Lip Lift
Glendale & Phoenix
Restoring upper lip proportion and tooth show without the ongoing maintenance of dermal fillers.
The space between your nose and your mouth tells a story about your facial age. You have likely spent years focused on the volume of your lips, relying on injectables to create a pout. You might have noticed that adding more volume no longer looks right. Instead of looking lifted, the lip begins to look heavy, elongated, or projected too far forward.
This happens because the structural problem is not a lack of volume. The problem is distance.
As we age, the skin and tissue of the upper lip stretch and lengthen. This hides your upper teeth when you smile and flattens the natural curves of your mouth. At Warrington Facial Plastic Surgery, I perform the lip lift procedure to correct this specific anatomical issue. By physically shortening the space between the nose and upper lip, we roll the pink portion of the lip outward. This provides permanent, structural enhancement that restores a youthful appearance and eliminates the need for endless filler appointments.
You do not need to commute to Scottsdale to find elite facial plastic surgery. I bring precision, structural facial procedures to the West Valley.
A lip lift is a permanent surgical procedure that shortens the philtrum—the space between the base of the nose and the top of the upper lip. By removing a precise strip of skin, the procedure rolls the vermilion border outward, increases tooth show, and enhances the natural lip shape without the use of temporary fillers.
We are seeing a massive shift in aesthetic medicine. Patients are experiencing filler fatigue.
For the last decade, lip fillers have been the default solution for anyone wanting fuller lips. Hyaluronic acid injectables are excellent tools, but they have a physical limitation. They can only add weight and volume. When a patient has an elongated upper lip (usually anything measuring over 15 millimeters from the nose to the lip border), adding dermal fillers actually exacerbates the problem. The extra weight pulls the lip down further, obscuring the upper teeth and creating an unnatural, duck-like projection from the profile view.
Surgery changes structure. Fillers only change volume.
A lip lift addresses the root cause of the structural descent. It removes the excess skin. This is a subtle adjustment that yields a dramatically balanced appearance, returning the lip to its proper position and exposing the upper teeth just slightly when the mouth is resting.
To understand why this cosmetic procedure works, you must understand the underlying facial anatomy. The lower third of the face is highly dynamic.
"When researching a lip lift in Phoenix, many patients do not realize how intimately connected the lip is to the nose. The incision for a standard lip lift rests directly inside the nasal sill—the base of your nostrils and the columella.
As an Otolaryngologist (ENT) and Facial Plastic Surgeon, I spend a significant portion of my time operating on the intricate cartilage of the nose. I understand the tension vectors of the nasal base. If a surgeon places too much tension on the closure of a lip lift, it can pull the nostrils downward, widening the nose. My dual training allows me to perform the deep-suture release necessary to anchor the lip securely to the nasal spine, ensuring the nose remains completely undisturbed while the lip is beautifully lifted."
— Dr. Stephanie Warrington
The term "lip lift" is an umbrella phrase. During your initial consultation, we will measure your facial features down to the millimeter and select the exact surgical technique that best suits your anatomy.
This is the most common and effective technique. The incision is shaped like a bullhorn, hiding perfectly within the natural shadows and contours directly beneath the nostrils.
This is a variation of the subnasal technique. It focuses exclusively on the skin directly beneath the center of the nose (the columella) without extending the incisions around the base of the nostrils.
The Italian lip lift requires two separate, smaller incisions directly beneath each nostril, rather than one continuous incision across the entire nasal base.
Gravity pulls down the outer corners of the mouth, creating a permanent frown or a sad expression. A corner lip lift specifically targets this issue.
A lip lift is a highly specific surgical procedure. It is not for everyone.
During our lip lift consultation, I will evaluate your facial proportion and review your medical history. Many patients seeking this procedure are looking to correct age-related changes, but I also see younger patients in their 20s and 30s who were simply born with a long philtrum.
You are an excellent candidate if:
You may not be a candidate if:
A successful lip lift relies entirely on exact mathematics.
When you sit in my chair in Glendale, we will look in the mirror together. I use specialized surgical calipers to measure the exact distance from your columella to your vermilion border. We will discuss your tooth show. We will also examine your nasal base to ensure an incision will hide naturally.
Many patients search for a double board-certified plastic surgeon to perform this surgery. What you truly need is an anatomical specialist. My background as an ENT and fellowship-trained facial plastic surgeon means I evaluate the functional relationship between your nose, your teeth, and your lips. We will create a customized surgical plan designed to achieve natural-looking results that respect your unique facial structure.
We prioritize your comfort and safety. A lip lift is typically performed in our accredited facility.
Because this is a localized, relatively quick surgery, it can easily be performed under local anesthesia. You will be awake, but your entire mouth and lower nose will be completely numb. You will not feel sharp pain. If you prefer to be entirely unaware of the procedure, we can administer light sedation or general anesthesia.
Once you are numb, I make the predetermined incision following the natural curves of the nasal sill. I remove the exact amount of skin we discussed during your consultation—often between 4 and 8 millimeters.
This is the most critical step of the surgery. If a surgeon simply sews the skin edges together, the weight of the lip will pull the scar down, making it wide and visible. I utilize a deep-plane closure technique. I place strong, permanent sutures in the deep dermal layers and anchor them to the tough tissue at the base of the nasal spine.
Because the deep sutures hold all the tension, the skin edges rest together perfectly without pulling. I then close the skin using extremely fine sutures. This meticulous technique is the key to preventing visible scarring and ensuring permanent results.
The lip lift procedure involves minimal downtime compared to a facelift, but it is still surgery. You must have realistic expectations about the healing process.
You will experience moderate to significant swelling. Your upper lip will look much larger than you anticipated. This is normal. You will feel tightness and stiffness, but most patients do not find the lip lift painful. Over-the-counter pain medication is usually sufficient.
The Rule: You must keep your head elevated at all times, even while sleeping, to reduce swelling. Use cold compresses as directed. Stick to a soft diet to minimize mouth movement.
The swelling will peak around day three and then begin to subside rapidly. The area right below your nose will feel tight. You must clean the incision line exactly as outlined in our detailed aftercare instructions to prevent crusting.
You will return to our Glendale clinic at about a week post-op. I will gently remove the fine sutures. At this point, the incision will look like a thin, pink line. You can begin wearing makeup to camouflage it. You are considered "socially presentable" for casual outings.
You will experience mild swelling that fluctuates throughout the day. Your lip may feel slightly stiff when you smile. This resolves as the tissues soften. The pink line of the incision will gradually fade.
The scar matures, blending into the shadow of your nose. The tissue is completely soft and flexible. You will enjoy a balanced appearance, natural curves, and increased tooth show without needing to book another filler appointment.
Patients frequently ask how surgical lip augmentation compares to injectables.
The face ages cohesively. While a lip lift enhances the central face beautifully, many patients choose to combine it with other facial procedures to address multiple concerns with a single recovery period.
You have options when selecting a plastic surgeon in Arizona.
My practice is built on a specific philosophy: elevated, specialized care without the pretense. I am a Phoenix native, and I brought my expertise to the West Valley because I believe patients should not have to drive across the city to access world-class surgical techniques.
A lip lift is a surgery of millimeters. If a provider removes two millimeters too much skin, you cannot easily put it back. If they do not anchor the deep sutures properly, your nostrils will widen.
You need an expert who understands facial anatomy at a functional level. My dual training as an ENT and facial plastic specialist means I understand the structural integrity of the nose and the lip better than a general body surgeon. My goal is always natural beauty. You will look refreshed, balanced, and structurally sound.
Stop relying on temporary fillers that weigh down your profile. Reclaim the natural contours of your mouth with a structural solution.
If you are ready to correct an elongated upper lip and restore a youthful, balanced appearance, it is time to seek specialized care.
Schedule your comprehensive lip lift consultation with Dr. Warrington in Glendale today.
No. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia or sedation, so you will feel nothing during the surgery. During the healing process, patients experience tightness, mild swelling, and stiffness, but rarely acute pain. Tylenol is usually sufficient after the first 24 hours.
Every surgical procedure leaves a scar. However, the subnasal technique places the incision meticulously within the natural creases and shadows beneath the nose. By using deep anchoring sutures, we eliminate tension on the skin, allowing the scar to heal as a fine, pale line that is practically invisible during normal social interaction.
If you still desire more volume after your lip lift results have fully matured, you can safely receive dermal fillers. I recommend waiting at least three to four months to ensure all mild swelling has resolved and the tissue is completely stable.
When performed incorrectly, yes. If the surgeon relies on the skin to hold the tension of the lift, it can drag the nostrils downward or flatten the nasal tip. This is why you must choose a facial plastic specialist. I anchor the lip to the deep fascial tissue, ensuring the shape and position of your nose remain completely unchanged.
This is highly individualized. During your initial consultation, we will measure your philtrum. We typically remove anywhere from 4 to 9 millimeters of skin, depending on your facial proportion and your aesthetic goals.
It can help. While a lip lift primarily addresses vertical height, I can make subtle adjustments to the excision pattern to help correct mild asymmetry in the resting position of the lips. However, if your asymmetry is caused by muscle movement (how you smile), surgery will not change the underlying muscle dynamic.
Most patients take about a week off from work. By day seven, the fine sutures are removed, the significant swelling has subsided, and any minor bruising can be concealed with makeup.
