Corner of the Mouth Lift

Q: Dr. Eppley, Can you answer a technical question about lip lifts? Is there a difference between a corner mouth lift (smile surgery) and corner lip lift? Do you perform these type of lip lift surgeries?

A: In answer to your questions, a corner of the mouth lift and a corner lip lift sound very similar but there is a subtle difference. A corner of the mouth lift evens a downturned mouth corner by removing a small strangle of skin just outside of the mouth corner. A corner of the lip lift creates more visible vermilion at the tail of the upper lip (and can be combined with a corner of the mouth lift) by removing a small strip of skin kist above the lateral vermilion lip edge. Some people only need a corner of the mouth lift while other people only need a corner lip lift. Then there are some people who need a combined corner of the mouth lift combined with a corner lip lip lift because their whole side of the lip is turned down. I have performed a lot of both of these and you have to pick the right procedure for the lip problem. Often times I see patients who had the wrong type of lip lift performed.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana