own, for patients of any gender who want a shorter upper lip or a lip that shows more. It is a short operation with a small incision.
Timing
A separate stage after rhinoplasty
When your facial feminization plan includes rhinoplasty, the lip lift is typically a separate stage, done after the nose has had 3 months to heal. The lip lift incision sits at the base of the nose, so the nose is allowed to settle first and the lip lift is planned against its final shape.
When rhinoplasty is not part of the plan, a lip lift can be done in the same operation as other facial feminization procedures, or on its own.
Recovery
What to expect afterward
Recovery from a lip lift on its own is short. When it is done with other facial feminization procedures, the overall recovery follows theirs; the full guide is on the recovery page.
Swelling of the lip
Swelling is normal and expected. The upper lip is swollen and feels tight in the first days, and smiling and speaking feel stiff at first. As a general guide, about half of the swelling settles by 6 weeks and the rest by 6 months.
The incision
The scar sits at the base of the nose, where the nose meets the lip. It is pink at first and fades over the following months into the natural shadow there. It generally heals well; in some people a faint line can still be seen up close.
Numbness
Temporary numbness of the upper lip is common. It comes from nerves being stretched during the operation, and it improves over time.
Sutures
We typically use some sutures that come out after 5 to 7 days.
Normal swelling comes on slowly. A rapid increase in swelling is something to watch for, and it should be brought to your physician's attention right away. See the recovery after FFS page for the complete guide.
Your surgeon
A small operation, planned with the whole face
The right height for the upper lip depends on the nose above it and the chin and teeth below it. Dr. Ovadia plans a lip lift with the rest of the face, and when rhinoplasty is part of the plan, stages the two so the lip lift is measured against the finished nose.
Dr. Ovadia is fellowship-trained in craniofacial surgery and in gender-affirming surgery, is board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, and sees patients in New York City and in Jersey City and Millburn, New Jersey. Read more on the facial feminization surgery page.
Questions
Common questions about lip lift
What is a lip lift?
A lip lift shortens the distance between the nose and the upper lip and shows more of the lip. A measured strip of skin is removed from just under the nose, and the upper lip is lifted up to the base of the nose. The scar sits at the junction of the nose and the lip.
Is a lip lift part of facial feminization surgery?
It can be. A shorter upper lip that shows a little of the upper teeth at rest is one of the features that reads as feminine, and a lip lift is one of the procedures that can be part of a facial feminization surgical plan. It is also a procedure on its own for patients who are not having facial feminization surgery.
Why is the lip lift done 3 months after rhinoplasty?
When rhinoplasty is part of your plan, the lip lift is typically a separate stage, done 3 months afterward. The incision for a lip lift sits at the base of the nose, and the nose needs time to heal and settle before that tissue is worked on, so that the lip lift is planned against the nose's final shape.
Where is the scar?
The incision follows the base of the nose, around the nostrils and the columella, so the scar sits where the nose casts a natural shadow on the lip. It is pink at first and fades over the following months.
How is a lip lift different from lip filler?
Filler adds volume to the lip. A lip lift changes the proportion of the lip: it shortens the distance from the nose to the lip and rolls the lip edge outward so more of the lip shows. The two can be combined, but they do different things, and a lip lift is permanent.
How long does swelling last after a lip lift?
Swelling is normal and expected. As a general guide, about half of the swelling settles by 6 weeks and the rest by 6 months. Everyone is different, so treat this as a rough guide. Normal swelling comes on slowly. A rapid increase in swelling should be brought to your physician's attention right away.
Next step
Start with a consultation
Dr. Ovadia will measure your upper lip, look at it with your nose and chin, and explain whether a lip lift fits, and when, in your plan.
225 Broadway, Suite 3100, New York, NY
377 Jersey Ave, Suite 440, Jersey City, NJ · 90 Millburn Ave, Suite 206, Millburn, NJ
Phone and video consultations available · info@ovadiaps.com