Non-Surgical Lip Lift in San Antonio by Dr. Jose Barrera
Our lips define our expressions – how we smile, and how we present ourselves. It’s no wonder, then, that beautiful lips rank among the most influential traits of our facial appearance.
If your lips are not as full, plump, or symmetrical as you’d like, a surgical lip lift or lip enhancement with dermal fillers can deliver soft, kissable lips that are also aesthetically pleasing. A lip lift can address vertical line and wrinkle formation caused by constant movement on the skin around the mouth.
As you weigh your options for a lip lift in San Antonio, TX, we ask you to consider one of San Antonio’s top plastic surgeons. Triple-board-certified Dr. Jose Barrera and his dedicated staff are well-experienced in helping their patients enjoy beautiful lips with long-lasting results.
To discuss your lip lift options with Dr. Barrera, call 210-468-5426 or contact us today.
Beautiful Lips Defined
As with our other bodily features, symmetry is one of the most critical factors determining our lips’ aesthetic quality.
Lip volume and vermilion border also profoundly influence how attractive we find someone’s lips. (The vermilion border is the line between the rosy-pink skin of the lips and the thicker skin of the face surrounding the lips).
The Path to Beautiful Lips
As mentioned above, Dr. Barrera offers two options to achieve optimal lip contours. A surgical lip lift delivers a permanent solution, and may provide even better results when combined with other cosmetic improvements like rhinoplasty and a facelift.
However, the convenient non-surgical lip lift can enhance lip volume and contour without anesthesia, an extended recovery, or downtime.
Lip Lift Surgery
As we age, our lips become elongated compared to the youthful lip that is fuller, has a shorter upper lip, and exposes a portion of our teeth when smiling. Dr. Barrera employs the bullhorn lip lift to reveal more pink upper lip. The “bullhorn” term refers to the incision shape, a horizontal line that curves up at the edges (much like a bull’s horns) just under the nasal base. Dr. Barrera then removes a small piece of skin, resulting in a shorter amount of skin between the nose and the upper lift and creating a raised upper lip.
The chief advantage of the bullhorn technique is that its incision is less noticeable, hidden with the nose’s shadow. The tension after surgery is well-distributed, resulting in optimal scar formation. And, this surgery gives the upper lip a natural appearance.
Dr. Barrera performs surgical lip lifts in his office under local anesthesia. He can tailor this technique from patient to patient according to the severity of the cosmetic issue and facial anatomy. He uses a specialized instrument to loosen the skin beneath the incision line, so there is less tension on the surgical site after he closes the incision.
Dr. Barrera uses different absorbable suture types at each layer under the skin’s surface to reduce tension for the thinnest scar possible.
Surgical Lip Lift Recovery
There may be some tightness and swelling after surgery. You will have a bandage over the incision we ask you to wear until the next day. Here is some information you will find helpful during your recovery:
- Swelling and inflammation are normal, and no cause for alarm.
- You can control swelling by applying ice packs (20 minutes on, 20 minutes off).
- You can also expect some redness.
- You’ll see optimal approximately six weeks after surgery.
- Barrera will prescribe you medication for your comfort and to prevent infection.
Non-Surgical Lip Lift
With a non-surgical lip lift, Dr. Barrera provides his patients with the lip shape and volume they desire. He delivers these benefits without the use of surgical instruments, anesthesia, or any complicated technique.
Injecting dermal fillers through a micro-needle, Dr. Barrera can combine his understanding of the facial anatomy with a subtle artistic flair. Aesthetic benefits include highly symmetrical, plump, and full lips. Depending on the desired improvement, Dr. Barrera uses varying filler amounts in different parts of the lips.
The duration of non-surgical lip lift results varies, as biocompatible dermal fillers will break down over time. Depending on your metabolism, how well you care for your lips, and the product used, results achieved from a single session may last between three and six months.
To enjoy a long-lasting, satisfying lip appearance, plan to return two to three times per year for follow-up injections. We can help you determine when to come back for maintenance appointments before your fillers wear off.
The Lip Lift Process
During your lip lift consultation, Dr. Barrera will assess your facial aesthetics and explain what realistic results you can expect. We ask you to come prepared for your consultation with a list of any questions you may have. Dr. Barrera will take the time to explain the procedure and address any of your concerns. He will give you his professional opinion on how to best move forward in achieving your cosmetic goals. This plan may entail a surgical or non-surgical solution.
Your surgery will take less than an hour. You will be awake, but we’ll use local anesthesia to numb your lip area. After the surgery, we’ll move you to our recovery area for observation. Please bring a responsible adult with you to drive you home.
Recovery varies between non-surgical and surgical lip lifts. The former has little to no recovery or downtime. We ask you to avoid strenuous activities for a couple of days and avoid putting pressure on your lips for at least five days. The latter requires a week of recovery, with final results realized after six weeks.
How Can a Non-Surgical Lip Lift Give Me Beautiful Lips?
While specific surgical procedures, such as a chin augmentation, or maxillofacial reconstructive surgery, can significantly alter the lower portion of the face, these surgeries do not specifically target the lips. They also incur recovery time.
With a non-surgical lip lift, Dr. Barrera provides his patients with the lip shape and volume they desire, without the use of surgical instruments, anesthesia, or any complicated technique.
Using dermal fillers injected by a micro-needle, Dr. Barrera can combine his understanding of the facial anatomy with a subtle artistic flair, and provide highly symmetrical, plump, full lips to his patients. Depending on the desired aesthetic, Dr. Barrera uses varying amounts of filler in different parts of the lips. He achieves your requested look by injecting precise quantities of dermal lip filler.
How Long Do Results of a Non-Surgical Lip Lift Last?
Duration of results varies, as biocompatible dermal fillers will break down over time. Depending on your metabolism, how well you care for your lips, and the product used, results from a single visit to your plastic surgeon may last between three and six months.
To enjoy long-lasting, satisfying results from your treatment, plan to return two to three times per year for refresher injections. We can help you determine when to come back for maintenance appointments before your fillers wear off.
What Can I Expect Before, During, and After My Non-Surgical Lip Lift?
Your goal leading up to your procedure is to be as healthy as possible. Reduce your alcohol intake, stop smoking, and eat a balanced diet for at least six weeks leading up to your appointment. This period prepares your body to be in the healthiest shape possible, meaning the results from your injections will last longer and be better defined.
One of the joys of a non-surgical lip lift is the appointment takes only 15 to 20 minutes. Many people get the procedure done on their lunch break and return straight to the office thereafter. As such, you don’t need to plan too much around your lip lift.
During your appointment, Dr. Barrera will confirm with you the results you desire from the procedure. Then, using small needles, he will administer the perfect quantities of gold-standard dermal filling products, such as Restylane, Restylane Kysse, and Belotero. For chemical lip lifts, we use Botox and Dysport.
Once Dr. Barrera has administered your non-surgical lip lift, you can walk straight out of our San Antonio, Texas, clinic and get back to your routine. We recommend taking a break from strenuous physical exercise for two days and to avoid putting pressure on or touching your lips for the first five days after getting fillers. Your goal is to give the product ample time to settle and allow any swelling in your lips to subside.
Non-Surgical Lip Lift FAQs
Your rhinoplasty consultation with Dr. Barrera, a board-certified and double fellowship-trained facial plastic surgeon, is a great time to learn more about the procedure, Dr. Barrera, and realistic outcomes. Before your consultation, we suggest you compile a list of questions to ask. If you are unsure of what to ask, Dr. Jose Barrera can help. Here, Dr. Jose Barrera, MD, San Antonio facial plastic surgeon shares important questions to ask during your consultation.
While there is no lengthy downtime linked with a non-surgical lip lift, you should rest your lips for five to seven days after the procedure.
By “rest your lips,” we mean not placing undue pressure or stress upon them. Don’t sleep with your face in the pillow, avoid applying lipstick for the first two to three days after the treatment, and be delicate when you eat and drink.
These precautions give the product injected into your lips time to settle and for your newly modified lips plenty of time to take full shape.
Yes. You can walk straight out of the clinic and drive yourself back to work or your home. There are no travel restrictions after this non-surgical treatment.
All the risks with a non-surgical lip lift come only if you choose an inexperienced or unqualified provider.
These risks can be quite severe, including bleeding, permanent nerve damage, deformed lips, or permanently stretched lip skin, which may require surgical revision.
Overstretching of the lips can occur when a provider injects too much product. A qualified, certified surgeon will only use the minimum amount of filler required to provide you with the results you desire.
If you are concerned about small or sallow lips that sag at the sides and lead a relatively healthy lifestyle, you could be an ideal candidate for a non-surgical lip lift.
Going into the procedure, it’s essential to have realistic expectations for your results. You should know the fillers won’t last forever, but will provide stunning results for months after your treatment. Two or three visits to your plastic surgeon a year should be enough to keep your lips plump, attractive, and sexy.
The longevity of the results of a non-surgical lip lift varies depending on the type of filler used, but typically, results can last anywhere from six months to a year or more.
Discomfort during a non-surgical lip lift is usually minimal. Topical numbing creams may be used to ensure the patient’s comfort. Cold packs following the procedure will help with any discomfort post-procedure.
Look for a qualified practitioner, like a board-certified plastic surgeon specializing in facial aesthetics. This will help ensure your safety, comfort, and results.
Yes, with the right technique and injector, non-surgical lip lift results can appear natural and enhance your overall facial harmony.
No, since the procedure involves only injections, no visible scarring will be associated with a non-surgical lip lift.
Many patients combine lip lift procedures with other facial treatments like Botox or dermal fillers to achieve a more comprehensive rejuvenation. Some choose to enhance their results with surgical procedures like a facelift, brow lift, or rhinoplasty.
Yes, the effects of dermal fillers can be reversed using an enzyme called hyaluronidase, which breaks down the filler substance.
Periodic touch-up treatment sessions may be necessary to extend the benefits as your body absorbs the dermal filler.
Yes, both men and women can benefit from non-surgical lip lift procedures to enhance their lip appearance.
There is no strict age limit, but suitability is determined more by the individual’s lip anatomy and goals than their age.
Yes. Dr. Barrera aims for natural-looking results, ensuring that your lip appearance is enhanced and balanced with other facial features.
During a consultation, Dr. Barrera will assess your facial structure and discuss your goals to determine the most suitable approach for you.
While this is possible, allergic reactions are rare. Informing Dr. Barrera of any known allergies before the procedure is essential to prevent any avoidable reactions.
Learn More
Dr. Jose Barrera is a leading reconstructive and aesthetic surgeon in San Antonio, Texas.
He provides his patients with the highest possible standard of patient care and attention to detail, and brings years of international experience to his practice. To benefit from his expertise, don’t hesitate to call 210-468-5426 or fill out our online form now.