Lip Lift

Q: Dr. Eppley, I had a lip lift done 2.5 months ago and I’m having complications. The tip of my nose is being pulled downwards when I smile and is very tight. 8 mm was removed from my lip and it is also very unnatural looking and high in the middle and thin on the sides. I posted on this site for help and no one has responded. I am depressed and desperate for answers. I thank you kindly in advance.

A: Thank you for sending your pictures. Your lip situation is one that is the result of too much central lip removal. It is now too short and tight. It usually takes 3 to 6 months for complete settling of the result but what you see is probably about 90% of what the result will be. You should be pulling on the upper lip regularly to try and stretch it out a bit.

A lip lift is an irreversible procedure. Once the skin is removed it can’t be put back. This is why upper lip lifts should be done conservatively, most upper lip lifts I have ever done have been between 4 to 5mms at most.

Your upper lip issues and concerns should be addressed by the surgeon who performed the procedure. There is not a surgical solution to these concerns.

Dr. Barry Eppley
Indianapolis, Indiana