Is a Lip Lift Painful?

Discomfort after a lip lift is mild and short-lived because the procedure is performed under local anesthesia, so you’ll remain comfortable throughout surgery. Post-operatively, most patients describe a sensation of tightness or mild soreness, which usually resolves within a few days. We recommend over-the-counter or prescription medication to ensure a smooth, comfortable recovery.

How Many Appointments Will I Need?

Most patients will attend three to four visits in total, including the initial consultation, the surgical appointment, and one or two follow-up visits. These follow-ups allow Dr. Harley to remove sutures, assess healing, and ensure your incision is fading properly. If you combine your lip lift with another facial procedure, additional check-ins may be recommended to monitor your recovery comprehensively.

How Long Until I See Results?

You’ll notice immediate improvement in the shape and position of your upper lip once swelling begins to subside, usually within the first week. However, it can take 1 to 3 months for the final results to fully settle as residual swelling diminishes and the incision fades. The outcome is long-lasting and permanent, with patients enjoying their results for years. Because the lip lift reshapes rather than adds volume, you won’t need touch-ups or maintenance treatments.

Can I Combine a Lip Lift With Other Procedures?

Yes, most patients choose to combine a lip lift with complementary procedures to achieve more balanced facial rejuvenation, like facelift surgery, chin augmentation, and even simple dermal fillers to enhance overall definition and smoothness. Combining treatments can help you achieve a more cohesive result while minimizing total recovery time.

What Are the Risks Associated With a Lip Lift?

As with any surgical procedure, a lip lift carries risks, including swelling, bruising, temporary numbness, and minor asymmetry. In rare cases, patients may experience delayed healing or noticeable scarring, though this is uncommon when a skilled, double board-certified facial plastic surgeon like Dr. Harley performs the surgery.

Cashiers, North Carolina

Lip Lift

Introduction

Introduction to Lip Lift

The lips play a powerful role in facial expression, balance, and attractiveness, yet as we age, the upper lip can lengthen and cover more of the teeth, creating a flatter, less-defined appearance. Some people are born with a naturally longer space between the nose and upper lip, while others develop this change over time due to gravity and loss of collagen. A lip lift is a subtle yet very transformative surgical procedure that shortens the distance between the nose and the upper lip, exposing more of the teeth and enhancing the natural curve of the Cupid’s bow.

At his Cashiers, NC, office, which draws in patients from Asheville, NC, and Greenville, SC, and beyond, Dr. Harley uses this procedure to create beautiful, natural results that complement each patient’s facial proportions.

What is a Lip Lift?

A lip lift is a minor facial surgery that enhances the shape and proportion of the lips by shortening the philtrum, which is the vertical space between the base of the nose and the top of the upper lip. The most common technique, known as the subnasal or “bullhorn” lip lift, involves making a discreet incision hidden beneath the natural crease of the nose. Dr. Harley then removes a small strip of skin and gently lifts the upper lip upward, revealing more of the pink vermilion (the colored part of the lip) and subtly increasing tooth show when you smile.

Unlike temporary fillers, which add volume, a surgical lip lift elevates and reshapes the natural anatomy of the lip for permanent improvement. This makes it an ideal choice for those who want a more defined lip contour without relying on repeated injections.

Who Are the Best Candidates For a Lip Lift?

We see candidates for a lip lift who feel their upper lip is too long, too thin, or lacks definition, or who have noticed their smile no longer reveals the teeth as it once did. It’s also an excellent option for people who want to enhance lip shape without the added volume or maintenance of fillers. Candidates should be in good overall health, non-smokers (or willing to quit before surgery), and have realistic expectations for their results.

What Are the Benefits of a Lip Lift?

The benefits of a lip lift are both aesthetic and emotional. By shortening the upper lip and revealing more of your natural lip tissue, this procedure restores balance to the midface and creates a softly lifted appearance. Common benefits include:

Enhanced definition and contour of the upper lip and Cupid’s bow
Improved tooth show, revealing more of your smile
Permanent, natural-looking results without the need for fillers
Balanced facial proportions, especially between the nose, lips, and chin
A more youthful, approachable expression

In addition to its cosmetic benefits, a lip lift can help patients feel more confident and expressive. Many find that their lips appear fuller and more symmetrical even without makeup or augmentation.

What’s the First Step?

You will need to start with a private in-person or virtual consultation with Dr. Harley. This one-on-one process will allow the doctor to carefully analyze your facial anatomy, discuss your aesthetic goals, and review all surgical options, including incision placement, anesthesia, and expected outcomes. The consultation and discussion with Dr. Harley helps ensure that your surgical plan is personalized, safe, and aligned with your vision for natural, long-lasting rejuvenation.

For nearly 20 years, the practice of Dr. David Harley has been a destination practice. As a patient, you will be fully supported and fully connected throughout the process and beyond. Your journey will begin with a consultation, whether virtual, via telephone, or in person, followed by a trip to Cashiers, NC, for the procedure. Our concierge-type practice provides white glove service from beginning to end. You will be assisted with any questions you might have regarding travel arrangements and accommodations.

What to Expect on the Day of Lip Lift Surgery

On the day of your procedure, Dr. Harley and his team will welcome you into their state-of-the-art facility and help you settle into a comfortable surgical suite, answering any last-minute questions and reviewing your individualized care plan. You will then receive oral sedation combined with local anesthesia, which helps keep you asleep and numb throughout your procedure.

The procedure will go by quickly for you, since you will be relaxed and asleep, and you will have no pain. Once the procedure is completed, you will be awakened and a soft elastic dressing will be applied. Your caregiver, hopefully a friend or family member, will transport you to your local accomodations, where you will relax comfortably and rest until your follow-up appointment the following day.

A faded, high-exposure landscape painting in soft white and grey tones, depicting a river, trees, and a distant figure with sheep.

Lip Lift Recovery

Your Guide to Post-Lip Lift Care

Recovery from a lip lift is relatively quick compared to other facial procedures because generally, most patients experience mild swelling, tightness, or tenderness for the first few days, which can be managed with cold compresses and medication if needed. Dr. Harley recommends keeping the area clean and limiting excessive mouth movement (such as wide yawning or strenuous chewing) for the first week. Stitches are typically removed after five to seven days, and most swelling resolves within 10 to 14 days.

You’ll begin to see your new lip shape immediately, though final results will refine over several weeks as the incision continues to fade, and once fully healed, the scar is virtually undetectable beneath the nose.

How Much Does a Lip Lift Cost?

The cost of a Lip Lift varies depending on your unique anatomy, desired results, and the surgical technique required. Dr. Harley’s team will provide a detailed estimate after your consultation and discuss financing options or payment plans that can help make your procedure more affordable.

Why Choose Dr. Harley?

Dr. David Harley is a double board-certified facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon with extensive training in procedures that enhance and restore the natural harmony of the face. Certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery (ABO-HNS) and Reconstructive Surgery and the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (ABFPRS), he emphasizes subtle enhancement as opposed to “overcorrection” to ensure that each patient’s individuality and facial expression remain intact. Dr. Harley’s calm, compassionate approach and beautifully enhanced, natural results have earned him the trust of patients throughout the country and locally in Cashiers, NC, Asheville, NC, and Greenville, SC.

Dr. Harley, wearing a black surgical cap and face mask, adjusts a pair of specialized surgical loupes with integrated lighting on his head.

Lip Lift FAQ’S

Discomfort after a lip lift is mild and short-lived because the procedure is performed under local anesthesia, so you’ll remain comfortable throughout surgery. Post-operatively, most patients describe a sensation of tightness or mild soreness, which usually resolves within a few days. We recommend over-the-counter or prescription medication to ensure a smooth, comfortable recovery.
Most patients will attend three to four visits in total, including the initial consultation, the surgical appointment, and one or two follow-up visits. These follow-ups allow Dr. Harley to remove sutures, assess healing, and ensure your incision is fading properly. If you combine your lip lift with another facial procedure, additional check-ins may be recommended to monitor your recovery comprehensively.
You’ll notice immediate improvement in the shape and position of your upper lip once swelling begins to subside, usually within the first week. However, it can take 1 to 3 months for the final results to fully settle as residual swelling diminishes and the incision fades. The outcome is long-lasting and permanent, with patients enjoying their results for years. Because the lip lift reshapes rather than adds volume, you won’t need touch-ups or maintenance treatments.

Schedule a Consultation

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