Lip Lift

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A lasting solution for natural, sensual lips.

Full, sensual lips have been seen as a symbol of beauty and attractiveness for centuries. But what if the shape, length or appearance of your lips does not quite meet your expectations? This can affect your confidence. Many people opt for lip fillers to enhance their lips. However, fillers only offer temporary results and are not always the best solution. If you are looking for a long-lasting and natural improvement, a lip lift may well be the ideal choice for you.

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Lip Lift & Philtrum Shortening | Dr. Maarten Van Genechten

What is a lip lift?

A lip lift is an aesthetic procedure that improves the shape and contour of the upper lip. The goal is not only to rejuvenate the appearance of the mouth, but also to bring more balance and harmony to the face. By shortening the distance between the nose and the vermilion border, the upper lip is subtly lifted, creating a youthful and fresh appearance. The results are immediately visible.

Procedure

A lip lift is a relatively straightforward procedure that is typically performed under local anesthesia. Most patients choose this option because the procedure is brief and virtually painless under local anesthesia. If preferred, general anesthesia is also available.

The incisions are carefully placed in a natural crease at the base of the nose. This ensures that the scars are virtually invisible and that healing progresses optimally. Within a short time after the procedure, you will enjoy a visibly improved appearance.

Who is the ideal candidate for a lip lift?

A lip lift is suitable for both younger and older patients and can achieve various aesthetic goals:

  • For younger patients: The procedure offers a subtle improvement of the upper lip, with an emphasis on greater definition, volume and improved visibility of the teeth at rest. It also prevents the unnatural appearance that can sometimes result from excessive use of fillers.
  • For older patients: As we age, the upper lip loses volume and becomes longer. A lip lift can counteract this process by shortening the lip and restoring balance and youthfulness around the mouth, making the face appear fresher.

Regardless of age, a lip lift is often suitable for anyone seeking a natural, long-lasting improvement of the appearance of the lips.

Facial Surgery | Dr. Maarten Van Genechten

Types of lip lifts

Subnasal lip lift

With this technique, tissue is removed from the area directly below the nose. Unlike the traditional method, this procedure is performed in the deeper tissue layers, also known as the deep plane (the deep sub-SMAS tissue layer).

Just as with a Deep Plane Facelift, the tension is placed on the deeper layers, resulting in a natural look and improved scar healing.

Corner of mouth lift

For patients who also wish to correct drooping corners of the mouth, a corner of mouth lift can be performed.

This creates a fresher and friendlier appearance.

Combination treatment

It is also possible to combine a subnasal lip lift with a corner of mouth lift for a fully customized and complete improvement of the mouth and lips.

Results

The key effects of a lip lift are:

  • Shortening of the distance between the nose and the mouth
  • Improved visibility of the teeth with a relaxed facial expression
  • Lifting and accentuation of the Cupid's bow
  • Partial softening of fine lines and wrinkles around the lips
  • Enhancement and improvement of the position of the corners of the mouth (corner of mouth lift)
  • A more youthful appearance of the lips and the lower part of the face
  • Reduced need for lip fillers

The final result is a harmonious, balanced appearance of the lips and the lower part of the face.

Frequently asked questions

Do you have any further questions? Feel free to ask. Contact us

Does a lip lift hurt?

A lip lift is typically performed under local anesthesia and is virtually painless during the procedure. After the procedure, you may experience mild swelling and tenderness, which are well relieved with the prescribed pain medication.

How long is the recovery after a lip lift?

Most patients can resume their daily activities after 5 to 7 days. The sutures are removed after approximately one week. The scar in the natural crease under the nose fades over the course of the weeks.

What is the difference between a lip lift and lip fillers?

Lip fillers provide a temporary result that disappears after 6 to 12 months. A lip lift is a permanent solution that shortens the distance between the nose and the upper lip and subtly tilts the lip upward. Both treatments can be complementary.

Are the scars after a lip lift visible?

The incision is placed in the natural crease at the base of the nose, making the scar virtually invisible. In the first weeks, the scar may still be slightly visible, but it gradually fades to a barely noticeable line.

Can a lip lift be combined with other procedures?

Yes, a lip lift is often combined with a Deep Plane Facelift or a corner lip lift for a harmonious result. By performing multiple procedures in the same session, you benefit from only one recovery period.

How much does a lip lift cost in Belgium?

The cost of a lip lift varies depending on the type of procedure (subnasal lip lift, corner lip lift or combination). During your consultation, Dr. Van Genechten creates a customized treatment plan, including a detailed price estimate.

Results

A facial rejuvenation procedure is a choice you make for yourself, not for the outside world. It is a decision that matures quietly, in all serenity and purely for you. In our practice, discretion is an absolute standard. Privacy is not a detail, but a cornerstone. The vast majority of our patients consciously choose to keep their results private.

What you see here is exceptional. Only a small number of patients have granted us permission to share their results. Out of respect for their trust and generosity, we wish to acknowledge this explicitly. They help others make an informed decision. These images are not a showcase, but a discreet compass, honest and invaluable.

More results

Brow symmetry or symmetry in general can never be the goal of surgery. But sometimes it is the result of restoring anatomy. When I look at these photos, I don’t see the jawline first. I see the eyes. I see the eyebrows. I see a face that has let go of its muscle tension. As the deeper tissues are repositioned and facial balance is restored, the constant tension carried by the brow often softens. The eyebrows become more symmetrical, not because they were operated on directly, but because the face is no longer fighting itself. Less tension. More harmony. Nothing else. #deepplanefacelift #revisionfacelift #drvangenechten
Brow symmetry or symmetry in general can never be the goal of surgery. But sometimes it is the result of restoring anatomy. When I look at these photos, I don’t see the jawline first. I see the eyes. I see the eyebrows. I see a face that has let go of its muscle tension. As the deeper tissues are repositioned and facial balance is restored, the constant tension carried by the brow often softens. The eyebrows become more symmetrical, not because they were operated on directly, but because the face is no longer fighting itself. Less tension. More harmony. Nothing else. #deepplanefacelift #revisionfacelift #drvangenechten
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The most important part of a facelift is also one of the hardest things to measure. Scientific studies are exceptionally good at answering quantitative questions. How long do results last? How often do complications occur? How many years pass before patients seek another rejuvenation procedure? But the qualities patients actually notice are often the hardest to measure. Does the face still feel authentic? Does the result look natural? Or does one corrected feature draw attention to everything that wasn’t treated? These are qualitative outcomes. They are shaped by thousands of micro-decisions made during surgery. Every change in tissue tension. Every difference in elasticity. Every millimetre of tissue requiring a different decision. None of those decisions come from a protocol. They come from anatomy continuously giving feedback. Two surgeons can look at exactly the same face. One simply sees more. Not because they have better eyesight, but because years of experience have trained them to recognise anatomical nuances others don’t even realise exist. Perhaps that’s what expertise really is. It is not only knowing what to do. It is recognising when, where, and how much. That is what makes facial rejuvenation so fascinating. Looking younger should never come at the expense of identity. In male facial rejuvenation, preserving masculine anatomy is just as important as creating a younger appearance. In the end, surgery isn’t about changing faces. It’s about understanding anatomy well enough to let it guide every decision. #facialrejuvenation #malefacelift #deepplanefacelift #drvangenechten You swiped. Good. Curiosity is how we start seeing what others miss.
The most important part of a facelift is also one of the hardest things to measure. Scientific studies are exceptionally good at answering quantitative questions. How long do results last? How often do complications occur? How many years pass before patients seek another rejuvenation procedure? But the qualities patients actually notice are often the hardest to measure. Does the face still feel authentic? Does the result look natural? Or does one corrected feature draw attention to everything that wasn’t treated? These are qualitative outcomes. They are shaped by thousands of micro-decisions made during surgery. Every change in tissue tension. Every difference in elasticity. Every millimetre of tissue requiring a different decision. None of those decisions come from a protocol. They come from anatomy continuously giving feedback. Two surgeons can look at exactly the same face. One simply sees more. Not because they have better eyesight, but because years of experience have trained them to recognise anatomical nuances others don’t even realise exist. Perhaps that’s what expertise really is. It is not only knowing what to do. It is recognising when, where, and how much. That is what makes facial rejuvenation so fascinating. Looking younger should never come at the expense of identity. In male facial rejuvenation, preserving masculine anatomy is just as important as creating a younger appearance. In the end, surgery isn’t about changing faces. It’s about understanding anatomy well enough to let it guide every decision. #facialrejuvenation #malefacelift #deepplanefacelift #drvangenechten You swiped. Good. Curiosity is how we start seeing what others miss.
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Beauty lives in the shadows. Look beneath the jawline. Look at the area under the mandible. Before surgery, one of the underlying structures of the neck, the submandibular gland, was clearly visible. It interrupted the natural transition between jawline and neck and flattened the contours that normally create elegance. Look again. There is now depth beneath the jaw. A cleaner transition into the neck. Because a beautiful neck is not a two-dimensional line. It is a three-dimensional structure. And people experience it in three dimensions. That’s why neck surgery is rarely only about the skin. The real work happens underneath. The structures beneath the jaw. The volume beneath the platysma. The anatomy that creates shadows, depth and definition. An elegant neck is not created by pulling harder. It is created by restoring the architecture beneath the skin. And in this case, there is even more to the story than meets the eye. More on that in the next post. Most people call this a sharper jawline. I call it anatomy. #deepplanefacelift #neckliftsurgery #deepplanenecklift #necklift #drvangenechten
Beauty lives in the shadows. Look beneath the jawline. Look at the area under the mandible. Before surgery, one of the underlying structures of the neck, the submandibular gland, was clearly visible. It interrupted the natural transition between jawline and neck and flattened the contours that normally create elegance. Look again. There is now depth beneath the jaw. A cleaner transition into the neck. Because a beautiful neck is not a two-dimensional line. It is a three-dimensional structure. And people experience it in three dimensions. That’s why neck surgery is rarely only about the skin. The real work happens underneath. The structures beneath the jaw. The volume beneath the platysma. The anatomy that creates shadows, depth and definition. An elegant neck is not created by pulling harder. It is created by restoring the architecture beneath the skin. And in this case, there is even more to the story than meets the eye. More on that in the next post. Most people call this a sharper jawline. I call it anatomy. #deepplanefacelift #neckliftsurgery #deepplanenecklift #necklift #drvangenechten
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Beauty trends come and go. Fillers. Threads. Devices. Skin treatments. Anatomy doesn’t. This is a revision case following previous facial rejuvenation procedures performed elsewhere. No matter what has happened to a face over the years, gravity still plays by the same rules. It doesn’t care how much you’ve spent.
It doesn’t care what was popular five years ago.
It doesn’t care what’s trending today. Every day, it does the same thing. Tissues descend. The jawline softens. The neck becomes heavier. And slowly, the face loses its structure. The fascinating thing? When structure is restored, the face immediately starts making sense again. Not because it looks operated. Not because it looks younger. Because it looks coherent again. Anatomy always wins. In the coming weeks, I’ll break down different views of this result. The most interesting details become visible when you start looking from different angles. #revisionfacelift #facelift #necklift #faceliftbeforeandafter #drvangenechten
Beauty trends come and go. Fillers. Threads. Devices. Skin treatments. Anatomy doesn’t. This is a revision case following previous facial rejuvenation procedures performed elsewhere. No matter what has happened to a face over the years, gravity still plays by the same rules. It doesn’t care how much you’ve spent.
It doesn’t care what was popular five years ago.
It doesn’t care what’s trending today. Every day, it does the same thing. Tissues descend. The jawline softens. The neck becomes heavier. And slowly, the face loses its structure. The fascinating thing? When structure is restored, the face immediately starts making sense again. Not because it looks operated. Not because it looks younger. Because it looks coherent again. Anatomy always wins. In the coming weeks, I’ll break down different views of this result. The most interesting details become visible when you start looking from different angles. #revisionfacelift #facelift #necklift #faceliftbeforeandafter #drvangenechten
View details
What if I told you wrinkles are not the first sign of facial aging? Most people think they are. They’re not. The earliest signs of facial aging are usually structural. The cheeks slowly descend. The jawline becomes less defined. The neck becomes heavier. The tissues that once sat higher on the face gradually move downward. And what does all of this create? A tired look. Wrinkles are often just the consequence. That’s why simply filling lines or adding volume doesn’t always create a younger appearance. For me, this case represents the hallmark of facial rejuvenation. Not changing a face. Not creating a different version of someone. Simply restoring anatomy. Putting tissues back closer to where they once belonged. No exaggerated cheeks. No overfilled appearance. No attempt to erase every line. Just a fresher, lighter and more rested version of the same person. In my opinion, the best results are often the hardest to explain. People won’t necessarily think: “She had surgery.” Instead they’ll think: “She looks rested. She looks healthy. She looks great.” And they won’t quite be able to tell why. That’s when I know we’ve succeeded. Not different. Just younger. #deepplanefacelift #facelift #necklift #drvangenechten #facialrejuvenation
What if I told you wrinkles are not the first sign of facial aging? Most people think they are. They’re not. The earliest signs of facial aging are usually structural. The cheeks slowly descend. The jawline becomes less defined. The neck becomes heavier. The tissues that once sat higher on the face gradually move downward. And what does all of this create? A tired look. Wrinkles are often just the consequence. That’s why simply filling lines or adding volume doesn’t always create a younger appearance. For me, this case represents the hallmark of facial rejuvenation. Not changing a face. Not creating a different version of someone. Simply restoring anatomy. Putting tissues back closer to where they once belonged. No exaggerated cheeks. No overfilled appearance. No attempt to erase every line. Just a fresher, lighter and more rested version of the same person. In my opinion, the best results are often the hardest to explain. People won’t necessarily think: “She had surgery.” Instead they’ll think: “She looks rested. She looks healthy. She looks great.” And they won’t quite be able to tell why. That’s when I know we’ve succeeded. Not different. Just younger. #deepplanefacelift #facelift #necklift #drvangenechten #facialrejuvenation
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The irony of facelift surgery? Most people fear the scar… while often noticing the distorted hairline, pulled earlobe or unnatural tension far more. A facelift is ultimately a trade-off in anatomy and vectors. Aging creates excess and laxity. Rejuvenation requires repositioning that tissue somewhere. The question is not whether a trace exists. The question is where you place it, how much tension it carries, and whether natural contours are respected. These scars are approximately 6 weeks after surgery. They will continue to soften and mature over the coming months. But scar quality is rarely just about “healing.”
It is heavily influenced by tension, vascularity, smoking status, incision design, and how anatomy is respected during closure. Around the ear, anatomy becomes particularly unforgiving. Small distortions immediately reveal surgery:
- loss of the earlobe contour
- displacement of the hairline
- flattening of natural transitions
- visible pull in front of the ear That is why I generally prefer hiding the incision within natural reliefs and contours whenever possible, including partially inside the tragal border, rather than accepting visible distortion elsewhere. Because in facial rejuvenation, the goal is not simply removing skin. It is preserving identity while repositioning structure. And when tension is minimized and anatomy respected, scars usually become surprisingly discreet over time. The best facelift often leaves far less signs than the aging it corrected. #deepplanefacelift #facialrejuvenation #facelift #naturalfacelift #drvangenechten
The irony of facelift surgery? Most people fear the scar… while often noticing the distorted hairline, pulled earlobe or unnatural tension far more. A facelift is ultimately a trade-off in anatomy and vectors. Aging creates excess and laxity. Rejuvenation requires repositioning that tissue somewhere. The question is not whether a trace exists. The question is where you place it, how much tension it carries, and whether natural contours are respected. These scars are approximately 6 weeks after surgery. They will continue to soften and mature over the coming months. But scar quality is rarely just about “healing.”
It is heavily influenced by tension, vascularity, smoking status, incision design, and how anatomy is respected during closure. Around the ear, anatomy becomes particularly unforgiving. Small distortions immediately reveal surgery:
- loss of the earlobe contour
- displacement of the hairline
- flattening of natural transitions
- visible pull in front of the ear That is why I generally prefer hiding the incision within natural reliefs and contours whenever possible, including partially inside the tragal border, rather than accepting visible distortion elsewhere. Because in facial rejuvenation, the goal is not simply removing skin. It is preserving identity while repositioning structure. And when tension is minimized and anatomy respected, scars usually become surprisingly discreet over time. The best facelift often leaves far less signs than the aging it corrected. #deepplanefacelift #facialrejuvenation #facelift #naturalfacelift #drvangenechten
View details
Nobody wakes up one morning thinking: “I need a facelift.” Most patients simply start noticing they look more tired… even when they still feel energetic. That is usually how facial aging begins: not with wrinkles first, but with heaviness, loss of tension and definition around the jawline, neck and eyes. Interestingly, people are choosing facelifts younger than before. Not because they want to look “different.” But because modern facial rejuvenation has become more refined, more natural, less painful and far more discreet than older techniques. And there is another paradox: Treating aging earlier and more harmoniously often keeps people more under the radar than waiting until facial aging becomes severe. This is one of the kindest and most down-to-earth patients to have around. The type of person who makes everyone feel comfortable within five minutes. In this patient, a deep plane facelift, neck lift, temporal restoration, an upper blepharoplasty and a tiny amount of tear-through lipofilling were combined to restore one thing above all else: A rested face. #deepplanefacelift #deepplanenecklift #temporalrestoration #blepharoplasty #drvangenechten
Nobody wakes up one morning thinking: “I need a facelift.” Most patients simply start noticing they look more tired… even when they still feel energetic. That is usually how facial aging begins: not with wrinkles first, but with heaviness, loss of tension and definition around the jawline, neck and eyes. Interestingly, people are choosing facelifts younger than before. Not because they want to look “different.” But because modern facial rejuvenation has become more refined, more natural, less painful and far more discreet than older techniques. And there is another paradox: Treating aging earlier and more harmoniously often keeps people more under the radar than waiting until facial aging becomes severe. This is one of the kindest and most down-to-earth patients to have around. The type of person who makes everyone feel comfortable within five minutes. In this patient, a deep plane facelift, neck lift, temporal restoration, an upper blepharoplasty and a tiny amount of tear-through lipofilling were combined to restore one thing above all else: A rested face. #deepplanefacelift #deepplanenecklift #temporalrestoration #blepharoplasty #drvangenechten
View details
If a facelift is obvious, it already failed. Natural has become controversial. The goal of facial rejuvenation is not to make strangers notice surgery. The goal is to make heaviness, descent and tiredness disappear without changing authenticity, without replacing one set of problems with another. Yet social media has conditioned people to expect dramatic cheek volume, pulled corners and “snatched” faces as proof that something was done. That is not proof of quality. Often, it is proof that too much was done in the wrong layer. True rejuvenation is quieter than people think. And precisely for that reason, many underestimate the surgical complexity behind a result like this. Natural should not mean inefficient surgery. Natural should mean invisible surgery. Agree or disagree? #deepplanefaceandnecklift #browlift #blepharoplasty #drvangenechten
If a facelift is obvious, it already failed. Natural has become controversial. The goal of facial rejuvenation is not to make strangers notice surgery. The goal is to make heaviness, descent and tiredness disappear without changing authenticity, without replacing one set of problems with another. Yet social media has conditioned people to expect dramatic cheek volume, pulled corners and “snatched” faces as proof that something was done. That is not proof of quality. Often, it is proof that too much was done in the wrong layer. True rejuvenation is quieter than people think. And precisely for that reason, many underestimate the surgical complexity behind a result like this. Natural should not mean inefficient surgery. Natural should mean invisible surgery. Agree or disagree? #deepplanefaceandnecklift #browlift #blepharoplasty #drvangenechten
View details
Revision facelifts are a different language. Previous surgery by another surgeon left us more than scars. Previous surgery leaves behind altered tension, altered skin reserve, and tissue that has already been repositioned, and partially removed in directions that are not always ideal for future correction. That means one important thing: when trying to restore a face in a more natural vector, there is often less freedom than people assume. Less movable tissue. Less available skin. More scar resistance. More limitations. A revision facelift is therefore not simply “doing another facelift.” It is careful reconstruction of anatomy that no longer behaves normally. It is restoring balance, softness, and natural rejuvenation within those boundaries. Shown here 7 months after deep plane face and neck lift, temporal brow restoration, and upper/lower blepharoplasty and minor fat transfer. Recovery in revision cases is often longer and demands significantly more patience, but meaningful correction is absolutely possible. I focus my practice on facial rejuvenation surgery, and cases like this are exactly where that focused experience becomes critical. At the patient’s request, these images are shared only in an anonymized way. A more extensive portfolio is reviewed privately during consultation. And by the way, beyond all the surgical discussion, she is simply a wonderful woman. Elegant, warm, and full of class. She now walks into a room radiating a softness and confidence that was exactly the goal. #revisionfacelift #deepplanefacelift #deepplanenecklift #drvangenechten
Revision facelifts are a different language. Previous surgery by another surgeon left us more than scars. Previous surgery leaves behind altered tension, altered skin reserve, and tissue that has already been repositioned, and partially removed in directions that are not always ideal for future correction. That means one important thing: when trying to restore a face in a more natural vector, there is often less freedom than people assume. Less movable tissue. Less available skin. More scar resistance. More limitations. A revision facelift is therefore not simply “doing another facelift.” It is careful reconstruction of anatomy that no longer behaves normally. It is restoring balance, softness, and natural rejuvenation within those boundaries. Shown here 7 months after deep plane face and neck lift, temporal brow restoration, and upper/lower blepharoplasty and minor fat transfer. Recovery in revision cases is often longer and demands significantly more patience, but meaningful correction is absolutely possible. I focus my practice on facial rejuvenation surgery, and cases like this are exactly where that focused experience becomes critical. At the patient’s request, these images are shared only in an anonymized way. A more extensive portfolio is reviewed privately during consultation. And by the way, beyond all the surgical discussion, she is simply a wonderful woman. Elegant, warm, and full of class. She now walks into a room radiating a softness and confidence that was exactly the goal. #revisionfacelift #deepplanefacelift #deepplanenecklift #drvangenechten
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Dr. Van Genechten

Dr. Maarten Van Genechten is entirely dedicated to aesthetic facial surgery, with the face as his absolute specialty. This passion emerged during his medical studies, where he developed his interest in microvascular facial reconstructions. He broadened his expertise during a fellowship in Brisbane, where he was exposed to various surgical disciplines.

This experience led him to a fellowship in aesthetic facial surgery in Sydney, where his interest in facial rejuvenation surgery was born and has never faded since. He now specializes in facial rejuvenation surgery, facelift surgery, brow lifts and eyelid surgery. He is also the owner of the Catershoek Surgical Center.

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Dr. Maarten Van Genechten
Facial Surgery | Dr. Maarten Van Genechten

Schedule your consultation today

Contact us today for a personal consultation with Dr. Van Genechten. During this appointment, he will discuss your specific wishes, expectations and the potential outcomes of a procedure. Dr. Van Genechten takes the time to walk you through every aspect of the procedure and to answer all your questions.

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