Lip Lift San Mateo & Redwood City

Enhance lip shape and lift with precision and artistry.

Redefine Your Smile with a Lip Lift

A well-proportioned upper lip is essential to a balanced, youthful, and expressive face. At Cheng Plastic Surgery in San Mateo, we perform lip lift surgery to elevate and refine the upper lip, enhancing your lip contour, shortening the space between the nose and mouth (philtrum), and creating a fuller, more aesthetically pleasing smile.

If you’re looking for a long-lasting alternative to fillers or want to restore definition and youthful curvature to your lips, a lip lift offers an elegant and permanent solution—designed with surgical precision by double board-certified facial plastic surgeons Drs. Jacqueline and Elbert Cheng.

What Is a Lip Lift?

A lip lift is a minor surgical procedure that shortens the philtrum—the vertical space between the base of the nose and the top of the upper lip. This creates a more lifted, defined, and balanced lip appearance. Unlike temporary fillers, a lip lift delivers lasting enhancement by structurally reshaping your lip anatomy.

Lip Lift Before & After

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Why Consider a Lip Lift?

As we age, the philtrum tends to elongate, causing the upper lip to droop or roll inward, making the mouth look heavier or more aged. A lip lift corrects this subtly and naturally. Lip lift benefits:

Shortens a long philtrum for improved facial proportion
Increases upper lip visibility and definition without filler
Enhances the Cupid’s bow and vermilion border
Minimizes lip asymmetry
Restores a youthful amount of tooth show at rest and when smiling
Offers consistent, long-lasting results
Avoids the overfilled or heavy look sometimes associated with repeated dermal filler use

This procedure is especially ideal for those who have used fillers in the past but want a more structural and permanent enhancement.

Am I a Candidate for a Lip Lift?

You may be a candidate for a lip lift if you:

Have a long or aged-looking philtrum (the area between the nose and the upper lip)
Desire more visible upper lip volume and definition
Have lips that appear to “roll under” or thin with age
Want a natural-looking, long-lasting alternative to fillers
Are in good general health and are a non-smoker
Do not have autoimmune or healing complications

If your philtrum is already short or if you show too much upper gum when smiling, our surgeons may recommend alternate techniques to avoid overcorrection.

What to Expect During Your Lip Lift Procedure

Though the procedure is relatively quick—about 30 to 60 minutes—it requires exacting precision and deep knowledge of facial aesthetics. At Cheng Plastic Surgery, your treatment is performed with both surgical skill and artistic attention. Procedure overview:

Anesthesia

Local anesthesia or IV sedation for comfort

Incision placement

Hidden just beneath the nostrils along the base of the nose

Tissue removal

A precise strip of skin is removed to shorten the philtrum

Sutures

Skin is delicately closed and refined for a smooth, nearly invisible result

Lip Lift Recovery

Most patients experience minimal downtime and manageable discomfort.

Recovery timeline:

Swelling and mild bruising peak in the first 2–3 days
Return to work or light activities in 5–7 days
Sutures are removed in about one week
Scars are well-hidden under the nose and fade beautifully over time
Laser touch-up may be offered at 6 weeks for optimal blending, if needed

We’ll see you for regular follow-up visits and ensure your healing is smooth and your results are just as you envisioned.

Why Choose Cheng Plastic Surgery for Your Lip Lift?

The lip lift may be a small procedure, but it requires exceptional detail, facial expertise, and an artist’s eye. At Cheng Plastic Surgery, lip aesthetics are approached with the same mastery and compassion we bring to every facial surgery.

What makes us different:

Double board-certified facial plastic surgeons
Deep specialization in facial symmetry, lip shape, and proportion
Expertise in achieving natural, elegant outcomes for diverse faces
A fully accredited, private surgical suite in San Mateo
Personalized, high-touch care before, during, and after surgery

We are honored to be trusted by patients throughout the Bay Area—and known for delivering refined, confident results that harmonize the lips with the entire face.

Begin Your Lip Rejuvenation Journey

A lip lift at Cheng Plastic Surgery is a small procedure that can make a significant difference, elevating not just your upper lip, but your overall expression and confidence.

Schedule your private consultation in San Mateo to explore what’s possible with this precise, powerful enhancement.