Lip Lift Surgery in South Africa | Dr Deon Weyers
A lip lift shortens the skin between the nose and the upper lip, so the lip sits higher and shows more of its shape. Dr Deon Weyers performs it at Life Fourways Hospital for patients from across South Africa.
The vertical groove under the nose, the philtrum, can lengthen with age or simply be long by nature. When it does, the upper lip can look thin or flat, the cupid’s bow loses definition and the upper teeth are hidden when the mouth is relaxed. A lip lift addresses that length directly by removing a measured strip of skin at the base of the nose.
DW Skin & Body is a single-surgeon practice with one location, in Fourways, Johannesburg. Patients from Gauteng and further afield are seen there for assessment, surgery and every follow-up visit with Dr Weyers.
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Lip Lift South Africa: What the Procedure Changes
Before choosing any lip treatment, it helps to separate two different concerns: how tall the upper lip is, and how full it is. A lip lift deals with the first.
During a lip lift, skin is removed along the line where the nose meets the upper lip. Closing that small gap raises the lip, turns slightly more of the pink lip outward and restores a more defined border. The procedure is performed under local anaesthesia, and the scar is placed in the natural crease beneath the nose. When the incision follows the curve of the nostrils it is often called a subnasal or bullhorn lip lift.
- Philtrum shortening
- Local anaesthesia
- Scar in the nasal crease
- Long-lasting change
- Single Fourways practice
Because skin is removed rather than product added, the change in lip height is long-lasting. The lip will keep ageing naturally with the rest of the face, but it does not drift back to its original length. For a plain-language introduction, see what is a lip lift, and for how it affects expression, does a lip lift change your smile.
The practice also has pages written for patients in particular areas: lip lift Johannesburg, lip lift Sandton, lip lift Pretoria and lip lift Cape Town. Each covers the same procedure at the same Fourways practice, with practical detail for that area.
What a Lip Lift Can and Cannot Do
A lip lift can shorten a long upper lip, show more of the upper teeth at rest, make the cupid’s bow look sharper and bring the upper and lower lip into better proportion.
It does not add volume to the lip, does not smooth fine lines around the mouth and does not change the lower lip. Where those are the main concerns, a non-surgical approach or another procedure may be more appropriate, and this is discussed openly at consultation.
The simplest test: if the lip looks thin because it is long and rolled inward, a lift may help. If it is a normal height but lacks volume, filler is usually the more fitting option.
Choosing Between a Lip Lift and Non-Surgical Options
Surgical Lip Lift
Removes skin beneath the nose to change the height of the upper lip. One procedure under local anaesthesia, with a fine scar that matures over months.
The option when the space between nose and lip is long. The effect on lip height lasts because the skin itself has been shortened.
Injectable Treatments
Volumising dermal fillers add fullness, and a small neurotoxin dose can roll the lip slightly outward. Both are in-rooms treatments without an incision.
The option when volume or a subtle roll is the goal. Effects are temporary and need repeat treatment to maintain.
| Main concern | Usually points to a lip lift | Usually points to injectables |
|---|---|---|
| Long space between nose and lip | Yes: this is what a lift shortens | No: injections cannot shorten skin |
| Upper teeth hidden at rest | Often improved by raising the lip | Rarely changed |
| Lip of normal height but thin | Usually not needed | Filler adds volume |
| Wish to avoid any scar | Not possible with surgery | No incision involved |
| Wanting a long-lasting change | Change in height lasts | Repeat treatments needed |
| Wanting to trial a look first | Not reversible | Temporary, so easier to trial |
How a Lip Lift Is Planned and Performed
Whether you live in Johannesburg or travel from another province, the sequence is the same and every step is with Dr Weyers.
Online photo review or consultation
Patients outside Gauteng often start with the online consultation and photo review before an in-person assessment at Fourways.
Measuring the lip
Dr Weyers measures the philtrum, upper tooth show at rest and when smiling, and the shape of the lip border, then explains how many millimetres of skin removal suit your proportions.
The procedure
The lip lift is performed under local anaesthesia. A strip of skin is removed at the base of the nose and the incision is closed with fine stitches.
The first two weeks
Swelling usually peaks around the third day. The area is kept dry, exercise is avoided and the stitches are removed between day 10 and day 14.
Scar care and review
Once healed, a scar treatment programme begins. Full recovery is usually around six weeks, with the scar continuing to fade for months afterwards.
Who Tends to Suit a Lip Lift
The people who benefit most share one feature: an upper lip that looks long in relation to the rest of the face.
- Lengthened philtrum – Through ageing or natural anatomy, the lip sits low below the nose
- Hidden upper teeth – Little or no upper tooth show when the lips are at rest
- Flattened cupid’s bow – The upper lip border has lost its definition
- Lips out of proportion – The upper lip looks small next to the lower lip
- Realistic expectations – Understanding that the change is in lip height, with a scar beneath the nose
- Healthy and nicotine-free – Good general health and willingness to avoid nicotine while healing
Whether a lift suits you is decided in person. Measurements taken at consultation matter more than how a lip looks in photographs.
Questions Worth Asking at Your Consultation
These questions help you decide whether a lip lift is right for you and what to expect.
- How much skin will be removed.Ask how the planned amount relates to your measurements and to your tooth show.
- Where the scar will sit.Ask to see where the incision will run along the base of your nose and how it is expected to mature.
- Whether injectables would do the job.If your concern is mainly volume, ask whether filler is the more proportionate first step.
- What the recovery requires.Plan for about two weeks of keeping the area dry and avoiding exercise, with stitches out between day 10 and 14.
What a Lip Lift Costs in South Africa
The practice publishes a range of R30,000 to R50,000 for a lip lift. See lip lift prices in South Africa. Your fee is confirmed in a written quote once the plan has been agreed at consultation.
The quote sets out what is included for the procedure itself. Anything not covered, such as scar products or additional procedures combined on the same day, is listed separately so the total is clear before you book.
Medical aids in South Africa do not usually fund a lip lift done for appearance. Lip surgery after injury or for another medical reason is assessed differently, and the practice explains whether a motivation is worthwhile in your case.
Things People Often Assume About a Lip Lift
These assumptions come up regularly and are worth correcting before you decide.
Risks and Possible Complications
What Can Go Wrong After a Lip Lift
Scar concerns: the line beneath the nose may heal thicker, wider or redder than hoped, and some patients need additional scar treatment or a minor revision.
Proportion: the lip may be lifted slightly more or less than planned, or one side may sit a little differently from the other.
Sensation: the upper lip often feels numb or tight for a while; lasting changes are uncommon.
Healing problems: infection, slow healing or irritation around the stitches.
Changed tooth and gum show: more upper teeth, and occasionally gum, may be visible when you smile, which should be discussed in advance.
Local anaesthetic: reactions are uncommon and are discussed before the procedure.
Helping the Area Heal Well
- Protect the incision – by keeping it dry until the stitches have been removed.
- Avoid nicotine – before and after surgery, as it impairs healing and scar quality.
- Rest your mouth – by avoiding wide yawns, vigorous chewing and exercise for the first two weeks.
- Follow the scar plan – once healed, including daily sun protection over the scar.
Phone the practice if pain or swelling increases after the first few days, if redness spreads around the incision, or if you develop a fever or discharge. If you live outside Gauteng and symptoms are severe, contact the practice and seek urgent care close to home.
Medical disclaimer. This page is general information and does not replace a face-to-face consultation. Surgical decisions require an in-person assessment, a full consent discussion and the individual medical advice of your surgeon.
Lip Lift South Africa: Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the lip lift performed?
At the practice’s single location at Life Fourways Hospital in Johannesburg. Patients from other parts of South Africa travel to Fourways for the procedure and the early reviews.
Is a bullhorn lip lift different from a subnasal lip lift?
Both describe an incision at the base of the nose. “Bullhorn” refers to the curved shape of that incision as it follows the nostrils. The exact pattern for your lip is agreed at consultation.
Is the procedure done under general anaesthesia?
A lip lift is usually performed under local anaesthesia. If it is combined with other procedures, the anaesthetic plan is discussed with you beforehand.
How long does a lip lift last?
The change in lip height is long-lasting because skin has been removed. The lip continues to age naturally, as the rest of the face does.
Can I have filler and a lip lift?
Some patients have both, because they address different things. Whether that suits you, and in what order, is decided at consultation.
When can I return to normal activities?
Most people plan around two weeks of careful activity until the stitches are removed, with exercise avoided during that time. Full recovery is usually around six weeks.
Can I see examples of results?
The practice keeps a lip lift before and after gallery. Every face is different, and your consultation sets realistic expectations for your own anatomy.
Ask Dr Deon Weyers Whether a Lip Lift Suits You
Dr Deon Weyers is a board-certified plastic and reconstructive surgeon, registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa and a member of APRASSA. He sees lip lift patients from across South Africa at the practice in Fourways, Johannesburg.
Call 011 875 1694
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