Ennis Plastic Surgery · Boca Raton
Lip Lift in Florida
Upper lip lift & facial proportion
Explore upper lip lift surgery with Dr. L. Scott Ennis, with attention to the relationship between your nose, lip and smile.
Procedure at a glance
- Surgeon
- Dr. L. Scott Ennis, MD, FACS
- Location
- Boca Raton, Florida
- Approach
- Upper lip lift
- Consultation
- In-office or virtual
Dr. Ennis explains
Length, shape or volume? Start there.
An upper lip lift shortens the distance between the base of the nose and the upper lip. It can expose more of the pink lip, or vermilion, and change tooth show without adding filler volume.
A longer upper lip and a lip that needs volume are different concerns. Dr. Ennis explains why identifying that distinction matters before choosing a treatment.
Watch Dr. Ennis explainActual patient results
Lip Lift.
Before & after.
Actual patients of Dr. Scott Ennis
Upper lip lift
Close-up comparison from the practice’s published lip lift series.
Actual patient of Dr. Scott Ennis
Upper lip lift
A second close-up comparison from the published lip lift series.
Actual patient of Dr. Scott Ennis
Lip lift & facial rejuvenation
Combined with endoscopic brow lift, lower blepharoplasty, deep plane facelift and buccal fat removal.
Actual patient of Dr. Scott Ennis
Lip lift & facelift
Case 53626: combined with facelift and buccal fat pad removal.
Actual patient of Dr. Scott Ennis
A personal decision
Is a lip lift right for you?
You may notice a longer distance between the nose and upper lip, less visible pink lip or reduced tooth show. Others seek advice after filler has added projection without addressing the underlying proportions.
Your natural lip length, smile, skin quality, previous treatments and health all matter. A very short philtrum may make further shortening inappropriate. The discussion should include scar visibility and how the proposed change affects the entire mouth.
Your treatment options
Understand the approach.
Consider the differences.
The distance between nose and upper lip
A lip lift shortens selected skin above the upper lip. This is different from adding lip volume with filler.
The skin between the nose and lip is assessed.
The incision is commonly placed at the base of the nose.
Bullhorn or subnasal lip lift
The bullhorn technique removes a measured strip of skin beneath the nose through a curved incision following the nasal base. The upper lip is repositioned, increasing the visibility of the vermilion and potentially changing tooth show.
The amount and distribution of shortening require careful planning. This does not add volume, and the incision can leave a visible scar even when placed in a natural boundary. Ask how the central lip and corners will relate after healing.
Italian lip lift
The Italian approach uses two smaller incisions beneath the nostrils for a more limited adjustment. It differs from the continuous subnasal incision and may suit selected goals.
A smaller incision is not automatically the right choice. Discuss the degree of lift, control of shape and expected scars in relation to your anatomy.
Corner lip lift
A corner lip lift addresses a downturned position at the corners of the mouth. It treats a different aspect of the expression from central upper-lip length.
The practice’s guide notes concern about conspicuous scarring at the corners and describes this approach as rarely recommended. Review the trade-off carefully rather than assuming it should accompany every upper lip lift.
Lip lift with facial surgery
A lip lift may be combined with a facelift when separate changes in the lower face and upper lip are present. The patient photographs identify accompanying procedures so that the full result has context.
A deep plane facelift and lip lift have different roles. Ask what each contributes, how they affect the final proportions and whether the combined recovery is appropriate for you.
Lip lift compared with fillers
Fillers add volume and can address selected shape concerns; a lip lift changes the position and length of the upper lip. Adding more filler may not resolve a lip that appears long or rolled inward.
Surgery produces a lasting structural change but also creates a scar and requires recovery. Injectables have different benefits, limitations and risks. Neither approach should be selected solely because it is described as permanent or temporary.
Meet your surgeon
Dr. L. Scott Ennis,
MD, FACS.
Board-certified plastic surgeon.
Founder of Ennis Plastic Surgery.
At Ennis Plastic Surgery, the discussion begins with your features and the change you hope to make. Dr. Ennis’s background in art informs his interest in proportion and individual facial character.
Meet Dr. Ennis & explore his credentials
Meet the SurgeonA closer look
Your lip lift guide.
Why the upper lip changes
The upper lip can elongate and roll inward with age, reducing visible vermilion and tooth show. Changes in skin elasticity, collagen and underlying support contribute, together with inherited facial proportions.
Sun exposure, smoking and other influences on skin quality also matter. The published guide discusses the relationship of the moving lip muscles and surrounding facial support; the consultation determines which factors are relevant to your appearance.
Personal reasons for considering treatment
Some people want a more defined lip shape or a different balance between the nose, mouth and chin. Others are frustrated by repeated filler treatment that does not address the concern they see.
A useful conversation separates the physical change from expectations about confidence or self-image. The plan should respect your identity and avoid excessive shortening or a shape that does not fit your face.
The consultation
Dr. Ennis assesses the nose-to-lip distance, lip shape, tooth show, smile and the relationship to the rest of the face. Discuss previous filler or surgery, skin quality, medical history and the change you hope to make.
Review patient photographs, incision placement, realistic outcomes and the possibility of a visible scar. In-office and virtual consultation requests are available; the practice can explain what examination is needed for surgical planning.
Benefits & limitations
A lip lift may improve the visible upper-lip shape without adding the forward projection of filler. The structural shortening is intended to last, though aging continues.
Trade-offs include scarring, asymmetry, an altered smile or lip shape, overcorrection and the possibility of revision. More lift is not necessarily better. Ask how the plan accounts for the corners of the mouth and your existing proportions.
Results & maintenance
The change in lip position may be visible early, but swelling and scar healing affect the initial appearance. The result continues to refine as the tissues settle; a photograph from early recovery is not the final outcome.
Sun protection, avoiding smoking and appropriate skin care support long-term skin health. Use scar treatments only as instructed, and discuss any complementary treatment rather than assuming additional procedures are necessary.
From consultation to recovery
What happens during a lip lift?
The team takes photographs and marks the proposed incision and tissue removal. The live guide describes an in-office procedure often performed under local anesthesia, with sedation or another anesthesia plan discussed when appropriate.
After the measured skin segment is removed, fine sutures close the incision. The published estimate is approximately 45–60 minutes, with same-day return home. Your plan may differ, especially with combined surgery. You receive specific instructions for wound care and follow-up.
A small area. Careful healing.
During the first week, swelling, tightness and bruising may occur. The published guide describes suture removal around days five to seven. Light daily activity and return to non-strenuous work depend on your healing and comfort.
Over weeks two to four, bruising generally fades and the incision continues to soften. Exercise and normal activity should follow the team’s clearance. Scar maturation extends beyond the first month, and the timing of final refinement varies.
Follow advice about head elevation, limiting excessive mouth movement early on, sun protection and any prescribed scar care. Contact the practice about unexpected symptoms instead of relying on another patient’s timeline.
Understand the risks.
Risks include bleeding, infection, poor healing, visible scarring, asymmetry, changes in sensation or lip movement, overcorrection, an unsatisfactory shape and revision surgery. Discuss your scar history, previous lip treatments and the exact amount of shortening proposed.
This is not a complete list. Ask which risks apply to your health and treatment, how concerns would be managed and whom to contact during recovery.
Making an informed choice
Choosing the Best Lip Lift Surgeon in Florida for You
Look for relevant qualifications, a clear explanation of your options and a plan for care before and after treatment.
Dr. L. Scott Ennis, MD, FACS
View credentials & recognition
Board certification
American Board of Plastic Surgery
Listed in Dr. Ennis’s Florida Department of Health profile.
View physician recordSelected recognition · 2024
The Boca Raton Observer
Featured in the publisher’s Castle Connolly Top Docs 2024 special advertising section.
View publisher’s profileVerify the qualifications.
Confirm the surgeon’s relevant board certification and training. Ask about their experience with facial surgery and with the specific technique being recommended.
Look at comparable cases.
Review actual patients with concerns similar to yours. Ask which procedures were performed together and when the photographs were taken. A single image cannot predict your own result.
Understand the recommendation.
Ask the surgeon to connect the proposed approach to your anatomy and goals. A useful consultation should explain alternatives, limitations and the option of postponing treatment.
Ask about safety and aftercare.
Discuss the surgical facility, anesthesia team, risks and follow-up arrangements. Know whom to contact after surgery and how concerns would be assessed.
Questions worth asking
Learn more.
Decide in your own time.
Lip Lift questions to bring to your consultation.
What is a bullhorn lip lift?
It is an upper lip lift using a curved incision beneath the nose to remove a measured strip of skin and reposition the upper lip.
Does a lip lift add volume?
It changes position and the amount of pink lip visible. It does not add volume in the way a filler does.
Is the result permanent?
The operation makes a lasting structural change, but aging continues and the appearance can change over time. No specific appearance or duration can be promised.
Where will the scar be?
For a bullhorn lift, the incision follows the base of the nose. Scars can remain visible and should be discussed before surgery.
Can a lip lift be done with a facelift?
It may be considered when the procedures address separate concerns. The gallery includes combined operations, which affect both the appearance and recovery.
When are sutures removed?
The published guide describes approximately five to seven days. The team determines the timing for your incision and healing.
Keep exploring
Consider the whole picture.
Ennis Plastic Surgery · Beautiful Medicine™
A considered plan starts
with a conversation.
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