Modified Upper Lip Lift Technique: A Clinical Study to Evaluate Esthetic, Functional, and Scar Quality

The modified upper lip lift technique has emerged as a promising surgical approach for addressing upper lip elongation and enhancing lip volume, offering improved aesthetic and functional outcomes with minimal scarring. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of this technique in increasing lip volume and optimizing upper lip height, tooth exposure, and scar quality.

Twenty Arab patients (19 female, 1 male; mean age 32.5 ± 6.4 years) meeting selection criteria for a long upper lip (length ≥ 24 mm for males, ≥ 22 mm for females) underwent a modified upper lip lift. Patients with severe skeletal discrepancies (e.g., severe Class II or III cases, patients with anterior open bite or severe vertical maxillary excess) and excessive exposure of the maxillary anterior teeth gingiva at rest (> 3 mm) were excluded. Upper lip height, vermilion thickness, and anterior tooth exposure were measured preoperatively and at 1 week, 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively. Scar quality was assessed using the Vancouver Scar Scale (VSS; range 0–13, where 0 = no scar and 13 = worst possible scar).

Statistically significant improvements (p<0.001 for all, paired t-test or Wilcoxon test) were sustained at six months: mean upper lip height decreased from 21.80 ± 1.30 mm to 16.95 ± 0.89 mm, vermilion thickness increased from 2.10 ± 0.79 mm to 5.65 ± 0.75 mm, and tooth exposure improved from 0.25 ± 0.44 mm to 2.00 ± 0.65 mm. Scar quality (VSS) improved significantly (p<0.001, Wilcoxon test), with mean score decreasing from 5.10 ± 0.72 at one week to 2.40 ± 1.05 at three months. No major complications occurred.

The modified technique demonstrated significant, stable improvements in lip height, vermilion volume, tooth exposure, and scar quality over six months. The results highlight the precision of the surgical design in balancing aesthetic and functional outcomes. Scar quality benefited from microincisions in natural subnasal creases and reduced-tension closure.

The modified technique effectively enhances lip aesthetics and function, providing stable, long-lasting results with minimal scarring. It represents a reliable alternative to traditional surgical and non-surgical approaches. Future research should prioritize more diverse patient cohorts, include detailed facial skeletal discrepancy assessment, and extended follow-up periods to validate these preliminary findings and establish the technique's long-term efficacy and safety profile.