Lip Lift
A lip lift is a lip augmentation procedure that allows men and women to shorten the “philtrum,” which is the area between the bottom of the nose and top of the upper lip. Lip lifting is a minimally invasive in-office cosmetic surgery that is ideal for patients looking to add height and/or volume to their lips without the use of lip fillers. Dr. Sarah Mess is proud to offer lip lift surgeries to patients seeking a permanent solution for natural-looking lip enhancement in Columbia, Maryland and the DMV area.
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Surgical Lip Lift in Columbia, Maryland
Lip lift surgery, also known as a subnasal lip lift, helps patients gain a more aesthetically pleasing distance of less than 20 mm between the philtrum and vermilion border, as well as an increase of incisal edge, or “tooth show” of the upper teeth when the face is in repose. This procedure also helps to achieve fuller, more youthful lips and can even add subtle lift to the corners of the mouth. Lip lift surgery is typically a quick procedure that is performed with IV or general anesthesia.
For this surgical procedure, Dr. Mess uses the indicated incision pattern that resembles a bullhorn, gull wing, or mustache at the base of the nose. This incision is larger in the center and tapers at the lateral edges for superior blending with the surrounding tissue. The “red lip” portion of the upper lip is then pulled up and into a favorable new position in relation to the top of the vermilion border, sometimes referred to as the “cupid’s bow”. Because lip lift sutures are placed along the nostril floor and in the folds of the ala—the area just beneath the pointest part or tip of the nose—
Trusted Source
Ideas and Innovations: The Lip Lift.
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
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any scarring is well-hidden
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Dr. Sarah Mess is a board-certified plastic surgeon who has honed her expertise in facial rejuvenation procedures like the lip lift, as well as facelift, neck lift, and eyelid lift over the last 15 years. Patients desiring stunning lip transformations come from all over the East Coast to seek out her surgical expertise in these types of procedures.
Lip Lift & Corner Lip Lift Surgery With Dr. Mess
Benefits of Lip Lift Surgery
Usually, lip enhancement to add volume to the lips is done using injectable dermal fillers such as Juvederm or Restylane. But for a number of patients, a lip lift is actually the ideal cosmetic procedure to achieve the perfect pout.
If you desire more incisal edge or “tooth show,” and/or a shorter distance between the bottom of your nose and the top of your upper lip, lip lift surgery is an optimal procedure that provides benefits, such as:
Enhances Lips
A lip lift procedure makes it possible for men and women to achieve fuller, more voluminous lips without injecting synthetic dermal fillers and balance the upper and lower lips.
Better Facial Proportions
Generally, a length greater than 20mm between the philtrum and the vermillion border is considered excessive. A face with ideal proportions has less than 20mm between the philtrum and the vermilion and also shows several millimeters of incisal edge in repose, and several millimeters of gums when smiling.
A More Youthful Appearance
A lip lift procedure can provide a more youthful appearance in several ways; first and foremost by shortening the length of the upper lip. People usually associate shorter lips, plumper lips with a youthful aesthetic, while lost volume and elongated upper lips are
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Ideas and Innovations: The Lip Lift.
Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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associated with advancing age.
Reduced Scarring
Most patients heal with a minimal scar, however, Dr. Mess sometimes recommends a laser treatment to correct any visible scarring at approximately six weeks after the surgery.
Good Candidates For Lip Lift
The best candidates for lip lift surgery are typically those with a long upper lip length and a short upper lip height. Many older patients find that the upper lip lengthens with age, but some younger patients may have this facial characteristic due to genetics. You may be a good candidate for lip lift if you want to shorten the distance between the bottom of your nose and the top of your upper lip, want to reduce upper lip thinness, and/or want more height on the top lip.
Recovery After Lip Lift Surgery
Lip lift recovery takes approximately 6-8 weeks to completely heal and requires one week of downtime. Some patients experience tightness in the surgical site area for several months following their procedure. Results from lip lift should be long-lasting and for most are permanent.
Immediately After
Immediately following lip lift surgery, some patients experience minimal discomfort due to swelling and tightness in the affected area. Swelling should subside within four weeks. Patients recovering from a lip lift procedure should keep this timeline in mind:
1 Week
Most patients can return to work and light activities after the first week. After one week, the swelling should have dissipated considerably.
3 Weeks
Most patients can return to work and light activities after the first week. After one week, the swelling should have dissipated considerably.
6-8 Weeks
After six to eight weeks, all of the swelling should be gone. Patients can enjoy activity and exercise without restrictions. At this time, patients seeking to reduce scarring can opt to have laser treatment, however, full scar resolution
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Lip lifting
British Journal of Plastic Surgery
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can take up to eight months.
How Much Does Lip Lift Surgery Cost?
We believe it is important to practice transparency in every way with our plastic surgery patients, and this includes being candid about procedures and the costs associated with them.
Lip lift procedures take roughly one hour and are performed in our state-of-the-art surgical center. The average cost of lip lift surgery depends on several different factors, and variations in cost are due to different methods of performing the surgery, as well as any ancillary procedures that are included in your treatment plan, such as the insertion of a silicone lip implant or corner lip lift.
Final costs of this procedure can be determined during your consultation with Dr. Mess, however, we are happy to provide the following basic price range for lip lift surgery:
- All appointments before and after your procedure
- Surgeon’s fee
- Operating room fees and supply charges
- Anesthesia fees
Price Range for lip lift surgery- $3000- $4000
(Each patient’s surgical plan is unique. Your costs may fall outside of this range.)
Schedule A Consultation For Lip Lift Surgery
To learn more about how you can enhance your lips and create facial harmony with lip lift surgery, please contact us at your convenience to schedule your private consultation with Dr. Mess. Located in Columbia, Maryland, our practice is conveniently close to Washington, D.C. as well as Baltimore.
Sources1 Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. Ideas and Innovations: The Lip Lift. Available at: https://journals.lww.com/plasreconsurg/Citation/1986/06000/The_Lip_Lift.24.aspx. Accessed June 25, 2020.
2 British Journal of Plastic Surgery. Lip lifting. Leo Rozner and Graham W. Isaacs. Available at: https://www.jprasurg.com/article/0007-1226(81)90063-1/pdf. Accessed June 25, 2020.
Dr. Sarah Mess has either authored or reviewed and approved this content. Page Updated
