Lips are an expressive part of the face, a key structure for communication, and a source of judging attractiveness. But did you know that lips thin as you get older, even before your 30th birthday?
At our San Diego plastic surgery practice, we understand that thin lips can impact both overall appearance as well as your confidence. Whether due to genetics or the natural aging process, thin lips may lack the fullness and balance that enhance your unique features. Fortunately, modern aesthetic techniques offer solutions for anyone seeking a subtle boost or a more pronounced pout.
To help you achieve a beautiful, natural look, we provide both non-surgical and surgical options to our lip enhancement pateints. Our injectable lip fillers add volume, contour, and definition without downtime, allowing you to enjoy plumper lips almost immediately. For those seeking a more permanent approach, a surgical lip lift can offer long-lasting results by reshaping and lifting the lip area. No matter your goals, the expert, all-female team at Restore SD is here to help you find the best solution to enhance your lips and boost your confidence.
What causes thin lips?
- Genetics: Your lip shape and size are inherited. (Thanks Mom!) If you have thin lips to start though, thinning will become noticeable at an earlier age.
- Lifestyle: Both smoking and drinking from a straw can create wrinkles and thin lips. We already know why smoking is bad for you, but straws are recently banned in California, so it is a great time to give up that habit. It hastens the thinning of your lips.
- Age: The same aging process that occurs in your skin happens with your lips. As you age your lips begin to lose collagen and elastin. You also have less hyaluronic acid which keeps lips plump. Over decades, we lose bone density in our face and have wear and tear on our teeth which can lead to a loss of support of our lips. This can make them appear sunken in or less full.
How can I get fuller lips?
Keeping hydrated and having a healthy lifestyle can slow down the thinning of your lips. Using a supplement that promotes healthy skin will also increase the production of collagen and help maintain your lip health. You can also hydrate your lips topically with ointments and balms.
Non-surgical lip enhancement with fillers
Surgical enhancement with fat grafting or implants is an option, but many of our patients opt for hyaluronic acid fillers since they can be performed in office. At Restore SD Plastic Surgery, we believe that the Juvéderm and Restylane family of hyaluronic acid fillers produce the most consistent, reproducible, and safest results. These dermal fillers can add volume and enhance the shape of your lips during an office-based treatment session that lets you get right back to your day.
“I have been going to Dr. Gallus since 2019 for treatments including Botox, fillers, IPL, and microneedling with radio frequency. My results since switching to Dr. Gallus have been better than my previous aesthetic doctor. I look much more natural and have very little, if any bruising after injectables. Also, I love the office staff! It’s a very down to earth, relaxed and fun atmosphere.“
—Actual patient
Why our patients love lip filler
In recent years, lip filler has become an extremely popular way to enhance your natural lip appearance and look your best. Your own unique lip shape and volume will determine how the filler will be best distributed. Lip filler is very effective in plumping your pout and accentuating the shape that you already have.
There are natural “ideal” ratios between upper and lower lip size so creating an individualized treatment and maintenance plan will differ from person to person. Lip filler is also metabolized differently by each person, so the duration of results will vary.
Lip filler can last anywhere from 4-9 months and regular touch ups are recommended to maintain your best results.
Treating thin lips is best done gently and gradually. Too much injectable filler at one time is sure to give you an artificial look with post-procedure swelling that may last several days. Often, treating upper and lower lips with hyaluronic acid-based fillers will require anywhere from ½ a syringe up to 1- 2 full syringes.
Surgical lip lifts
A lip lift is a surgical procedure designed to enhance the shape and prominence of the upper lip by reducing the distance between the nose and the lip border. This subtle adjustment not only adds natural-looking volume but also reveals more of the lip’s natural pink color, giving the lips a fuller, more youthful appearance. Unlike fillers, which temporarily add volume, a lip lift provides permanent enhancement that beautifully complements the facial structure and balances proportions.
How a Lip Lift Works
During a lip lift, our plastic surgeons will remove a small strip of skin from the area just under the nose, allowing them to gently lift and reshape the upper lip. The incision is carefully placed along the base of the nose to minimize visible scarring, resulting in a subtle, lifted appearance once healed. By reshaping the lip, this procedure creates a naturally fuller effect that enhances the lip’s curvature and definition without adding artificial volume.
Who Might Choose a Lip Lift Over Fillers?
While fillers are an excellent choice for many seeking temporary volume, a lip lift is ideal for those looking for a long-lasting solution. Candidates often include patients with a longer-than-desired upper lip area (aka the philtrum – the distance between the upper lip and nose) or those who want to increase lip prominence without the need for repeated filler appointments. A lip lift can also be a perfect option for those who feel fillers don’t provide the structural change they desire or want a natural enhancement that doesn’t rely on cosmetic injections or implants.
Can I get both lip filler and a lip lift?
Yes, many of our patients who wish to correct thin lips choose to combine a lip lift with lip filler for enhanced results. While the lip lift provides a lifted, more defined upper lip, fillers can be used to add additional volume and shape, creating a fuller look tailored to your aesthetic goals. This combination allows for a balanced, natural result that enhances both lip contour and volume.
Trust our female plastic surgeons for your lip enhancement Dr. Katerina GallusDr. Katerina Gallus is a respected plastic surgeon, a master injector with years of experience, and she is also certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) and American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS).
With over 20 years of experience, Dr. Gallus is a board certified plastic surgeon and Castle Connolly Top Doctor. She will partner with you to develop a tailored surgical plan that prioritizes your safety and results.
Dr. Janet Chao
Dr. Janet Chao is a fellowship-trained facial plastic surgeon with extensive experience in lip lift procedures. Her artistic eye and surgical precision ensure that patients achieve natural, beautiful results that enhance their overall appearance.
Dr. Chao’s elite facial plastic surgery training and remarkable attention to detail offers patients safe, natural-looking results. She will work closely with you to understand your goals and concerns to bring your aesthetic vision to life.
Ready to kiss those thin lips goodbye?
At Restore SD Plastic Surgery, we will guide you all the way through the process from the initial phone call to the treatment. Dr. Gallus, Dr. Chao, and our all-female team is excited to take care of you, so when you are ready for an exceptional lip enhancement experience, look no further! Call us at 858-224-2281 or contact us online to book your consultation today.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Katerina Gallus — Updated on Feb 5, 2025
