Achieve the Perfect Smile: What You Need to Know About Lip Lift Surgery

December 1, 2024


A confident, radiant smile can make a lasting impression. For many, achieving the perfect smile may involve more than just maintaining healthy teeth. If you’re unhappy with the appearance of your upper lip, lip lift surgery might be the solution. Here’s everything you need to know about this transformative procedure.

Lip Lift Las Vegas & Summerlin

What is a Lip Lift for Lip Enhancement?

A lip lift is a cosmetic surgery designed to enhance the shape and volume of the upper lip. This procedure shortens the distance between the upper lip and the nose, creating a more youthful and fuller appearance. By addressing concerns like a long or drooping upper lip, lip lift surgery can enhance facial harmony and improve your smile. This form of lip augmentation offers subtle but noticeably rejuvenated results. 

What You Need to Know About Lip Lift Surgery

When many people think of lip enhancement, they think of dermal fillers. However, a surgical procedure like a lip lift offers different, longer-lasting benefits. 

How Does Lip Lift Surgery Work?

Lip lift surgery is typically performed under local anesthesia with sedation, ensuring the patient remains comfortable throughout the procedure. The surgeon makes small incisions at the base of the nose, often in the natural creases, to minimize scarring. The excess skin is then removed, and the lip is lifted to create a more youthful contour. Depending on the technique used, the procedure may also involve repositioning the muscles beneath the lip to achieve the desired outcome.

The surgery takes about one to two hours, depending on the complexity of the procedure. Results are immediately noticeable, though full healing will take several weeks.

What are the Benefits of a Lip Lift?

A lip lift offers several aesthetic benefits:

Enhanced Smile: A lifted upper lip can reveal more of your teeth, giving your smile a more vibrant and youthful appearance.

Improved Facial Proportions: By shortening the distance between the nose and upper lip, the face looks more balanced, especially in profile.

Natural Results: Unlike lip fillers, which can sometimes appear overdone, a lip lift provides permanent results with a more subtle, natural enhancement.

Long-Lasting Effects: Once the surgery is healed, the results are permanent, offering a lasting improvement to your appearance.

What is Recovery Like After a Lip Lift?

After a lip lift, you can expect some swelling and bruising around the lip area, which usually resolves within one to two weeks. Most patients can return to work and normal activities within a few days, though it’s recommended to avoid strenuous activities for about two weeks.

You will be advised to keep your head elevated to reduce swelling and avoid touching or irritating the surgical site. Following post-operative care instructions carefully will ensure the best possible results and minimize risks.

Am I a Good Candidate for Lip Lift Surgery?

Ideal candidates for a lip lift are individuals who are looking for a more youthful and enhanced appearance, have a long or thin upper lip, or want to improve facial balance. It’s important to have realistic expectations and be in good overall health. A consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon like Dr. Stile will help determine whether a lip lift is right for you based on your unique anatomy and aesthetic goals.

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Take the Next Step

Want to learn more about what you can expect from lip lift surgery? Please fill out the form on this page to request an in-person consultation, and one of our knowledgeable medical staff members at Stile Aesthetics will reach out to you promptly. You can also call our office directly at (702) 551-6603.

Stile Aesthetics serves Las Vegas, NV & Surrounding Areas.

*Individual results may vary

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Dr. Frank L. Stile, MD, FACS
Dr. Frank L. Stile is a plastic surgeon certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery. His office is in Las Vegas. The office is luxuriously appointed and has won awards for original designs and decor. His practice provides the full spectrum of cosmetic surgery procedures. Dr. Stile has had the privilege of helping over 10,000 patients achieve their cosmetic surgical goals. Originally from New York City, Dr. Stile graduated high school at the age of 15 and began medical training at the City University of New York’s Accelerated 7-year combined Undergraduate and Medical School Program. He completed his clinical training at the State University of New York Health Science Center at Brooklyn. His post-doctorate training included 12 years of residency. During that time, Dr. Stile received specialized surgical training at four academic institutions of excellence. He is the published author of articles and book chapters in the Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Microsurgery literature. He has presented research at National and International Plastic Surgery Conferences. Dr. Stile regularly visits with leaders in the field of cosmetic plastic surgery, facilitating the exchange of ideas and constantly refining his techniques. Dr. Stile has long held an interest in the martial sciences, specifically mixed martial arts. His personal and professional relationships with the stars of MMA have made him the most trusted and requested plastic surgeon by champions of the sport. Dr. Stile has innovated and published techniques for both treating new facial injuries and preventing recurrent injuries in “cut-prone” fighters. His work has been featured in such publications as the New York Times, Maxim Magazine, and Real Fighter Magazine, in addition to numerous television and radio shows. Dr. Stile is an avid illustrator, painter, and sculptor. His work adds to the decor of both his home and office. He is also the published author of two children’s books. His greatest accomplishment, second only to being a husband and father, was the establishment of the Frank L. Stile Foundation in 2011. The goal of this non-profit was to serve and support the needs of children in crisis. To date, this initiative has helped provide over TEN MILLION meals for food insecure children and their families in addition to providing resources for medical care.