This Dual Technique Hits the Rewind Button on Aging Lips and Smiles

One part of aging that often gets overlooked? Your smile. We talk about sagging skin and wrinkles all the time, but lips that stretch and teeth that disappear when you smile? That’s harder to miss.

As we get older, the upper lip naturally lengthens, hiding the teeth and making smiles look less vibrant. “It’s one of those subtle signs of aging people can’t always pinpoint,” says Palo Alto, CA facial plastic surgeon Jill Hessler, MD. “You just know something looks ‘off.’”

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Now, Dr. Hessler and Los Altos, CA cosmetic dentist Joseph Field, DDS are changing how patients approach their smile goals. Their combined technique, which involves pairing a lip lift with a custom smile makeover, brings everything into balance for results that look fresh, youthful and natural.

Not Just Teeth, It’s the Frame Around Them

“Patients often come in asking for veneers, but the lips frame the smile,” says Dr. Field. “If the lip is too long or hangs low, we can’t see the teeth properly, even if they’re perfect.”

That’s where the lip lift comes in. By shortening the distance between the nose and the upper lip, Dr. Hessler can reveal more of the teeth and restore better proportions. “It brings back that subtle tooth show we associate with youth,” she says.

Planning Makes Perfect

Dr. Field starts with digital smile design, a process that maps out where the ideal teeth should sit. Then he and Dr. Hessler decide whether to lift the lip first or fine-tune the teeth, depending on the patient’s features. “Every case is different, but doing the lip lift first often gives us the best foundation,” says Dr. Field. “It allows me to shape the teeth without having to make them unusually long to compensate.”

A Natural, More Confident Smile

While treatments like filler are a common choice for patients concerned with aging lips, it can actually backfire, says Dr. Field. He’s seen patients return after getting lip filler or other treatments elsewhere that ended up changing the shape of their smile. “The lips and teeth have to work in harmony,” he explains. “If one changes, it affects the other.”

And this combo isn’t just about aesthetics; it can affect function too. “If veneers are made too long to compensate for a hidden smile, it can impact how you speak or even cause a lisp,” notes Dr. Field.

Scars and Recovery

Lip lift scars are one of the biggest concerns patients have, but Dr. Hessler assures they’re nearly impossible to spot. “We hide the incision in a natural crease beneath the nose,” she says. “Most people won’t even notice it after it heals.”

After a lip lift, most patients wait about 6 to 8 weeks before starting their veneers. “It gives the swelling time to go down and the lip to settle into place,” says Dr. Field. “Then we can fine-tune the teeth to match the new look.”

The Bottom Line

If you’re thinking about veneers, or even if you’ve had them done before and something still feels off, it might be time to look at the bigger picture. Your smile isn’t just about your teeth. It’s about everything that frames it, too.

“This combo can be incredibly transformative,” says Dr. Hessler. “It’s subtle, natural and makes people look more like themselves, but refreshed.”