Lip Lift Surgery in Dallas - Plano, Texas

Plano, TX plastic surgeon, Dr. Natan Yaker, creates stunning results for women desiring lip enhancement. Shapely, well-defined lips are a facial feature many desire. Some women want fuller, plumper lips, while others dream of having a unique, pretty lip. For the latter, a lip lift may be the answer. A lip lift reshapes the “Cupid’s bow” (the two distinct peaks on the upper lip) and redefines the distance between the base of the nose and the top of the lips. Many cosmetic surgeons believe the ideal length for this vertical space is between 12-15 millimeters (mm). Women who desire fuller lips may be candidates for an injectable filler. This can be discussed in detail during the consultation.

Many surgeons use the gull-wing lip lift to increase the prominence of the vermillion. The vermilion is the area on both the upper and lower lips that show the pink skin near the lip. During this procedure, skin and nearby tissue are removed using a small incision. The area of skin removed will be taken from or above the white line of skin that borders the vermilion. By removing this tissue, the shape of the lip is altered from both peaks of the Cupid's bow. This same process can be done to the lower lip.

The sub-nasal lip lift (also referred to as a bull-horn lip lift) is one of the more commonly performed procedures. This technique reshapes the Cupid’s bow by removing a portion of skin and tissue from under the nose. Once the small piece of tissue is removed, the lip is lifted and raised. The lift is secured by tight sutures so a small section of teeth can be exposed when the mouth is at rest. This process exposes a large portion of the upper lip vermilion and visually increases the volume of the pink area of the lip.

Lip lift surgery is performed under general anesthesia as an outpatient procedure at an accredited surgical facility. The surgery generally takes 1-2 hours to complete. During the first few days after surgery, there will be some swelling and moderate pain, but the results will be visible almost immediately. It can take several months for the final look of the enhanced lip to take full effect.

The cost for a lip lift procedure will vary, but the average cost will range between $2,500-$3,500.  The overall fee could increase if an augmentation technique is performed at the same time (if a silicone lip implant is also used).

Lip lifts are performed to create subtle, natural results. The fear of having “duck lips” can be put to rest if a qualified surgeon performs the surgery. Most individuals who end up with pouty, duck lips were likely fitted with implants in a lip that would have received more benefit from a lift.

Lip lift surgery leaves a very minimal, inconspicuous scar. The incision is tightly closed deep within the inner lip using nylon sutures to help relieve stress on the incision. Most patients can barely notice where the incision was placed.

Some women feel lip augmentation (with either implants or fillers) will make their lips more beautiful. However, this can often result in the “duck lip” appearance we recognize in the actresses on TV. In these cases, augmentation was not the answer. Augmenting a flat, undefined lip will only create an outward, pouty lip rather than accentuate the shape and design of the mouth. A skilled plastic surgeon will be able to determine if lip augmentation or a lip lift would be a better fit in order to achieve the aesthetic results.