The upper lip naturally changes with age, often becoming longer, flatter, or less defined over time. As the distance between the nose and upper lip increases, the lips may appear thinner and less youthful, even with filler treatments. An upper lip lift is a subtle surgical procedure designed to shorten the space above the lip, enhance lip shape, and create a more refreshed, youthful appearance.
At her boutique plastic surgery practice in Westport, CT, Dr. Ellen Mahony performs customized upper lip lift procedures focused on facial balance and natural-looking enhancement. By carefully refining the proportions of the lips and lower face, Dr. Mahony helps patients achieve a more defined, youthful appearance without looking overdone.
Candidates for a Lip Lift
The procedure is the perfect choice for women (and men) seeking:
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More upper lip central fullness, aka the pucker part of our lip, or Cupid’s Bow.
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Greater show of the pink part of the upper lip
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Enhanced projection of the lip
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Increasing the turn-up/eversion of the lip
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Improvement in lower face proportion
In addition, it beautifully shortens an overly long lip, revealing the sometimes hidden upper teeth. Well-proportioned lips go a long way to restoring a youthful smile!
Will an Upper Lip Lift Change My Smile?
As a board-certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Mahony has the training, extensive knowledge of facial anatomy, and over two decades of surgical experience to ensure your lip lift will look completely natural. All that these procedures involve is the removal of a small amount of skin, usually just below the nose, to gently lift the upper lip. This creates a pleasing, naturally higher upper lip. If you’ve always disliked thin lips but don’t like the results you’ve achieved with dermal fillers, a lip lift from Dr. Mahony is a great option.
The Upper Lip Lift Procedure
As one of our many office-based surgical procedures, the Lip Lift can be comfortably performed under local anesthesia. With just a hairline incision, hidden within the rim of the nostrils and base of the nose, the design can be customized to accomplish any of the benefits listed above. Tiny stitches are placed and left in place for 5-7 days, then removed in the office. The barely discernible incision is neatly concealed and fast healing.
Recovery After a Lip Lift
You will have some swelling for about one week around the incision, although this can last longer in some patients. This is completely normal. There will also be bruising for a week or so. Pain is not acute, and you probably won’t need prescription pain medication; ice and Tylenol should do. Stitches are removed in one week. After that, your upper lip will be tender, but that will continue to lessen. Any redness can easily be hidden with concealer until it goes away. During your recovery, you’ll need to avoid anything that would raise blood pressure in your face. Exercise and other exertion will need to wait for two weeks.
Advantages of Upper Lip Lift over Fillers
Upper lip lifts are becoming more popular for a few reasons. First, repeated injections of dermal fillers simply add volume to the lips. It can get to the point where the patient’s lips look somewhat bloated and artificially large. You’ve no doubt wondered about celebrities you’ve seen with unnaturally large lips.
Second, dermal fillers are eventually metabolized by the body. This degrades their volume as the hyaluronic acid is broken down. At that point, you’ll need another session. This is a continuing pattern without an end.
This surgery with Dr. Mahony instead provides a permanent, three-dimensional change to your upper lip. This enhances the upper lip, but subtly. If your upper lip has thinned with declining collagen production and natural aging, this can make your lips look more youthful and attractive. It’s a simple yet truly satisfying procedure.
Why Choose Dr. Ellen Mahony for an Upper Lip Lift
An upper lip lift requires precision, restraint, and an artistic understanding of facial proportions to create elegant, natural-looking results. Dr. Ellen Mahony takes a highly individualized approach to lip enhancement, carefully refining the relationship between the nose, lips, and lower face to achieve a refreshed appearance without looking exaggerated.
Patients choose Dr. Mahony because of her:
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Board certification in plastic surgery
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Extensive cosmetic and reconstructive surgery training
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Sophisticated, natural-looking aesthetic philosophy
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Attention to facial balance and proportion
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Personalized, boutique patient experience
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Compassionate and attentive patient care
Her refined surgical approach focuses on subtle enhancement that restores youthful lip definition while preserving natural facial expression and harmony.
Restore Youthful Lip Definition With an Upper Lip Lift in Westport, CT
An upper lip lift can enhance lip shape, improve facial balance, and create a more youthful, refreshed appearance by subtly shortening the space above the upper lip. Dr. Ellen Mahony combines advanced surgical precision with a refined aesthetic approach to help patients achieve natural-looking lip rejuvenation tailored to their unique facial features and goals.
To learn more about upper lip lift surgery in Westport and Fairfield, contact Dr. Ellen Mahony, MD at 203-221-0102 to schedule your private consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, Dr. Mahony places the hairline incision where the nose meets the skin above the upper lip, so it becomes virtually invisible after healing.
These changes made by Dr. Mahony are permanent. You will experience some sagging as you continue to age, but it will not overwhelm your results. You’ll enjoy your lip lift for the rest of your life.
