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Consultation
Dr. Osayande evaluates brow position, forehead and hairline anatomy, eyelid skin, facial symmetry, medical history, and your goals. Photographs help document the relationship between the brow and upper eyelids.
Lip Liftin Rockville, Maryland
A more balanced upper lip.
What Is a Lip Lift?
A lip lift is a surgical procedure that shortens the space between the nose and upper lip to enhance visible lip shape and proportion. Signature Facial Plastic Surgery serves patients in Rockville, Bethesda, and the greater Washington, DC area.
A more balanced upper lip
What can a lip lift improve?
As we age, the space between the base of the nose and the upper lip (the philtrum) can lengthen, causing less of the upper lip to show and giving the lip a thinner, less youthful appearance. A lip lift shortens this distance, revealing more of the natural upper lip without adding volume.
At Signature Facial Plastic Surgery, lip lift surgery is planned around your specific facial proportions to create a balanced, natural-looking result.
- A long distance between the nose and upper lip
- Reduced visible upper lip, especially when relaxed
- A desire for more lip show without added volume
- Upper lip flattening related to aging
A lip lift is not the same as lip filler, and the two address different concerns. Patients seeking more lip volume rather than more visible lip show may be better served by filler; your consultation will clarify which approach fits your goals.
Thoughtful patient selection
Is a lip lift right for you?
You may be a candidate for a lip lift if you have a long philtrum (the area between your nose and upper lip) and want more of your natural upper lip to show, without adding volume through filler. Good candidates are in good general health with realistic expectations about the degree of change achievable.
Because this is a permanent change to a central facial feature, your consultation will focus closely on your specific proportions and goals.
A subtle, proportionate approach
Your personalized lip lift
Dr. Osayande measures your specific facial proportions to determine the appropriate amount of lift, since over-shortening the space between the nose and lip can create an unnatural, strained appearance.
The incision is typically placed just beneath the base of the nose, where it can be well concealed within the natural shadow of that area.
“A lip lift should look proportionate to the rest of the face, not like an obvious change. Subtlety is what separates a natural result from one that looks overdone.”
From consultation through recovery
Your lip lift experience at Signature
Surgical Planning
Your incision pattern, degree of repositioning, anesthesia plan, and whether another procedure would add meaningful benefit are selected for your anatomy—not from a standard formula.
Procedure Day
Brow lift surgery is performed with anesthesia appropriate to the planned technique and setting. The tissues are carefully repositioned and secured while the incisions are closed with attention to scar quality.
Follow-Up
Scheduled postoperative visits allow Dr. Osayande to monitor swelling, incision healing, brow position, and your gradual return to normal activities.
Planning your downtime
Lip lift recovery and results
Healing varies by patient, but the following timeline offers a general framework.
First 48 hours
Swelling around the upper lip and nose base is expected.
Days 3–7
Swelling gradually improves; sutures are typically removed within the first week.
About 1–2 weeks
Most visible swelling resolves, and patients feel comfortable in social settings.
Following months
The incision line continues to fade and soften.
When will I see the final result?
Initial swelling affects appearance; final lip shape becomes clear within several weeks to a couple of months.
Are results permanent?
Yes, a lip lift produces a permanent change to lip proportion.
What are the risks?
Bleeding, infection, asymmetry, and visible scarring at the incision site.
Considering upper-face rejuvenation?
Start with the right diagnosis.
Your consultation will determine whether the change you see comes primarily from the brow, upper eyelids, dynamic muscle activity, or a combination of factors.
Why choose Signature
A facial plastic surgeon’s perspective
Dr. Bella Osayande is a fellowship-trained facial plastic surgeon whose practice is focused on the face, eyes, brows, nose, neck, and hair. That focused training supports a comprehensive, whole-face approach to every procedure she performs.
Her approach emphasizes precise planning, natural facial expression, honest treatment recommendations, and results that feel proportionate to the individual—not a predetermined aesthetic ideal.
- Fellowship-trained in Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
- Care centered on facial anatomy and natural-looking results
- Personalized surgical planning and direct surgeon follow-up
- Located in Rockville, serving Bethesda, Montgomery County, Washington, DC, and the greater DMV
Frequently asked questions
Lip Lift FAQs
Clear answers to common questions about surgery, recovery, scars, and treatment selection.
Am I a good candidate for a lip lift?
Good candidates have a long space between the nose and upper lip and want more natural lip show without added volume.
How is a lip lift different from lip filler?
A lip lift permanently shortens the space above the lip to reveal more of your natural lip; filler adds volume to the lip itself. They address different concerns and can sometimes be combined.
Will there be a visible scar after a lip lift?
The incision is placed at the base of the nose and typically heals to be very inconspicuous.
How long is recovery after a lip lift?
Most patients experience 1–2 weeks of visible swelling before feeling comfortable in social settings.
Is a lip lift permanent?
Yes, the change to lip proportion is permanent, though the face will continue to age naturally.
Can a lip lift be combined with other procedures?
Yes, it's sometimes combined with procedures like rhinoplasty or chin augmentation for more comprehensive facial balancing.
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