Subnasal Lip Lift for More Youthful Lips
A lip lift creates naturally fuller, more balanced lips with long-lasting results.
Restore Youthful Balance with a Deep Plane Lip Lift
When most people think of facial plastic surgery, they think of lifting things that have fallen from gravity. We want to lift jowls, lift eyelids and lift sagging necks. That is why facelift and blepharoplasty exist.
Often overlooked is the aging that happens in the lip.
Gravity also has an effect on the upper lip. With time the upper lip elongates and the lip itself gets thinner. While lip augmentation can help, it does not change the gravitational pull that has happened to the upper lip.
Sometimes trying to inject a thin upper lip with filler will not lift it, but only gives it a duck-like appearance. That is where a surgical lip lift, especially a Deep Plane Lip Lift, comes into play.
What is a Lip Lift?
A lip lift is a surgical procedure that shortens the distance between the base of the nose and the top of the lip, enhancing lip definition and restoring youthful proportions. Rather than simply adding volume, it repositions and reshapes the lip itself, making it appear fuller, more defined, and naturally lifted.
“We’re not just shortening the space between the nose and the lip, we’re reshaping the lip so that it turns up a little, has more contour, and shows more of the red lip. It makes the face brighter and more youthful.”
– Dr. Richard Balikian
Types of Lip Lifts
Dr. Balikian offers a range of advanced lip lift techniques tailored to enhance lip shape, shorten an elongated upper lip, and restore youthful balance to the face.
Deep Plane Subnasal Lip Lift
Dr. Balikian’s Signature deep plane lip lift is a refined, advanced approach that offers more natural and durable results than traditional methods. By working in the deep plane beneath the skin, this technique allows for precise structural lifting and long-lasting support using internal sutures, minimizing tension on the skin and reducing the risk of visible scarring.
The incision is hidden along the base of the nose, and a small amount of skin is removed while the underlying tissues are gently released. This allows the upper lip to roll outward, enhancing the cupid’s bow, increasing red lip show, and restoring youthful tooth visibility, all without creating an overfilled or artificial look.
Subnasal “Bullhorn” Lip Lift
This more traditional method involves removing a strip of skin below the nose in a bullhorn shape, lifting the central and lateral parts of the upper lip. While effective, Dr. Balikian typically uses a deep plane variation for superior, more natural results.
Corner Lip Lift
Also known as a “grin lift,” this technique elevates the outer corners of the mouth, helping to correct a downturned or sad appearance. Dr. Balikian offers this approach selectively for patients with significant drooping at the corners of the lips.
Each technique offers unique benefits depending on your facial structure and aesthetic goals. During your consultation, the most suitable lip lift option will be recommended to help you achieve natural, balanced results.
Why Choose a Deep Plane Lip Lift?
Unlike surface-level lifts or temporary fillers, the deep plane lip lift works with the natural anatomy of the face to create harmonious, balanced rejuvenation. It’s especially powerful when combined with procedures like a facelift or brow lift as part of Dr. Balikian’s Artiste Lift™, resulting in comprehensive facial enhancement that still looks like you, just brighter, more defined, and refreshed.
During your consultation, Dr. Balikian will analyze your facial proportions, review your goals, and recommend the most effective technique to achieve subtle, natural, and lasting results.
Lip Lift Before and After Gallery
Is a Lip Lift Right for You?
Lip lifts are a great option for patients who have lost lip volume because of aging. It is also considered by younger individuals who were unable to achieve their cosmetic goals through fillers.
They might also feel that fillers do not offer that natural fullness and give preference to lip lifts. It’s best to be in good overall health, with no conditions that could hinder proper healing.
Your Personalized Lip Lift Consultation
During your consultation for a lip lift, your medical history will be reviewed to assess your compatibility. Dr. Balikian will ask about any underlying conditions, past surgeries, and current medications or supplements.
You’ll also have the opportunity to discuss your goals and expectations in detail, which will help Dr. Balikian design a personalized treatment plan tailored to your unique features and desired outcome.
In some cases, he may recommend combining your lip lift with other facial procedures to further enhance balance and achieve a more comprehensive, natural-looking result.
Complementary Procedures for Balanced Rejuvenation
A lip lift can beautifully enhance the upper lip area, but for patients seeking more complete facial harmony, it may be paired with additional treatments. During your consultation, Dr. Balikian may recommend combining a lip lift with one or more of the following procedures:
- Chin Augmentation – A chin augmentation improves lower facial projection and balance by enhancing the shape and definition of the chin, creating harmony between the lips, chin, and jawline.
- Facial Fat Transfer – Facial fat transfer restores lost volume in the lips, cheeks, and around the mouth using your own natural fat, helping to soften deep lines and support a youthful, fuller appearance.
- CO₂ Laser Resurfacing – CO₂ laser resurfacing is often used to smooth fine lines and wrinkles around the lips, refining skin texture and tone for a more polished and rejuvenated result.
- Facelift or Neck Lift – A facelift or neck lift elevates and redefines the surrounding structures, allowing the results of your lip lift to blend seamlessly into a more youthful overall appearance.
Each of these procedures is customized to complement your features and can be combined strategically to enhance facial balance and deliver naturally beautiful results.
Understanding the Cost of a Lip Lift
The cost of a lip lift procedure varies based on several factors, including the personalized care and tailored approach provided by Dr. Balikian. Additional expenses such as anesthesia and surgical fees may also influence the overall price.
Trust Your Face to a Facial Plastic Surgeon
Dr. Balikian is an experienced, double board-certified, facial plastic surgeon. He is double board-certified both in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery as well as Head and Neck Surgery. Dr. Balikian belongs to a very select group of elite cosmetic surgeons with at least six years of specialized surgical training exclusively in aesthetic and reconstructive surgery of the face and neck.
Lip Lift Reviews
“Results were wonderful, Dr. Balikian and staff were amazing, follow up has been thorough. Has been a great experience.”
“Dr. Balikian is by far one of the most talented and skilled doctors I’ve ever encountered. Definitely highly satisfied.”
“I am very very happy with the results. The outcome was better that I had hoped for. I would highly recommend Dr. Balikian.”
“Everyone was so accommodating. Dr. Balikian is the best choice I made for the surgeries I’ve had done over the past few years.”
“Dr Balikian and his staff are both friendly and professional. I was a nervous first time patient and everyone made me feel welcome.”
Lip Lift FAQs
How long does a lip lift last?
A lip lift provides a permanent change by shortening the upper lip and enhancing its shape. While the surgical results are long-lasting, natural aging will continue over time, which may slightly affect the appearance years later. However, the overall improvement from a lip lift typically endures for many years.
Does a lip lift change your nose?
A lip lift primarily targets the area between the nose and the upper lip by shortening that distance, which can subtly affect how your nose looks. While the procedure doesn’t directly change the shape of your nose, lifting the upper lip can make the nose appear slightly more prominent or balanced because of the new proportions. So, any change to the nose is indirect and usually very subtle.
Is a lip lift permanent?
Yes, a lip lift is considered a permanent procedure. It surgically shortens the space between the nose and the upper lip by removing a small strip of skin, so the results typically last for many years. While natural aging will continue, the structural change from the lip lift itself does not reverse.
What does a lip lift do?
A lip lift shortens the distance between the nose and the upper lip, lifting and reshaping the lip to create a fuller, more youthful appearance. It enhances the natural contour of the lips, improves the visibility of the teeth when smiling, and helps restore balance to the face by reversing signs of aging like a long or thinning upper lip.
How is a lip lift different from lip fillers?
While fillers add volume, a lip lift changes the actual position of the upper lip. Dr. Balikian often sees patients who have tried fillers but still feel their upper lip looks too long or lacks shape. A lip lift offers a permanent solution that reshapes the lip rather than simply adding bulk.
Will a lip lift leave a visible scar?
Dr. Balikian uses a meticulous technique that places the incision discreetly at the base of the nose. With proper healing, the scar becomes virtually unnoticeable. His surgical artistry ensures results that are natural and refined—not overdone.
Richard V. Balikian, MD, FACS
Double Board-Certified Facial Plastic Surgeon
Balikian Facial Plastic Surgery: Richard V. Balikian, MD, FACS