Lip Lift
Plump, well-defined lips are an essential part of a youthful appearance. Yet, many women find themselves frustrated by the size or shape of their lips, especially as they get older and their upper lip seems to lengthen. If this sounds like you, a lip lift can help.
Enjoy Your Perfect Pout
Vitenas Cosmetic Surgery offers a long-term solution for those who desire full, defined lips that balance their other features: the lip lift. This surgical procedure can meticulously create significant, yet subtle results that will reshape the Cupid’s Bow along the top lip, improve lip borders, and increase lip length, resulting in a more youthful appearance.
A lip lift counteracts the effects of aging on the mouth from underlying bone loss of the maxilla, providing women with an exciting way of restoring their youthful appearance. To learn more about how a lip lift can help you, reach out and set up your consultation at our Houston location today.
Each Patient is Unique and Individual Results May Vary
When to Consider a Lip Lift
One of the most common signs of aging involves lax skin, loss of volume both in terms of soft tissue and bone in the face. As this occurs, the upper lip can appear to elongate because of the loss of support of the underlying maxilla bone. This has the effect of covering all of the upper teeth when the face is in repose.
This has the effect of giving the face an older appearance. While dermal fillers are a popular choice for women unhappy with thin, flat, or fading lips, injections alone cannot correct the effect of the lip position which is where a lip lift comes in.
A surgical lip lift from Vitenas Cosmetic Surgery can improve the overall appearance of the lips and mouth, creating volume and increasing the show of teeth in repose and when smiling. The procedure provides natural-looking results that restore balance to the features while adding a youthful appearance to the mouth.
How a Lip Lift Can Help
- Add definition to the Cupid’s Bow
- Increase lip volume
- Lift the corners of the mouth
- Increase show of teeth
- Create harmony between the facial features
- Decrease the amount of skin between the nose and mouth
The Ideal Lip Lift Candidate
The lip lift is a safe and successful surgical procedure, meaning almost anyone will make a good candidate. Patients who are unhappy with long, thin lips or lips that cover their teeth when smiling can find dramatic improvements with the technique.
A potential patient will need to be in good overall health, a non-smoker, understand the lip lift procedure, and have realistic expectations for the final results.
Your Consultation
To determine if a lip lift is right for you, a confidential consultation with Dr. Paul Vitenas will be scheduled. At this time, Dr. Vitenas will look over your medical history, assess the condition of lip and facial tissues, and listen to the long-term goals for your appearance. He will explain all of your treatment options, including filler injections and the surgical lip lift. If the procedure is the best option, Dr. Vitenas will create a personalized lip lift treatment plan.
COMBINING YOUR PROCEDURE
The lip lift can be performed alone to enhance the mouth and create a younger appearance. For some women, combining the lip lift with filler injections can further improve lip shape and contour, achieving optimal results. During your consultation appointment, Dr. Vitenas will discuss the best technique(s) for your individual needs.
Your Lip Lift Experience
Dr. Vitenas performs all lip lift procedures in his private operating suites at the Houston Surgery Center. This facility, accredited by the American Association for Accreditation of Ambulatory Surgery Facilities (AAAASF), is located in the Vitenas Cosmetic Surgery building.
Using either local anesthesia with IV sedation or general anesthesia, most lip lift procedures take an hour or less. The exact time and technique will depend on the extent of correction desired and the individual patient.
Our goal is to ensure that you experience total peace of mind, so Dr. Vitenas will take the time to carefully explain your procedure and the experience you can expect. You’ll learn about his surgical techniques and will be given detailed recovery instructions.
The Sub-Nasal Lip Lift
The sub-nasal lip lift, is one of the most trusted techniques performed today. Dr. Vitenas will excise a small section of tissue immediately under the nose and columella. Once this skin has been eliminated, the lip will naturally lift, exposing more of the top teeth.
Your Recovery Process
Expect your lip lift recovery to be fast, lasting for about a week. While slight swelling, bruising, and tenderness are common, these will generally resolve in five to seven days.
Any non-dissolvable sutures will be removed in five to seven days at the first post-op follow-up appointment. Most patients are able to return to work in two to three days.
Some results from your lip lift may be noticeable right away. However, as the swelling goes down and bruising dissipates, the full results of your surgery will be visible. The benefits of a lip lift are long-lasting and can be enjoyed for many years. However, the skin will continue to age, so over time, the results may change to a small degree.
“Got lip filler with Dr.Vitenas and he did such a great job!”
“Got lip filler with Dr.Vitenas and he did such a great job! My lips are so full and smooth. Pain free and came out exactly how I was hoping. I also had a consult with him and cannot wait to have my surgery done. He is very knowledgeable and explains things so you can understand exactly what he will be doing.”
Potential Complications
The lip lift is an extremely safe and effective technique for improving the mouth’s appearance. Serious complications are rare, especially when patients choose a board-certified plastic surgeon like Dr. Vitenas. However, as this is a surgical procedure and the lips are a delicate area, there is always a small risk involved.
Side-effects and complications can include:
- Bleeding
- Infection
- Poor wound healing
- Asymmetry
- Loss of sensation
- Visible scarring
Experience You Can Trust
Dr. Vitenas has more than 30 years of surgical experience and has developed a unique technique for his lip lift surgery. While the procedure will result in a small scar, Dr. Vitenas takes extreme care to meticulously place the incisions in a well-concealed area under the nose. Over time, this tiny scar will continue to fade and not detract from the beautiful lip lift results.
Schedule Your Consultation
Are you unhappy with the size or shape of your lips? A lip lift may be the long-term answer you have been looking for. To see if a lip lift is right for you, contact Vitenas Cosmetic Surgery at 281-484-0088 to schedule a consultation appointment.
Conveniently located in Houston’s elite River Oaks, Vitenas Cosmetic Surgery is close to numerous luxury hotels, fine dining establishments, and unique shopping experiences. Speak to our patient coordinator for driving directions or recommendations for local accommodations.
Dr. Vitenas was voted the Best Facial Plastic Surgeon in Houston for 2022 by Modern Luxury Magazine!
A lip lift is a unique surgical technique used to enhance the shape and size of the lips, creating a more youthful appearance. The procedure, performed on an outpatient basis, will improve the contour of the lips, create a defined lip border, increase the visible pink lip tissue, expose more of the teeth when smiling, and lift the corners of the lips. The procedure can reduce the need for dermal filler injections.
There are several unique lip lift techniques, each designed to address specific needs. Using the most common approach, referred to as the sub-nasal technique, Dr. Vitenas will place a very thin incision at the base of the nose. From here, he will excise a small bit of lax skin to reshape the lips and define the Cupid’s Bow.
The length of a lip lift surgery depends on the individual patient, the technique used, and the extent of correction. In general, the surgical procedure will take less than an hour. After surgery, Dr. Vitenas’ patients will move to our state-of-the-art recovery bay to recover from their anesthesia before being discharged and sent home to rest.
Almost anyone with an elongated upper lip may make an excellent candidate for a surgical lip lift. The ideal patient will be in good health, a nonsmoker, and hold a clear understanding of the procedure with reasonable surgical expectations. Patients as young as 20 can see a significant aesthetic benefit with the lip lift, as well as those in their 40s, 50s, and beyond. The technique can safely be performed on any skin type or ethnicity.
Dr. Vitenas performs his lip lift at the Houston Surgery Center. Located in the Vitenas Cosmetic Surgery building, Dr. Vitenas’ private, state-of-the-art surgical suites are located steps from his office. The technique is performed as an outpatient procedure, getting patients back home the same day. With a private exit from Vitenas Cosmetic Surgery, the procedure is kept confidential.
While the initial results from your lip lift may be somewhat noticeable right away, the final benefits cannot be seen until any post-op swelling and bruising have resolved. Over the next two to three weeks, as the tissues heal and settle, the results from your lip lift will become more apparent. Although the benefits of the procedure are permanent, your skin will continue to change as you age. Dr. Vitenas can recommend additional treatment(s) to further maintain optimal results over time, such as adding a filler.
While the lip lift may result in a very small scar, Dr. Vitenas takes extreme care to place his incisions in a well-concealed location. Additionally, this scar will continue to fade over time. Dr. Vitenas will explain what kind of scarring can be expected during your lip lift consultation.
The price of a lip lift will vary according to the technique used and the extent of correction. During your consultation appointment, Dr. Vitenas will create a personalized treatment plan, including the exact price of your upcoming lip lift. Overall, the average cost of surgery will range from $3,500 to $5,000. Each price quote from Vitenas Cosmetic Surgery includes the surgeon’s fee, the board-certified anesthesiologist’s cost, the operating room, surgical suppliesand all follow-up appointments. This price does not include any prescription or over-the-counter medications.
Yes, Vitenas Cosmetic Surgery accepts a variety of payment types. These include cash, all major credit cards, and healthcare financing. To determine if you qualify for medical financing, apply online with CareCredit or ALPHAEON CREDIT.
Most patients are ready to return to work in a week or less after their lip lift procedure. Although swelling, bruising, and mild soreness are to be expected, these issues will quickly resolve. Swelling can be kept to a minimum with the use of intermittent cold compresses and sleeping with the head raised.
Dr. Vitenas’ lip lift is generally considered to be a safe procedure. Bruising, mild swelling, and tenderness are common but short-lived. More serious complications such as infection, visible scarring, and loss of sensation are rare but can occur. At your lip lift consultation appointment, Dr. Vitenas will discuss all potential side effects and complications, as well as clear instructions should any problems occur after surgery.
