‘I got surgery to fix my resting b*tch face – and I’m so happy with the results’

A woman who “always” had what’s been deemed “resting b*tch face” has revealed the drastic decision she made to cure it.

Irina Prosmushkin once suffered from a permanent frown, but on a recent FaceTime call, her mother noticed she couldn’t stop smiling.

Ms Prosmushkin, a 48-year-old pharmacist who lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has Dr Andrew Jacono to thank.

As reported by the New York Post, the Manhattan-based facial plastic surgeon performed a lip lift on Ms Prosmushkin in January, curing her of the so-called “resting b*tch face” that had plagued her.

“The corners of my lips were [always] facing down,” she told The Post. “Now I have this perfect pout.”

Lip lifts – a minimally invasive operation procedure that shortens the skin between the upper lip and the nose, known as the philtrum – are trending thanks in part to social media and all those Zoom calls we’ve had to endure seeing ourselves on.

Irina Prosmushkin before (left) and after her lip lift. Picture: Dr Andrew Jacono

Done well, the surgery widens the top lip, defines the cupid’s bow, improves tooth display and creates a more youthful appearance. On mature patients with drooping mouths, the surgery makes their expression appear happier and less pensive. On young adults with thin lips, it provides a permanent alternative to injectables.

“It definitely looks more natural than fillers,” Dr Jacono said, whose lip lift business has increased significantly over the last two years.

“Instead of adding bulk to the lip, it rolls the lip from the inside out and makes the red part look fuller.”

A lip lift typically costs between $3000 and $12,000 and takes between 45 minutes and an hour. It’s usually performed under local or twilight anaesthesia, unless combined with a complex procedure such as a facelift.

Numbness and stiffness are normal during the healing process but almost always go away quickly. Full recovery takes eight to ten weeks.

A patient of Dr Louis P Bucky who had a lip lift, before (left) and after the procedure. Picture: Dr Louis P Bucky

Although the surgery isn’t new, Instagram and TikTok have heightened public awareness. According to a member survey from the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, lip lifts were up three per cent in 2022.

There are multiple types of lip lifts with different benefits and scar placement. Doctors say the bullhorn technique – named after the shape of the strip of skin removed directly below the nose – is among the most common. A discrete scar is hidden beneath the nostrils.

“A typical candidate for a lip lift is a 53-year-old facelift patient whose smile has changed due to the lengthening of their upper lip because of gravity and loss of elasticity, just from ageing,” plastic surgeon Dr Louis P Bucky told The Post.

“Once I show a patient the before-and-after photos, they’re immediately on board.”

Jessie Barnes a few days after her lip lift surgery, with sutures still visible. Picture: Supplied

Some younger patients seek surgery after repeated filler use.

“When you start doing filler when you’re in your early 20s, the weight of the filler stretches the lip out,” Dr Jacono said. “So by the time you’re in your early 30s, the lip becomes elongated. I see it all the time.”

Jessie Barnes, a 29-year-old software sales exec in Denver, got a lip lift from Dr Manish Shah in Englewood, Colorado, in May and documented her experience on TikTok.

One week post-surgery, the swelling was almost completely gone and the scar was surprisingly faint.

Barnes loves the natural results – before (left) and after (right) – achieved with her lip lift. Picture: Supplied

“I feel like my face looks more balanced and I look really natural,” she says in a video.

“I’m probably still going to get some filler in my upper lip.”

Although complications like asymmetry and poor lip mobility are rare, doctors advise a conservative approach.

“You can be cautious and not do too much,” said plastic surgeon Dr Samuel Lin.

“You can’t reverse a lip lift.”

This article originally appeared on the New York Post and was reproduced with permission