Lip Lift
If you have been searching for a lip lift near you in Las Vegas or Henderson, Hankins & Sohn Plastic Surgery Associates offers expert surgical care with two board-certified plastic surgeons dedicated to natural, lasting facial results. Our practice has served patients throughout the Las Vegas Valley for more than 25 years.
A lip lift is one of the most transformative facial procedures available, delivering permanent improvements to lip shape, volume, and proportion, without the ongoing maintenance of fillers. Whether your upper lip has lengthened with age or you have always wanted a more defined, youthful lip contour, our surgeons can help you achieve results that look and feel like you.
- What Is a Lip Lift?
- Who Is a Good Candidate for a Lip Lift?
- Benefits of a Lip Lift
- The Lip Lift Procedure: What to Expect
- Lip Lift Recovery
- Lip Lift vs. Lip Fillers
- Risks and Considerations
- How Much Does a Lip Lift Cost in Las Vegas?
- Why Choose Hankins & Sohn for Your Lip Lift
- Planning Your Lip Lift Procedure
- Lip Lift FAQs
What Is a Lip Lift?
A lip lift is a short surgical procedure that removes a small strip of skin from just beneath the nose to shorten the philtrum, the vertical distance between the base of the nose and the upper lip. By reducing this distance, the procedure elevates the upper lip, exposes more of the vermillion border (the pink tissue of the lip), and enhances the definition of the Cupid’s Bow.1
The result is a fuller, more youthful upper lip with improved facial proportion. Unlike lip fillers, which add volume through injection, a lip lift reshapes the lip structurally, creating a change that is both visible and permanent.
At Hankins & Sohn, our surgeons evaluate each patient’s unique facial anatomy to determine the most appropriate technique. The most commonly performed approach is the sub-nasal lip lift, also called the bullhorn lip lift, in which the incision is placed along the natural crease at the base of the nose, where any resulting scar is well concealed.2 For patients with downturned corners of the mouth, a corner lip lift may also be recommended.
Who Is a Good Candidate for a Lip Lift?
A lip lift may be right for you if you:
- Have a long upper lip or a philtrum that has lengthened with age
- Have naturally thin lips with limited vermillion show
- Want a more defined Cupid’s Bow or a fuller upper lip appearance
- Are tired of maintaining results with repeated lip filler injections
- Are in good overall health and have realistic expectations for surgical outcomes
Candidates span a wide age range. Some patients in their 30s seek a lip lift for aesthetic refinement, while others in their 50s and 60s pursue the procedure as part of a broader facial rejuvenation plan which often includes a facelift, brow lift, or eyelid lift. During your consultation, your surgeon will assess your lip anatomy, skin quality, and facial proportions to confirm candidacy and recommend the best approach for your goals.
Benefits of a Lip Lift
- Permanent results that do not require ongoing maintenance
- Fuller, more defined upper lip without the risk of overfilled or unnatural-looking results
- Enhanced Cupid’s Bow definition and vermillion show
- Improved facial proportion and balance
- Reduced appearance of fine vertical lines above the upper lip
- Minimal downtime with a discreet, well-hidden incision
- May eliminate or significantly reduce the need for lip fillers3
The Lip Lift Procedure: What to Expect
A lip lift at Hankins & Sohn is performed in our accredited surgical facility under local anesthesia. The procedure typically takes approximately one hour to complete.
On the day of your surgery, your surgeon will carefully mark the treatment area to ensure precise, symmetrical results. A local anesthetic is administered to keep you comfortable throughout the procedure. A small, precisely measured strip of skin is then removed from beneath the nose, and the remaining tissue is gently lifted and sutured into its new position. Sutures are placed along the natural contour of the nose base to minimize visible scarring.
Patients return home the same day and can resume light daily activities within a few days of surgery.
Lip Lift Recovery
Recovery from a lip lift is generally well tolerated. Here is what most patients can expect:
- Swelling and bruising are common in the first one to two weeks and gradually resolve
- Sutures are typically removed within five to seven days
- Most patients feel comfortable returning to work and social activities within seven to ten days
- Strenuous exercise and activities that strain the face should be avoided for two to four weeks
- Final results become fully visible at approximately three to four months, once all residual swelling has resolved
Your surgeon will provide detailed post-operative instructions and schedule follow-up appointments to monitor your healing and ensure optimal results.
Lip Lift vs. Lip Fillers
Both lip lifts and lip fillers can enhance the appearance of the lips, but they work in fundamentally different ways and serve different goals.
Lip fillers use injectable hyaluronic acid to add volume to the lips. Results are temporary, typically lasting six to twelve months, and require repeat treatments to maintain. While fillers are a good option for patients seeking non-surgical volume enhancement, they cannot shorten the philtrum or structurally reposition the lip.
A lip lift, by contrast, creates a permanent structural change. It shortens the philtrum, elevates the upper lip, and exposes more of the vermillion, producing results that fillers simply cannot replicate. Many patients who have relied on fillers for years find that a lip lift delivers a more natural, proportionate outcome with no ongoing cost or maintenance.
Some patients choose to complement their lip lift with a small amount of filler for additional volume, a decision that can be discussed in detail during your consultation.
Risks and Considerations
As with any surgical procedure, a lip lift carries potential risks that should be understood before moving forward. These may include temporary swelling and bruising, infection, asymmetry, changes in sensation, and the possibility of hypertrophic or widened scarring. Distortion of the nostril shape is a rare but recognized risk that is minimized through precise surgical technique and careful incision placement.
At Hankins & Sohn, patient safety is the foundation of everything we do. Both surgeons take a conservative, anatomy-first approach to surgical planning, and all procedures are performed in our accredited facility with rigorous safety protocols in place. During your consultation, your surgeon will walk you through all potential risks and answer every question you have before you make any decisions.
How Much Does a Lip Lift Cost in Las Vegas?
The cost of a lip lift varies depending on the technique used, the complexity of your individual anatomy, and any additional procedures performed at the same time. Pricing is discussed in full during your consultation, where your surgeon will provide a personalized quote based on your specific treatment plan.
We encourage all patients to ask about financing options during their consultation. Our team is happy to help you explore payment plans that make your goals accessible.
Why Choose Hankins & Sohn for Your Lip Lift
Hankins & Sohn Plastic Surgery Associates has been serving patients in Las Vegas and Henderson for more than 25 years. Our practice is built on a commitment to patient safety, surgical precision, and results that enhance your natural appearance.
Dr. W. Tracy Hankins is a board-certified plastic surgeon with over 25 years of experience in facial, breast, and body procedures. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Davidson College and earned his medical degree from Indiana University School of Medicine, where he was honored with the prestigious Edwards Scholarship, awarded to only four graduate students annually across the university system. Dr. Hankins is a Fellow and Distinguished Member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) and serves as an Associate Clinical Professor of Plastic Surgery at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine, Nevada. He has been recognized as a Castle Connolly Top Doctor and was named a Top Doc in Plastic Surgery by Vegas Seven Magazine.
Dr. Samuel M. Sohn is a board-certified, fellowship-trained plastic surgeon with a particular focus on facial rejuvenation, breast aesthetics, and body contouring. He completed both his general surgery and plastic surgery residencies at GRMERC/Michigan State University and went on to complete an additional year of rigorous aesthetic surgery fellowship training, making him one of the few fellowship-trained plastic surgeons in Las Vegas. Dr. Sohn joined Hankins & Sohn in 2008 and has been recognized as a Castle Connolly Top Doctor. His approach blends advanced surgical technique with a refined aesthetic sensibility to deliver results that are both precise and natural-looking.
Together, Drs. Hankins and Sohn bring a combined depth of experience and a shared philosophy: every patient deserves individualized care, honest guidance, and results they can feel confident about.
Planning Your Lip Lift Procedure*
Average Procedure Time:
1 hour
Average Recovery Time:
1 week
Post-Op Consultation:
8 weeks
*Your treatment plan at Hankins & Sohn Plastic Surgery Associates will be customized to meet your needs and your individual experience will vary depending on a number of factors. All information provided on this page is an estimate of typical time and cost and does not represent an offer or guarantee of pricing or availability. Please schedule a consultation appointment to discuss which options may apply to you.
Lip Lift FAQs
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Is a lip lift painful?
The procedure is performed under local anesthesia, so you will not feel pain during surgery. Some tenderness and mild discomfort are normal in the days following the procedure and are easily managed with over-the-counter pain relief. Most patients describe the recovery as very manageable.
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Are lip lift results permanent?
Yes. A lip lift produces permanent structural changes to the upper lip. While the natural aging process continues over time, the improvement in lip position and vermillion show is lasting. Many patients find they no longer need lip fillers after their lip lift.
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Will there be a visible scar?
The incision is placed along the natural crease at the base of the nose, where it heals discreetly and is well concealed. With proper post-operative care, most patients find the scar fades significantly over several months and is not noticeable in everyday life.
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What are the risks of a lip lift?
Potential risks include infection, asymmetry, changes to sensation, hypertrophic scarring, and rare nostril distortion. Your surgeon will discuss all risks in detail during your consultation and take every precaution to minimize them.
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How long until I see my final results?
Initial improvement is visible immediately after surgery, though swelling will temporarily affect the appearance of your lips. Most patients see their final results at approximately three to four months, once all swelling has fully resolved.
Contact Us
Ready to take the next step? Schedule your consultation with the board-certified plastic surgeons at Hankins & Sohn Plastic Surgery Associates. Our team proudly serves patients throughout Las Vegas, Henderson, and the greater Southern Nevada area. Contact us today to discuss your lip lift goals and find out if this procedure is right for you.
1 Cleveland Clinic. Lip Lift. Available: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/procedures/lip-lift. Accessed April 1, 2026.
2 Spiegel JH. The Modified Bullhorn Approach for the Lip-lift. JAMA Facial Plast Surg. 2019;21(1):69–70. doi:10.1001/jamafacial.2018.0847. Accessed April 1, 2026.
3 American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Lip service: A deep dive into the world of lip lifts and other lip augmentation procedures. Available: https://www.plasticsurgery.org/news/articles/lip-service-a-deep-dive-into-the-world-of-lip-lifts-and-other-lip-augmentation-procedures. Accessed April 1, 2026.
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This content has either been authored or reviewed and approved by the doctors at Hankins & Sohn Plastic Surgery Associates.