If lip-plumping lipsticks, liners, and glosses don’t seem to be delivering the full, luscious appearance you’re after, you might have better luck with a cosmetic treatment to physically alter their shape and size in a more noticeable way. First, it’s important to remember that not all lip treatments work the same way. Some merely add volume, while others reduce wrinkles, adjust the line bordering the lips, or reduce the gap between the mouth and nose. There are three main options available to you from our practice serving the San Francisco area: a surgical lip lift, filler injections with Juvederm^®, and a BOTOX^® lip flip.

Lip Lift

Lip lifts are a surgical, in-office option for restoring the appearance of lips in a very natural-looking way. They are more intensive, but are also a lasting solution that won’t require a lot of maintenance, unlike injectables. A surgical lift reduces the area between the mouth and nose, while rolling out the upper lip, tightening loose skin, and restoring the Cupid’s bow—all at the same time—to counteract the effects of aging.

Juvederm^® Lip Fillers

If can be difficult to conceal deeply etched “smoker’s lines” or “lipstick lines” with makeup alone. It’s also hard to make lipstick look perfect on lips that are naturally thin and flat without much space to work with. Juvederm Volbella^® XC and Ultra^® XC soft gel fillers contain hyaluronic acid, a water-retaining ingredient that the skin makes naturally and add plumpness below the surface. These are light fillers that work well for softening very fine lines and adding fullness to the lips. Volbella^® XC adds a more subtle amount of volume and is ideal for precision “fine-tuning.”

BOTOX^® Lip Flip

Neurotoxin injections are another less invasive way to make the lips and surrounding area look more youthful and attractive. They minimize the perioral wrinkles that form around the lips due to repeated movement, elevate drooping corners of the mouth, and unfurl the upper lip in a subtle way to create the desired shape or reduce a gummy smile. BOTOX^® relieves some of the tension around the overworked muscles above the lips for a more youthful look.

Learn more about what a lip lift and other aesthetic lip treatments can do by contacting The Jacobs Center for Cosmetic Surgery. Call (415) 433-0303 to reach our office in San Francisco or (707) 473-0220 to reach our office Healdsburg, or submit a consultation request form to get started.