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

Introduction 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. Materials and Methods 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). Results Statistically significant improvements ( p