Subnasal Lip Lift in Santa Barbara, CA
As we age, our lips can experience changes that may affect appearance. The upper lip can lengthen and flatten, leaving less visible pink lip and a greater distance between the nose and mouth. A subnasal lip lift is a surgical procedure designed to reverse these changes by shortening the space above the lip and restoring a more youthful, balanced lower face. Dr. Sara Yegiyants performs subnasal lip lifts for patients throughout Santa Barbara, CA who want permanent results without relying on filler. Below, learn how a subnasal lip lift works, how it compares to a corner lip lift, and whether you’re a good candidate
What Is a Subnasal Lip Lift?
A subnasal lip lift is performed through a discreet incision placed just beneath the nostrils. Dr. Yegiyants removes a small strip of skin from this area, which shortens the philtrum, the space between the base of the nose and the upper lip, and shifts the lip into a more youthful, elevated position. Because the incision is hidden in the natural shadow beneath the nose, scarring is typically well concealed once healed. Unlike injectable treatments, a subnasal lip lift creates its results by repositioning your own tissue rather than adding volume, which means the outcome doesn’t fade or require touch-ups over time.
What Does a Subnasal Lip Lift Treat?
A subnasal lip lift is designed to address the specific changes that come with a long or flat upper lip. Patients often seek this procedure when they notice:
- An increased distance between the nose and the upper lip
- A flat or thin-looking upper lip with little visible pink show
- Their upper lip disappearing or becoming less visible when smiling
- A desire for permanent lip enhancement without ongoing filler maintenance
Because the procedure reshapes the lip itself rather than adding volume, it’s often chosen by patients who want a more defined, youthful lip shape rather than simply more fullness.
How Is a Subnasal Lip Lift Different From a Corner Lip Lift?
While a subnasal lip lift reshapes the upper lip and shortens the area above it, a corner lip lift addresses a different concern entirely: the downturned corners of the mouth that can develop with age. Rather than an incision beneath the nose, a corner lip lift uses small incisions placed directly at the corners of the mouth, where Dr. Yegiyants removes minimal skin and closes with fine sutures to elevate the outer edges of the upper lip. This procedure is performed under local anesthesia in under an hour and is designed to correct the sad or fatigued expression that can result from drooping mouth corners, restoring a more cheerful, youthful look. Some patients benefit from combining a corner lip lift with a subnasal lip lift, while others only need one or the other depending on their anatomy and goals. During your consultation, Dr. Yegiyants can help determine which approach, or combination of approaches, best fits your concerns.
Am I a Good Candidate for a Subnasal Lip Lift?
Good candidates for a subnasal lip lift are typically patients with a longer philtrum or a flat, thin-looking upper lip who want a visible, lasting change without relying on fillers. This procedure is popular with patients who have tried lip filler in the past but want a more permanent solution, as well as those who simply want to restore a more youthful lip shape as part of facial rejuvenation. Candidates should be in good general health, be non-smokers or willing to quit prior to surgery, and have realistic expectations about the degree of change a lip lift can achieve. During your consultation, Dr. Yegiyants will evaluate your lip anatomy and facial proportions to confirm whether a subnasal lip lift is the right fit for your goals.
Schedule a Consultation
Ready to take the next steps towards booking a procedure? Schedule your consultation today to begin your aesthetic journey with Sara Yegiyants, MD, FACS.
What Is Recovery Like After a Subnasal Lip Lift?
Recovery from a subnasal lip lift is generally straightforward. Swelling and bruising around the nose and upper lip are common during the first several days, and most patients are comfortable returning to work and light activity within about a week. Strenuous exercise should be avoided for a short period while the incision heals, and Dr. Yegiyants will provide specific aftercare instructions to support healing and minimize scarring. Full healing, including scar refinement, continues gradually over the following weeks as the incision settles into the natural crease beneath the nose.
What Results Can I Expect From a Subnasal Lip Lift?
Because a subnasal lip lift physically shortens the space above your lip, results are visible as soon as swelling resolves and continue to refine over the following weeks. Most patients see a more youthful lip shape with increased pink lip show and a shorter, more balanced distance between the nose and mouth. Unlike filler, which gradually breaks down and requires maintenance, the results of a subnasal lip lift are considered permanent, since the procedure works by repositioning your own tissue rather than adding temporary volume.
Ready to find out if a subnasal lip lift is right for you? Schedule a consultation with Dr. Yegiyants or call (805) 682-1731 to get started in Santa Barbara, CA.
Subnasal Lip Lift in Santa Barbara FAQs
The procedure is performed under local anesthesia, so discomfort during surgery is minimal. Some soreness and tightness are normal during the first few days of recovery and are typically manageable with over-the-counter pain medication.
The incision is placed just beneath the nostrils, hidden in the natural shadow of the nose, so scarring is typically well concealed once fully healed. Scars continue to fade and refine over the weeks following surgery.
Lip filler adds temporary volume that typically lasts several months to a year, while a subnasal lip lift physically shortens the space above the lip for a permanent change in shape. Many patients choose a lip lift specifically to avoid ongoing filler maintenance.
Yes. Some patients combine a subnasal lip lift with a corner lip lift, lip augmentation, or other facial procedures. Dr. Yegiyants can discuss combination options that fit your goals during your consultation.
Results are considered permanent, since the procedure works by removing tissue and repositioning the lip rather than adding temporary volume that the body eventually breaks down.
It depends on your specific concern. A subnasal lip lift is best for a long philtrum or flat upper lip, while a corner lip lift addresses downturned corners of the mouth. Dr. Yegiyants can help determine which procedure, or combination, matches your goals during a consultation.
Most patients return to work and light activity within about a week, though swelling and bruising can take several days to resolve, and full scar refinement continues gradually over the following weeks.
Meet Dr. Yegiyants
Sara Yegiyants, MD, FACS is a board-certified plastic surgeon specializing in surgical and non-invasive procedures. Learn more about Dr. Yegiyants and why you should choose her for your next procedure.
