Upper Lip Lift and Dermal Filler Options

Depending on lifestyle, genetics and environment, the passage of time can make your lips thinner due to the reduction in subcutaneous fat and the amount of collagen, the natural protein that gives facial features the full, smooth, healthy appearance of youth.

Dermal fillers have become increasingly popular as a convenient non-invasive way to add volume to lips and erase wrinkles near the mouth. Some patients will opt for fat transfer, wherein fat is harvested by liposuction from one area of the body (abdomen, hips, etc.) and injected into the face to fill the lips and other contour depressions. Some patients who have developed a longer upper lip may prefer the surgical option known as a lip lift. Below, experienced Sacramento plastic surgeon Dr. Debra Johnson explains the procedure, and discusses other effective alternatives.

Elegant and Alluring

Much of the change in the shape of your lips and even the character of your smile occurs when the skin above the lips and below the nose loses integrity and begins to stretch. This can create not simply lines and wrinkles, but also a dour expression when the lips are at rest.

Upper lip lift compensates for this sag by tightening skin in the affected area. With an eye for the aesthetic appeal and balance of the final result, Dr. Johnson begins by making an incision where it will be least noticed: in the crease formed where the nose meets the skin above the lip. By removing some of this skin, the upper lip is drawn slightly upward, restoring some upper lip fullness and creating a more attractive shape.

Dermal Fillers

Dermal fillers are popular not simply for their ability to soften lines, furrows and areas of depression, but also for their effectiveness in stimulating the production of naturally revitalizing collagen. Although temporary, lasting from six months to a year, dermal fillers require only a brief office visit for each injection session, and downtime ranges from nonexistent to minimal.

Dermal fillers add fullness to lips, while addressing vertical lip lines and other signs of aging in the surrounding area.

To learn more about upper lip lift or dermal fillers, schedule your personal consultation with experienced Sacramento plastic surgeon Dr. Debra Johnson by calling (916) 664-3391 or completing the contact form today.