A lip lift is one of the most effective surgical techniques to augment the upper lip. This procedure shortens the space between the nose and upper lip, thereby making your upper lips look fuller, better defined, more youthful, and more voluminous. This procedure produces permanent results, so you’re no longer reliant on lip injections and fillers.
What are the types of lip lifts?
- Bullhorn: The bullhorn subnasal lip lift involves the removal of unwanted skin from beneath the nose. After carefully marking and measuring the excess length of the upper lip, Dr. Weber carefully marks the incisions which fall in the shadow line beneath the nose and nostril area. After removing the excess tissue, the incision is carefully closed with multiple layers of suture to remove tension from the tissue and create a scar that hides well. As a result of these maneuvers, the red part of the lip rolls outwards, becoming fuller, better defined, and more visible. This gives you a pouty look while making the upper teeth more visible.
- Vermilion Advancement: The vermillion advancement technique involves removing excess skin centered on the upper lip line. This allows refinement of the entire upper lip from corner to corner. The downside to this technique is that it creates a sharp transition between the red lip and the skin portion of the lip, which requires constant camouflage with lipstick or lip liner.
- Corner of the Mouth Lift: The corner lip lift is suitable for patients with lips that curve downwards with the appearance of an eternal frown. This technique involves removing tiny triangular pieces of skin from the mouth’s outer corners to make your lips curl upward. This technique addresses droopy outer lips. A corner of the mouth lift is occasionally combined with a bullhorn lip lift in cases of severely downturned corners of the mouth.
What changes can be expected?
- The skin portion of the lips is shortened
- The lip line is more defined
- The lips look plumper and more voluminous
- The lips look fuller
Are the results permanent?
The lip lift produces permanent results, but it doesn’t stop the aging process. As you grow older, your lips may again start drooping downwards. As such, this procedure extends your youthfulness with significant improvements visible for at least ten years.
Is there scarring?
The lip lift procedure involves making tiny incisions in the shadow lines beneath the nose or lip line. While you can expect mild scarring, the scars gradually dissipate and become inconspicuous.
How can scars be “hidden”?
The surgeon hides the scars by placing the incisions along the natural crease between the nose and lip or along the natural lip border. Once the incision heals, the scar is difficult to notice.
How can the incisions be improved after the surgery?
Laser therapy, or in some cases dermabrasion, are suitable options for patients who want to reduce the prominence of their incision marks. The laser energy penetrates the outer layers of the skin to encourage the production of new collagen fibers and skin cells. As such, the old and scarred skin tissues are replaced with new and younger skin tissues. This makes the scar fade away. Both treatments can be performed as early as six to eight weeks following the lip lift procedure.
Does Dr. Weber perform lip lift surgery?
Yes, Dr. Weber specializes in lip lift surgeries using the latest techniques to ensure natural results. He is a double board-certified Facial Plastic & Reconstructive Surgeon who has undergone extensive training, including a fellowship at the esteemed University of Michigan. Dr. Weber has been in practice and performing lip lift surgery for over a decade. He provides highly customized surgeries that address your unique needs without leaving any signs of cosmetic work.
Where is the surgery performed?
The lip lift surgery is usually performed as an in-office procedure, but it may also be performed in a surgical center.
What anesthesia is required?
A lip lift is performed under local anesthesia with mild oral sedatives. This ensures physical comfort and mental relaxation. Lip lift surgery can also be easily performed under local anesthesia for patients that would like to drive themselves home. Lip enhancement can also be combined with other procedures performed under general anesthesia at an accredited ambulatory surgery center.
What are the risks?
- General surgery risks, such as infections, bleeding, swelling, scarring, etc.
- Asymmetry issues.
- Not as much improvement as desired.
How long is the recovery?
Your lips will seem swollen for the first one to two weeks. The incisions heal very quickly but might require camouflage with makeup for the first six to eight weeks. You may experience tightness in the upper lip for the first three to four months. However, the active recovery period is 5 to 7 days, following which you can resume most of your daily activities.
Will I have bleeding?
You may experience mild bleeding during the surgery—about 1/10 of a teaspoon.
What is the cost?
A lip lift surgery cost may range from $4,000 to $6,000, depending on the surgical technique used, anesthesia, and other factors.