Trust. Experience. Results.
Lip Lift in Reston, VA
Serving patients in Ashburn, Leesburg, Brambleton, Fairfax, Arlington and Northern Virginia
Trust. Experience. Results.
Serving patients in Ashburn, Leesburg, Brambleton, Fairfax, Arlington and Northern Virginia
The Perfect Cupid’s Bow
Full lips with graceful contours can be a beautiful feature and focal point of your face. Lip augmentation using fillers or fat grafting is one method of accentuating the lips, but not everyone prefers this look.
With a lip lift Reston patients have another option for achieving fuller-looking lips. This approach involves reducing the space between the nose and lips to create a fuller, smoother, and more shapely upper lip. Patients love the permanent and natural-looking results a lip lift provides. Our surgeons at Austin-Weston, The Center for Cosmetic Surgery, are skilled at the subtle techniques that a successful lip lift requires. Read on to learn more, or schedule your Reston lip lift consultation with us today.
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Incredibly Natural
Our team of plastic surgeons at Austin-Weston, The Center for Cosmetic Surgery in Reston, VA, is known nationally for around-the-mouth surgery, including the lip lift. This procedure uses a scar beneath the nose to shorten a long upper lip.
This accentuates the Cupid's bow and decreases the amount of space between the nose and the red pigment of the upper lip, also known as the vermilion. Unlike a lip augmentation, which utilizes implants or fillers, a lip lift procedure removes excess tissue to elevate the upper lip to a higher position. The result creates a fuller and more natural lip appearance. The lip lift can be performed alone or in conjunction with other around-the-mouth or facial procedures.
Elevate With Style
The results of a lip lift are permanent, letting you enjoy your fuller look without the need for touch-ups. Many people prefer the natural-looking results that a lip lift provides in comparison to lip fillers, implants, or fat grafting. The procedure can be performed using local anesthesia, and patients go home the same day. A lip lift is also highly customizable, ensuring that you achieve the shape and definition you desire.
Explore new possibilities for fuller lips.
We love getting to know our patients and helping them explore their options for enhancing their appearance and feeling their best. Schedule an initial consultation to meet with one of our surgeons and receive individualized recommendations for meeting your aesthetic goals for your lips. We will talk you through the procedure and help you visualize the results you can expect if you choose a lip lift to accentuate the look of your lips.
What are the Lip Lift techniques?
A lift lip is typically performed as an outpatient procedure using local or general anesthetic. Below we outline the most common techniques used to reduce the space between the nose and lips and give the upper lip more pleasing and symmetrical contours.
There are a number of terms used to describe a lip lift. Some include a 'gull-wing lip lift,' 'sub-nasal lip lift' and a 'bull horn lip lift.' All are essentially the same. An ellipse of skin is marked out for excision beneath the base of the nose. Through this incision, the excess skin is removed, and the long upper lip is shortened. By removing this tissue, the shape of the lip is altered from both peaks of the Cupid's bow. The final scar typically conceals well beneath the base of the nose, where there is a natural skin crease.
A less popular version of the lip lift places the incision along the red border of the upper lip. The red of the upper lip is also called the vermilion. While we perform this procedure occasionally, it is second to a Classic Lip Lift because of the potential for scar tethering from a vermilion lip lift. This tethering is most bothersome above the Cupid's bow. Your surgeon can discuss whether this procedure may be appropriate for you.
What to Expect After Your Procedure
The main recovery period after a lip lift lasts for about one week, during which time patients can expect some swelling and possible bruising around the mouth. The incision area may be swollen for seven to ten days. Your surgeon may advise you to apply cold compresses and take over-the-counter pain medication to help with discomfort during this time. To ensure safe and speedy healing, follow all aftercare instructions carefully and reach out to us any time you have questions. There may be residual swelling or redness in the incision area for the first few months. As these fade, your results will continue to refine themselves.
Crisp Contours
As post-procedure swelling diminishes and the incision lines fade, your results will continue to improve. Because a lip lift permanently reduces the amount of tissue above the upper lip, the results are long-lasting. Your upper lip will be broader and fuller-looking with smooth, graceful contours that complement your other features. A lip lift also helps smooth our perioral lines around the mouth, especially the “lipstick lines” or “smoker’s lines” that often form above the upper lip with aging.
A lip lift shortens the space between the upper lip and the base of the nose to give the lips a more elevated, fuller appearance. On the other hand, lip augmentation primarily focuses on increasing the volume of the lips, making them appear fuller or plumper. This is commonly achieved through the use of injectable fillers, such as hyaluronic acid, or through fat transfer, which involves transferring fat from another part of the body. While both procedures can enhance the appearance of the lips, a lip lift changes the position and shape of the lip, while lip augmentation mainly increases the volume.
The scars left by lip lift incisions are small and will get flatter and lighter over time. After about three months, their appearance will be significantly improved. Your provider will give you aftercare instructions to help the incision sites heal with minimal visible scarring.
Our four, board-certified plastic surgeons have over 100 years of combined experience & work together in our dedicated, luxurious center providing combined knowledge on all procedures. Schedule your consultation today to learn how our surgeons can guide you on your journey to aesthetic harmony.
