Lip Lift in Seattle

Do thin, flat lips hide your smile even when you’re happy? Does the space between your nose and upper lip look too long, covering your teeth when you try to smile? Aging and genetics stretch the upper lip over time, making you look tired or older than you feel. 

At Seattle Plastic Surgery, Dr. Craig Jonov offers advanced Lip Lift surgery that permanently shortens the distance between your nose and upper lip. This gives you fuller, more defined lips and a youthful smile without fillers or implants.

What Is a Lip Lift?

A lip lift is a cosmetic surgery procedure that raises the position of the upper lip to show more of the pink lip area and improve the shape of the Cupid’s bow. During surgery, a facial plastic surgeon removes a small strip of skin from below the nose to reduce the distance between the nose and upper lip. This creates a balanced, youthful look that fits your natural facial features.

Unlike temporary fixes like lip fillers, a lip lift permanently shortens the space between the nose and upper lip. While natural aging continues, the improved lip shape stays in place for years. The procedure takes about one hour and can dramatically improve how your face looks.

Benefits of Lip Lift Surgery 

This surgery creates a younger, more balanced appearance. It often shows more of the upper teeth and creates a fuller, better-defined lip shape. The benefits of choosing a lip lift at Seattle Plastic Surgery include:

Permanent Results: Unlike lip fillers that need touch-ups every few months, lip lift surgery gives you a permanent fix that lasts for years.

Natural Enhancement: Creates fuller-looking lips without fake volume.

Improved Facial Balance: Brings back harmony between upper and lower facial features.

Better Smile: Shows more upper teeth for a younger look.

Defined Cupid’s Bow: The procedure shapes the upper lip’s Cupid’s bow, lifting the center to improve its outline and give the lip a younger appearance.

No Upkeep Needed: Long-lasting results without repeat treatments, unlike temporary fixes such as lip fillers or Botox lip flip.

Who Makes a Good Candidate for a Lip Lift? 

Patients make good candidates for a lip lift if their red upper lip looks too thin because of genetics or aging. Patients may also want to shorten the length of the philtrum or show more teeth when smiling.

The best candidates for lip lift surgery in Seattle include:

Long Upper Lip: Patients with a long philtrum can greatly improve the balance of their face with a lip lift. Some patients are born with a long upper lip. Others find that it gets longer as they age. Loss of collagen and elastin makes the skin thinner. Gravity pulls the lip down over time and eventually covers the upper teeth.

Thin Upper Lip: Those looking for permanent improvement in lip volume and shape.

Good Health: Good candidates are in good health and do not have medical conditions that could interfere with surgery or healing.

Realistic Goals: Understanding what results are possible and what recovery involves.

Non-smokers: Or willing to quit before and after surgery for better healing.

Good Skin Quality: The procedure works better for younger people because their skin bounces back better. However, older patients with good skin tone can also be candidates.

Patients who may not be good candidates include those with naturally short upper lips, a history of bad scarring or keloid formation, or those with permanent lip fillers that could make the procedure harder.

The Lip Lift Procedure 

Before a lip lift, patients meet with Dr. Jonov. He does a physical exam and learns more about general health and goals for the procedure. During the consultation at Seattle Plastic Surgery, Dr. Jonov checks facial anatomy and figures out the best approach for specific needs.

During Surgery 

On the day of the lip lift, patients get local anesthesia to numb the area. Patients stay awake during the procedure but won’t feel pain. If patients are having another cosmetic surgery at the same time, they get general anesthesia.

Dr. Jonov performs the most common type of lip lift is the bullhorn technique:

• The cut is made below the nose, hiding the scar in the natural shadow under the nose
• A precise amount of skin is removed to get the lift patients want
• The cut is placed under the nose, where it heals without being obvious

With proper care, most patients find the scar fades a lot and becomes hard to see. The whole procedure typically takes 30 to 60 minutes and happens on an outpatient basis.

Recovery and Aftercare 

Full recovery from a lip lift takes about 6 to 8 weeks. However, most of the healing happens within the first week. By the end of the first month, most swelling and bruising will be gone.

Cost of Lip Lift at Seattle Plastic Surgery  

The cost of lip lift surgery at Seattle Plastic Surgery starts at $6,995. The final cost changes based on individual needs and how complex the surgery is. During the consultation with Dr. Jonov, patients get a detailed breakdown of pricing and available financing options. Seattle Plastic Surgery offers flexible payment plans to make the procedure more affordable.