Experience the Benefits of a Lip Lift
Enhance your facial beauty with a lip lift performed by board-certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. Rubinstein in Newburgh, NY. A lip lift not only adds volume to your lips but also beautifully reshapes them, offering a youthful and vibrant appearance that complements your overall facial aesthetic.
What is a Lip Lift?
A lip lift is a surgical procedure that is designed to reduce the distance between the upper lip and the base of the nose (an area known as the philtrum), a process that ultimately widens and lifts the upper lip. Generally, upper lip lift techniques are performed to add width to thin lips or to improve the shape of the mouth. By lifting the upper lip, patients can enjoy better lip contour and a more youthful appearance overall.

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Why Choose a Lip Lift?
Many people gravitate to fillers for lip enhancement because they are non-surgical and convenient. While fillers might be the perfect treatment for some patients, cosmetic surgery may be more appropriate in other cases.
People who choose a lip lift benefit in many different ways. Surgery is permanent, which means there will be less time spent in the plastic surgeon’s office and less money spent on fillers over the years. A lip lift also improves the shape of the lips and can make them look wider. It can emphasize the shape of the “cupid’s bow” for a more sensuous appearance.
Fillers can improve the plumpness of the lips, but there’s only so much wider they can make the upper lip appear. For aging or naturally thin lips, a lip lift can be the best choice. As with most plastic surgery procedures, lip lifts typically help patients feel more confident and beautiful in their daily lives.

Types of Lip Lift Procedures
There are several techniques for lip lifts, each tailored to meet specific aesthetic goals:
- Bullhorn Lip Lift (Subnasal Lip Lift): The most common type, involving an incision under the nose to lift the center and sides of the upper lip.
- Central Lip Lift: Focuses on elevating the Cupid’s bow for a more defined upper lip.
- Corner Lip Lift: Ideal for correcting downturned lips, giving a slight upward tilt at the mouth corners.
- Gullwing Lip Lift: Involves an incision along the upper lip border, enhancing its definition.
- Italian Lip Lift: This is a subtler approach, with incisions at each nostril, lifting the lip without affecting the center.
- V to Y Lip Lift: Involves reshaping the lip area by altering the incision pattern from a ‘V’ to a ‘Y’.
Who Can Benefit From a Lip Lift?
Healthy women and men who want to improve the shape of their lips are candidates for a lip lift. Older patients often choose this procedure because the upper lip begins to sag and droop with age, creating a thin lip appearance over time. Younger patients with naturally thin lips, a long philtrum, or drooping at the corners of the mouth may also benefit from a lip lift.
Patients must have realistic expectations and should understand the limitations of the procedure. A lip lift will improve the shape of the mouth but will not increase lip volume. Other procedures must be combined with an upper lip lift to add fullness.
Understanding the Procedure: A Step-by-Step Guide
Embark on your lip lift journey with our clear and concise guide, designed to walk you through each crucial step:
1. Initial Consultation
Your journey begins with a personalized consultation. Here, we discuss your aesthetic goals and assess your facial structure, ensuring the procedure aligns perfectly with your needs.
2. Pre-Operative Preparations
We guide you through essential preparations, including lifestyle adjustments and medical evaluations, to ensure you’re fully ready for the surgery.
3. The Surgical Process
Our guide details the surgical steps, from the precise incisions to the careful reshaping of your lip, providing clarity on what to expect during the procedure.
4. Post-Operative Care
Post-surgery, we offer comprehensive advice on managing discomfort, swelling, and wound care, ensuring a smooth and comfortable recovery.
5. Follow-Up and Recovery
We emphasize the importance of follow-up appointments and provide guidelines on gradually resuming daily activities, supporting you through every stage of the healing process.
By following these steps, you’ll gain a complete understanding of the lip lift process, from initial consultation to the final reveal of your enhanced appearance.
Your Lip Lift Consultation
Before you can schedule a lip lift procedure, you will need to meet with Dr. Rubinstein at his Hudson Valley office to discuss your goals and candidacy for the surgery. During this meeting, you’ll get an overview of the procedure and Dr. Rubinstein will ask you about your goals and expectations.
Once he knows what you’re hoping to achieve with surgery, he will examine your lip and nose area, ask about your health history, and suggest some treatment options based on your goals. You’ll also have the opportunity to ask questions and get to know the doctor. Don’t be afraid to address any concerns you may have—this is the opportunity to get all the information you need to decide on a treatment plan.
What to Expect After the Surgery
Post-surgery, you might experience swelling and mild discomfort, which is normal. Recovery tips include:
- Keeping your head elevated to minimize swelling.
- Following your surgeon’s care instructions meticulously.
- Avoiding strenuous activities for a specified period.
Preparing for Lip Lift Surgery
If you choose to move forward with the lip lift procedure, there are a few things you’ll need to do in the weeks leading up to the surgery. First, you’ll need to quit using all tobacco products, at least until after you’ve healed from surgery. Nicotine can interfere with the healing process or even cause problems during surgery.
You will also need to stop taking certain supplements and over-the-counter painkillers a few weeks before your procedure as they can cause excessive bleeding. Dr. Rubinstein’s staff will give you a full list. You should also arrange for a ride to and from the office on the day of your surgery.

THE PROCEDURE
The Upper Lip Lift Procedure
All types of lip lift procedures are usually performed under local anesthesia on an outpatient basis. The surgery does not take long and can often be completed within an hour.
There are several different lip lift techniques that may be used. Before the day of the surgery, Dr. Rubinstein will discuss these options and tell you which technique he thinks will work the best for you. Techniques include:
- Bullhorn lip lift or subnasal lip lift: A strip of skin is removed just beneath the nose in the shape of a bullhorn. The small incision is hidden in the crease of the nose.
- Gullwing lip lift: Skin is removed just above the lip, increasing the width of the lip. This approach can be risky and is not favored in most cases.
- Corner lip lift: Small incisions are made at each corner of the mouth to lift the area. This technique is best for patients whose mouths droop naturally.
The bullhorn technique is the most common as it tends to produce good results and reduces visible scarring. Once the skin has been removed, sutures are placed and the patient may be driven home by a friend or family member.
Recovering From A Lip Lift
Lip lift recovery is very quick. It is a minor surgery that does not require much downtime. Discomfort should be minimal, and patients can take prescribed or over-the-counter medications to control any pain. Bruising, swelling, and numbness are normal during the first few weeks and will subside gradually.
- Bruising and Swelling: It’s normal to have some bruising and swelling, which typically subsides within a few weeks.
- Post-Operative Care: We recommend keeping the head elevated for the first few days to minimize swelling. Adhering to Dr. Rubinstein’s wound care and activity restriction instructions is crucial for optimal healing.
- Returning to Normal Activities: Many patients return to work within a few days, although strenuous activities and exercise should be postponed for several weeks.
- Seeing Final Results: The complete outcome of the surgery will be visible within 3-6 months as the residual swelling diminishes.

Risks of Lip Lift Surgery
The risks involved with upper lip lifts are minimal, but patients need to be aware that complications can occur. Dr. Rubinstein will discuss all the possible risks with you before you decide to move forward. These may include:
- Bleeding: As with any surgery, there is a risk of bleeding, which is typically well-managed during the procedure.
- Infection: There’s a small risk of infection, but following post-operative care instructions can significantly reduce this risk.
- Visible Scarring: Scarring is usually minimal and well-concealed, but it’s a consideration, especially for individuals who may have a history of keloids or hypertrophic scarring.
- Aesthetic Concerns: There’s a slight chance of dissatisfaction with the aesthetic outcome, such as asymmetry or under-correction.
- Numbness: Some patients may experience temporary numbness in the treated area.
- Over-shortening: In rare cases, over-shortening of the lip can occur, which might require revision surgery.
Choosing an experienced facial plastic surgeon to perform your procedure greatly reduces these risks and will set you up for success. It is important to follow all of your doctor’s pre- and post-operative instructions to further minimize risks.
Your Journey to Enhanced Beauty
A lip lift can be a transformative step towards aligning your outer appearance with your inner beauty. If you’re considering this procedure, we’re here to guide you through every step of the journey, ensuring a comfortable, informed, and satisfying experience.
Why Choose
Dr. Rubinstein
- Dr. Rubinstein is one of the top facial plastic surgeons in New York & New Jersey.
- He is double board certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic Surgery and the American Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.
- Dr. Rubinstein has been in both private and academic practice for over 20 years.
- He is also an active member of the American Society for Laser Medicine & Surgery.
- Clinical Professor at New York Presbyterian Hospital.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lip Lifts
Most patients can go back to their desk jobs almost right away. However, some people prefer to wait until they can safely hide their healing incision with makeup. Patients who work active jobs may need to wait a few weeks before returning to their normal activities.
Lip lift surgery is permanent, unlike lip fillers. Many patients choose to combine two different lip enhancement procedures to reach their cosmetic goals. Some combine lip lift surgery with implants or ongoing filler treatments for increased volume and enhanced contour. Your treatment plan will depend on your unique goals and preferences.
A lip lift will make your lips look wider and slightly fuller. However, there will be no increase in the size and plumpness in your lips. For that, you will need to consider lip fillers or implants. Looking at before and after photos can help you get an idea of what to expect after each type of lip enhancement.
Lifting the lip may expose the upper teeth when the mouth is slightly open. This is generally seen as a benefit and should improve your appearance. However, it is important to choose an experienced surgeon who knows the proper amount of skin to remove for a natural appearance.
No. “Duck lips” are usually caused by the overuse of dermal fillers. Excess fullness causes an appearance similar to a duck’s bill that looks very unnatural. Conservative removal of the skin during an upper lip lift will not result in this cosmetic issue and will improve the shape of the lips overall.
Scars from a lip lift are hidden in natural creases and will fade over time. After six months to a year, the scar should be minimally visible.
If you live in the state of New York, Laser Cosmetic Surgery Specialists offers lip lift among its services. For a full list of services, please visit our Locations page.
Yes, the goal is to enhance your lips while maintaining a natural look.
A lip lift offers permanent results, unlike temporary fillers.