Lip Surgery: Lip Lift & Lip Reduction

Two of the most popular lip surgery procedures are lip lift and lip reduction. These surgeries can significantly improve lip shape, volume, and symmetry to balance your features and highlight one of your most noticeable facial characteristics! Our Rancho Cucamonga cosmetic surgeons tailor each procedure to achieve beautifully natural lip enhancement results for a confident smile. 

Our Cosmetic Surgeons

Dr. Jacob Haiavy and Dr. Emma Ryan are passionate about cosmetic surgery. As diplomates of the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery, they have the expertise to personalize every aspect of your procedure and deliver safe, beautifully natural results.

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Inland Cosmetic Surgery Drs. Jacob Haiavy and Emma Ryan, American Board of Cosmetic Surgery

Lip Lift Surgery

What is a lip lift?

A lip lift is a surgical procedure that shortens the space between the nose and the upper lip, known as the philtrum, to create a more harmonious appearance. This surgery is ideal if you desire more visible upper teeth when you smile or wish to enhance the fullness and shape of your upper lip without fillers. The philtrum can also elongate due to aging, so we often perform lip lifts for mature patients either as a standalone procedure or as an addition to a facelift. 

Benefits of lip lift surgery

  • Enhances lip shape and volume for a fuller, more defined upper lip 
  • Improves facial symmetry by balancing the proportions of the face
  • Unlike temporary fillers, a lip lift offers long-lasting improvements

Types of lip lift procedures

Depending on your anatomy and expectations, your surgeon will explain which of these advanced techniques will create the perfect pucker:

Subnasal (Bullhorn) lip lift 

The bullhorn lip lift is the most common technique and uses a single incision under the base of the nose to remove a small strip of skin. The upper lip is then lifted to create a more defined shape and reveal more of your natural lip tissue.

Italian lip lift

Similar to the subnasal lift, this method involves two small incisions under the nostrils to subtly lift the lip and fine-tune the symmetry between each side of the upper lip.

Corner lip lift 

This procedure is perfect for individuals with downturned lips. Small incisions are made at the corners of the mouth, lifting them to achieve a more pleasant and approachable look.

Direct lip lift

This technique, also called a Gullwing lip lift, focuses on enhancing the vermillion border (the edge of the pigmented tissue of the lips) to provide a fuller and more defined lip line.

Key Benefits

A tailored lip surgery can:

  • Enhance overall lip contours
  • Correct lip asymmetry
  • Provide permanent results
Glossary

Lip lift: A cosmetic procedure that shortens the space between the nose and upper lip to create a more youthful and defined appearance.

Lip reduction: A surgery that decreases the size of the lips to achieve a more balanced and proportional facial look.

Incision: A small cut made during surgery to allow the surgeon to remove or adjust tissues.

Augmentation: Enhancing or increasing the size or volume of an area, such as the lips, often using implants or fillers.

Local anesthesia: Medication used to numb a specific area during surgery, keeping you awake but pain-free.

Candidate: Someone who is considered suitable for a particular surgery based on their health and aesthetic goals.

Healthcare provider: A professional, like a doctor or nurse, who offers medical care and advice.

General anesthesia: Medication that puts you to sleep during surgery so you feel no pain and are completely unconscious.

Facial features: The distinct parts of your face, like your eyes, nose, lips, and cheeks, that contribute to your overall look.

Fat grafting: A procedure where fat is taken from one part of your body and injected into another area, like the lips, to add volume.

Cold sores: Painful blisters around the mouth caused by the herpes simplex virus, which can be a concern after lip surgery.

Rhinoplasty: Also known as a nose job, a surgery to change the shape of your nose for aesthetic or functional reasons.

The lip lift procedure

Your consultation 

Before undergoing a lip lift, you’ll meet with one of our expert cosmetic surgeons. During this consultation, your surgeon will:

  • Examine your lips, philtrum length, and overall facial structure to determine the most suitable lip lift technique
  • Discuss your desired outcome, whether it’s to show more of your upper teeth when you smile, increase lip fullness, or improve facial balance
  • Review your medical history to account for any medical conditions, allergies, or medications that could affect the surgery or recovery
  • Create a customized surgical plan based on your goals, detailing the type of lip lift and incision locations

Procedure overview

We carefully clean and prep the surgical site, marking where we will place the incision(s). We then administer local anesthesia to completely numb the area. We also offer IV sedation along with local anesthesia if you desire more support. If your surgery plan includes other procedures, we may use general anesthesia to ensure you stay comfortable throughout your procedure set. 

From the incision, your surgeon removes a precise amount of skin and tissue based on the lip shape and size you desire. The remaining skin is meticulously lifted and adjusted to ensure that the lips are symmetrical and natural-looking before being sutured into their new position. 

Recovery and aftercare

After lip lift surgery, some mild swelling, bruising, and tenderness is expected, however, these temporary effects typically subside within a week. We’ll provide clear, easy-to-follow guidelines on how to care for your incision; your stitches are typically removed at your one-week follow-up appointment or may dissolve on their own, depending on the type used. 

During the first week of the short recovery, we ask that you avoid strenuous activities, heavy lifting, and bending over to reduce swelling and prevent complications. Your surgeon will clear you to return to normal activities based on your healing progress.

Before & After Gallery

Our cosmetic surgeons use the most advanced techniques to deliver natural-looking results. See our real patients’ results in our patient gallery.

Our before and after gallery

Results

You’ll see an immediate improvement in the shape and volume of your upper lip after a lip surgery! Minor residual swelling will continue to decrease as you heal with full results visible after about 8 weeks as the lips settle into their new shape.

Lip lift FAQs

Yes, although natural aging will continue to affect the appearance over time.

We place incisions strategically to minimize visible scarring. With proper care, any scars will be subtle and blend with your natural contours.

Yes, a lip lift can be combined with other cosmetic procedures such as a facelift, rhinoplasty, or dermal fillers for comprehensive facial rejuvenation.

Most patients can return to work the next day or within a week depending on their job requirements.

This surgery may slightly reduce the amount of visible gums when you smile, but a lip lift is not designed to address a gummy smile. Ask us about a Botox lip flip to reduce a gummy smile!

If you’re not ready for surgery, we can enhance your lips with lip filler.

We’ll provide the cost of your procedure during your consultation, as well as financing options.

It’s best to avoid makeup around the incision sites for at least a week post-surgery to prevent infection and promote healing.

Stick to soft foods and avoid anything that requires excessive chewing for the first few days.

Lip Reduction Surgery

What is lip reduction?

Lip reduction is a surgical procedure we use to decrease the size of the lips to enhance facial harmony and correct overly large or asymmetrical lips. Ideal candidates for lip reduction are those who wish to have more proportionately sized lips.

Benefits of lip reduction surgery

  • Creates a more proportionate and aesthetically pleasing lip size and shape
  • Corrects asymmetry between either side of the upper and lower lip
  • Balances facial features for a natural, confident appearance 

Types of lip reduction procedures

We use specialized reduction techniques to achieve a lip appearance that addresses your specific goals and concerns for a lip look you’ll love: 

Upper lip reduction 

An upper lip reduction focuses on reducing the size and thickness of the upper lip to create a more proportionate and balanced appearance. We perform this procedure on patients who feel their upper lip is overly prominent or disproportionate to their lower lip. If one side of your upper lip is noticeably larger than the other, we’ll use this technique to ensure lip symmetry. 

Lower lip reduction

A lower lip reduction targets the lower lip, decreasing its fullness to achieve a more harmonious and aesthetically pleasing look that’s proportionate to the upper lip. It is perfect for those who have a naturally fuller lower lip that they wish to refine or who have asymmetry in the lower lip. 

Combination procedures 

For a comprehensive transformation, we can combine procedures to address both the upper and lower lips simultaneously. 

The lip reduction procedure

Your consultation 

Before your lip reduction, you’ll sit down with one of our cosmetic surgeons to discuss your goals, desired outcomes, and any specific concerns you may have. Once we determine a lip reduction will give you the results you’re looking for, we’ll design a completely customized surgical plan to suit your anatomy and goals. 

Procedure overview 

On the day of the surgery, we start by marking the incision sites based on the predetermined plan and administer local anesthesia, which numbs the area and allows you to remain comfortable throughout the procedure. We can also add IV sedation to ensure you are completely at ease during the procedure.

Your surgeon will make precise incisions to remove excess tissue and reshape the lips, sculpting your tip tissue to achieve the desired size and contour, as well as a natural-looking result.

Recovery and aftercare

After your lip reduction surgery, your lips will be swollen and tender, with these side effects lessening each day as you heal. We provide detailed aftercare instructions on caring for your incisions and tips for managing temporary discomfort. We’ll also clear you to resume your normal routine when you’re ready, so take it easy to limit unnecessary swelling until then.

Results 

After lip reduction surgery, you’ll notice a more proportionate, refined lip size, and these improvements will continue to take shape as you heal. Final results are visible after about 8 weeks, as most of the residual swelling has subsided. 

Lip reduction FAQs

Yes, the lips will maintain their new shape and size. However, lip volume typically decreases with age.

Incisions are typically made inside the mouth to minimize visible scarring. Any external scars are generally small and well-hidden.

We recommend eating soft foods and avoiding spicy, acidic, or hard foods that could irritate the surgical site for the first week.

You may experience some swelling and discomfort that can affect your speech temporarily, but normal speaking will resume as the healing progresses.

There may be some temporary changes in sensation during the initial healing period, but this usually resolves over time.

Lip reduction is generally considered permanent. While minor revisions are possible, it’s important to have realistic expectations and discuss your goals thoroughly with your surgeon before choosing a surgery date.

Yes, but your surgeon will need to assess the presence of fillers and discuss how they may impact the procedure and results. In some cases, we may wait until the filler has dissolved before proceeding with surgery to ensure predictable results.

Your surgeon will provide specific aftercare instructions, including when it’s safe to apply lip balm or other products to the lips—typically after 1-2 weeks.

Yes, lip reduction can address and correct asymmetrical lips.

References »

Júnior LCA, da Silva Cruz NT, de Vasconcelos Gurgel BC, de Aquino Martins ARL, Lins RDAU. Impact of subnasal lip lift on lip aesthetic: a systematic review. Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. 2023 Mar;27(1):9-15. doi: 10.1007/s10006-022-01049-y. 

Talei B, Pearlman SJ. CUPID Lip Lift: Advanced Lip Design Using the Deep Plane Upper Lip Lift and Simplified Corner Lift. Aesthetic Surgery Journal. 2022 Dec 14;42(12):1357-1373. doi: 10.1093/asj/sjac126. 

Patel AA, Schreiber JE, Gordon AR, Mehta K, Mikolasko BD, Levine JB, Tepper OM. Three-Dimensional Perioral Assessment Following Subnasal Lip Lift. Aesthetic Surgery Journal. 2022 Jun 20;42(7):733-739. doi: 10.1093/asj/sjac070.

Sturm A. Lip Lift. Otolaryngologic Clinics of North America. 2022 Aug;55(4):835-847. doi: 10.1016/j.otc.2022.04.013.

Fallahi HR, Keyhan SO, Bohluli B, Cheshmi B, Jafari P. Lip Lift Techniques in Smile Design. Dental Clinics of North America. 2022 Jul;66(3):443-457. doi: 10.1016/j.cden.2022.02.006. Epub 2022 May 31. 

Fanous N, Brousseau VJ, Yoskovitch A. The ‘bikini lip reduction’: A detailed approach to hypertrophic lips. Canadian Journal of Plastic Surgery. 2007 Winter;15(4):205-10. 

Sforza M, Andjelkov K, Zaccheddu R, Jovanovic M, Colic M. The “Brazilian” bikini-shaped lip-reduction technique: new developments in cheiloplasty. Aesthetic Surgery Journal. 2012 Aug;36(4):827-31. doi: 10.1007/s00266-012-9894-1. Epub 2012 Apr 26. 
Shukla A, Loy K, Lu GN. Total lower lip reconstruction: a review of recent advances. Current Opinion in Otolaryngology & Head and Neck Surgery. 2023 Dec 1;31(6):441-451. doi: 10.1097/MOO.0000000000000926. Epub 2023 Oct 12.

Ready to enhance your lips?

Whether you want to see a little more lip or refine the lip size you were born with, our surgeons are trained to create outstanding, remarkably natural-looking results while prioritizing your safety and well-being. To learn more, please call our Rancho Cucamonga cosmetic surgery center at (909) 987-0899 or fill out our contact form online.

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Portrait of Dr. Jacob Haiavy smiling

Medically reviewed by Dr. Jacob Haiavy — Updated on Jan 30, 2025