What's the Difference Between a Lip Lift and Lip Filler?
Lip filler adds volume. A lip lift changes the shape and position of your upper lip permanently. They solve different problems. If your upper lip is long and covers most of your teeth when you smile, filler will just make a long lip bigger. It won't shorten it. A lip lift removes a small strip of skin just below the nose, which shortens the distance between your nose and your upper lip and rolls the lip upward so more of the pink part shows. I see Irvine patients all the time who've been getting filler for years trying to fix a problem that filler can't solve. They end up with a puffy "duck lip" because they kept adding volume when what they really needed was a lift. Dr. mirrafati will perform all the procedures himself.
Who Is a Good Candidate
The ideal candidate has a long upper lip, usually measuring more than 15 to 16 millimeters from the base of the nose to the lip border. If your teeth don't show when your mouth is slightly open, or your upper lip looks flat and undefined, a lip lift can make a dramatic difference. Age doesn't matter as much as anatomy. I've done lip lifts on patients in their 20s and patients in their 60s. Younger patients want more tooth show and definition. Older patients want to reverse the lengthening that happens naturally as we age.
How the Surgery Works
I use a bullhorn lip lift technique. The incision is hidden right at the base of the nose where the skin naturally changes texture. I remove 3 to 5 millimeters of skin depending on your measurements. The procedure takes about 45 minutes under local anesthesia. You're awake and comfortable. Stitches come out in five to seven days. The scar at the base of the nose fades well in most patients, especially with proper aftercare. By three months it's usually very hard to see.
Recovery Details
Expect swelling for the first week. Your smile will feel tight initially, and that freaks some patients out, but it loosens up as the tissue relaxes. Most of my Irvine patients take five to seven days off work. You'll want to avoid big facial expressions and eat soft foods for the first few days. No straws. The final result takes about two to three months to fully settle.
Pricing and What to Expect
The price for a Lip Lift surgery done at my Costa Mesa location is $4900 including the operating room and local anesthesia. There are no hidden fees and no surprises.
Schedule With Us
We're at 3140 Red Hill Ave in Costa Mesa, a short drive from Irvine via the 405 or Jamboree. Call (714) 544-8678 for a free consultation. I'll measure your lip, show you simulation photos, and tell you if a lift, filler, or both would give you the best result.
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