Lip Lift
What is a Lip Lift?
Although dermal fillers can provide patients with more volume in their lips, this can sometimes cause a protruding appearance and create an unnatural smile with need for frequent treatments. A lip lift procedure can create a permanent, natural appearing upper lip without the risks of that over filled look by shortening the distance between the patient’s top lip and nose. This surgical procedure also exposes more of the red skin of the lips (i.e., the vermilion). By exposing more of the vermilion, the patient’s upper lip appears fuller. In addition, since a lip lift rolls the vermilion border of the upper lip upward, the Cupid’s bow in the center of the lip becomes more defined. This rolling of the upper lip can also reveal more of the patient’s upper teeth on smiling (i.e., tooth show).
What Makes the “perfect lips”
Individuals who are young and attractive have a relatively short distance between the vermilion border of their upper lips and the base of their noses (i.e., the cutaneous section of skin, which includes the philtrum). In addition, the youthful upper lip is usually plump and turned slightly upward. With age, the cutaneous area between the upper lip's border and base of the nose lengthens and the vermilion mucosa (red, fleshy part of the lips) section thins.
Injectable Dermal Fillers vs. a Lip Lift
Injectable dermal fillers do successfully increase the size of the lips to temporarily create a plumper pout. However, if an injector adds too much dermal filler, the patient’s lips can look unnatural and resemble the beak of a duck (i.e., duck lips) especially if the upper lip is thinner and there is an elongated nasal to lip length. A lip lift offers patients a permanent lip enhancement result. During this procedure, the distance between the vermilion border of the upper lip and the base of the patient's nose is shortened allowing the vermilion mucosa to become more visible, which increases the size of the upper lip.
additional information
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This is usually an office-based procedure requiring only a local anesthetic. This anesthesia ensures the patient remains comfortable during the procedure.
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When using local anesthetic, this procedure typically takes less than an hour.
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The excess skin in the upper lip area between the base of the nose and the lip is measured and marked weaving along the base of the patient's nose, following its shape. The local anesthetic is administered once the markings are placed. Once the local anesthesia takes effect, Dr. Maiorino begins the lip lift procedure by creating an incision directly beneath the base of the patient’s nose. By creating an irregularly shaped incision instead of a straight line, the incision remains well hidden within the natural crease beneath the patient’s nose. The amount of skin removed is minimal, ranging between 5 mm to 7 mm. Stitches are used to close the incision and hold the tissue in place.
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Recovery following this procedure is relatively quick with sutures removed in 5-7 days but final results taking several weeks to allow for the skin and inflammation to settle. The majority of the inflammation and any discomfort a patient experiences usually subsides within three days. Until the inflammation and discomfort subside, patients can use ice packs and non-aspirin (Tylenol) to reduce their discomfort and decrease swelling.
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Yes! Once the lip is rebalanced, if the patient desires additional volume to be added to the lip then fillers can be added without issue.
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Patients with a thin upper lip, long philtrum, or those that desire improving their dental show, cupid’s bow or improved balance of their lips without the need for filler.
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• Patients with some type of skin infection in or near the treatment area (e.g., a herpes outbreak).
• The patient is currently using products that contain nicotine (e-cigarettes, patches, gum, etc.)
• The patient has a condition that negatively affects the ability of blood to clot (e.g., lupus, diabetes).
• The patient does not want any type of scarring, even if the scar is well hidden.
• An individual who has a distance of less than 1.5 cm between the base of the nose and the lip border -
The cost of this lip enhancement procedure at Belmont Plastic Surgery is based on an individualized basis depending on what each patient needs.
That being said, the cost of a lip lift ranges from $3000 - $4000, not including OR, implant or anesthesia fees.
When it comes to enhancing the lips, small changes can make a huge difference. Therefore, choosing a plastic surgeon who is highly skilled and has experience performing these procedures will give you the greatest chance at having a perfect result.
Interested? Find out What’s Next!
If you are interested in having a lip lift and you reside in or near Washington, DC, or you are planning to visit this area, call Dr. Maiorino's office to schedule an initial consultation, or CLICK HERE to schedule now!
