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. 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 size. A lip lift counteracts the effects of aging on the mouth, providing women with an exciting alternative to traditional dermal filler injections.
THE BENEFITS OF A LIP LIFT
One of the most common signs of aging involves lax skin, including the small area between the nose and upper lip. As this tissue loses elasticity, the upper lip can elongate, becoming thinner with little pink area still showing. Additionally, this drooping skin can eventually partially cover the teeth when smiling, robbing the mouth of its perky appearance. While dermal fillers are a popular choice for women unhappy with thin, flat, or fading lips, not everyone will make a good candidate for these injections. Other women do not want the hassle of frequent injections and are looking for a more permanent solution.
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 when smiling. The procedure provides natural-looking results that restore balance to the features while adding youthful definition to the lips.
Why get a lip lift?
- To add definition to the Cupid’s Bow
- To increase lip volume
- To lift the corners of the mouth
- To increase show of teeth
- To create harmony between the facial features
- To decrease the amount of skin between nose and mouth
- To eliminate the need for dermal filler injections
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 hold realistic expectations for the final results.
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 dermal filler injections and the surgical lip lift. If the procedure is the best option, Dr. Vitenas will create a personalized lip lift treatment plan.
The lip lift can be performed alone to enhance the mouth and create a younger appearance. For some women, combining the lip lift with dermal 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.
THE LIP LIFT PROCEDURE
Dr. Vitenas performs all of his 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.
Sub-Nasal Lip Lift
The sub-nasal lip lift, or bull-horn lift, is one of the most trusted techniques performed today. Dr. Vitenas will excise a small section of tissue immediately under the nose or columella. Once this skin has been eliminated, the lip will naturally lift, exposing more of the top teeth and pink tissue.
Corner Lip Lift
To improve the resting look of the mouth, Dr. Vitenas will perform a corner lip lift. By creating a tiny, wedge-like incision along each upper corner of the mouth, the lips will turn up with a slight lift. Even when not smiling, the appearance will look happier and more youthful.
YOUR LIP LIFT RECOVERY
Expect your lip lift recovery to be fast, lasting for about a week. While swelling, bruising, and tenderness are common, these will generally resolve in five to seven days. To keep swelling to a minimum, sleep with your head elevated and use a cold compress intermittently, rotating between 20 minutes on the skin then 20 minutes off. 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 from surgery will be seen. 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.
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
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 along the border of the mouth or under the nose. Over time, this tiny scar will continue to fade and not detract from the beautiful lip lift results.
SCHEDULE YOUR LIP LIFT CONSULTATION
Are you unhappy with the size or shape of your lips, but looking for something more permanent than dermal fillers? A lip lift could 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.
LIP LIFT FAQ
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 above the top lip. From here, he will excise a small bit of lax skin to reshape the lips and define the Cupid’s Bow. To lift the outside corners of the mouth, Dr. Vitenas will excise a small, wedge-shaped piece of tissue from the edges of the mouth. This will add a slight upturn along the lip corners, restoring a healthy, happy expression.
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 may make an excellent candidate for a surgical lip lift, including those who are not a good fit for noninvasive lip augmentation using dermal fillers. 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. For those coming from out of town, or wanting extra care for the first 24 hours after surgery, an optional, overnight recovery suite is also available.
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 an additional treatment(s) to further maintain optimal results over time, such as adding a dermal 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. Any scarring is hidden in the border along the top lip or under the nose. 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 supplies, compression garment, and 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.
If you would like to know more about the surgical lip lift procedure, we invite you to reach out to Vitenas Cosmetic Surgery at 281.484.0088 or fill out our online Contact Us form. We will be happy to answer your questions and help to arrange your lip lift consultation with Dr. Vitenas.
