What is LipLase?
LipLase is a non-surgical lip-rejuvenation treatment performed with the Nd:YAG laser of the Fotona platform. Instead of injecting volume, it applies controlled heat to the mucosa and the skin around the lip —part of it inside the mouth and part on the outside— to stimulate collagen production. The result is a firmer, better-hydrated lip with a discreet increase in its own volume, together with an improvement in the fine vertical lines around the mouth.
It helps to understand this from the outset: LipLase is not a filler and does not replace one. Hyaluronic acid adds volume immediately and in whatever amount is chosen; LipLase adds no material, it works your own tissue, and so its effect is subtler, appears gradually and is temporary. They are different tools for different goals: someone who wants an obvious change in volume will probably do better with filler; someone who wants a healthier-looking lip with a natural enhancement and no injections is who LipLase serves well.
Techniques used by Dr. Arístides Arellano
LipLase is not a machine that is “switched on” the same way for everyone: it is a protocol tailored to each lip, and one that is often combined with other modes of the same Fotona platform according to what the patient needs:
- Intraoral and external approach: the laser is applied first to the mucosa, inside the lip, and then to the skin of the contour. That dual approach is what pursues firmness and volume from within, rather than only a surface change.
- Nd:YAG stimulation: this is the Fotona wavelength that works at depth, heating the tissue to induce collagen without removing or ablating the surface.
- A series of sessions, not a single one: collagen forms over time, so the protocol is usually planned as a series of several sessions spaced a few weeks apart, not as a one-visit treatment.
- Combination with other Fotona protocols: when there are also perioral lines or laxity of the lower face, LipLase can be built into a broader facial plan on the same platform. See facelift when the real problem is descent rather than lip quality.
- Adjustment by phototype: in darker skin (Fitzpatrick IV–VI, the most common in Mexico) the settings are moderated to reduce the risk of pigment changes; safety comes before speed.
How is it performed?
LipLase is performed in the office, with no general anaesthesia and no needles. The session lasts approximately 20 to 40 minutes. The area is protected and the Nd:YAG laser of the Fotona platform is applied to the inner mucosa of the lip and to the skin of the contour, with a sensation of heat that most patients tolerate well; depending on the case, cooling or a topical anaesthetic cream may be used.
Afterwards the lip usually looks a little fuller and reddened for a few hours from the immediate effect of the heat; that early “volume” is not the final result. The real effect —firmness and a discreet enhancement— builds over the following weeks as new collagen forms, and consolidates across the series of sessions. There is virtually no downtime: normal activity can resume the same day.
The result is temporary. The collagen that is stimulated remodels over time, so to maintain the effect, maintenance sessions across the year are usually recommended. As with any energy-based treatment, no single session “guarantees” a fixed result: the aim is an improvement, not a promise.
Every medical treatment —topicals, peels and energy-based devices included— carries risk and requires a prior assessment. In darker skin (Fitzpatrick IV–VI, the most common phototypes in Mexico) a poorly indicated procedure can darken the patch instead of lightening it. Results may vary according to each patient, their phototype and their individual triggers.
Who is a good candidate?
LipLase is a good option for anyone who wants a natural lip enhancement without injections. In general terms, a candidate is someone who:
- Wants a firmer, better-hydrated lip with a subtle enhancement of its own volume, without resorting to filler.
- Has fine vertical lines around the mouth (the “barcode” lines) they want to soften.
- Prefers a procedure with no needles, no injected material and no downtime.
- Understands that the result is gradual, subtle and temporary, and that it needs a series of sessions and maintenance.
- Is in good general health and has no active cold sore, infection or lesion in the area to be treated.
- Has realistic expectations: honestly, anyone seeking a marked increase in volume is a better candidate for filler than for LipLase.
Recommended post-treatment care
Aftercare is simple: keep the lip hydrated, use sun protection and avoid extreme heat for the first few hours. If there is a history of cold sores, Dr. Arístides Arellano may prescribe antiviral prophylaxis before the session to prevent an outbreak. See the full guide: Post-surgical recovery and care.
Before and after
Most patients want to see before-and-after photographs before deciding. Out of respect for each person’s privacy, Dr. Arístides Arellano shows real cases —always with documented consent— during your in-person consultation, where you can review results from patients with a starting point similar to yours. Results may vary from patient to patient.
Approximate price
A session starts at $8,000 MXN and the course of 5 sessions at $24,000 MXN, approximate figures depending on the area treated and how many sessions your response calls for. Approximate price — the definitive cost is set at your private consultation with Dr. Arístides Arellano.
About Dr. Arístides Arellano
Dr. Arístides Arellano is a plastic surgeon holding a specialty licence: he practises under a Mexican medical licence (D.G.P. 1125959) and a specialty licence in Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery (0002008), both issued by the Directorate General of Professions (DGP), which reissued his certificate of professional standing in 2025. His career began before Mexico’s present-day specialty-board system existed: he belongs to the founding generation of plastic surgery in Puebla, the second generation of a surgical tradition started in 1971 by Dr. Francisco Arellano Ocampo. Trust is verified, not promised: both licences are public and anyone can look them up in the DGP’s National Registry of Professionals.
Related guide for patients
Before deciding on any procedure on your face, it is worth knowing what to look for when choosing who you trust with it: How to choose a plastic surgeon in Puebla — part of the series of informational guides reviewed by Dr. Arístides Arellano.
Trust is verified, not promised. All 210 scanned documents —degree, licences, diplomas, publications and certificates, from 1977 to 2025— are open in Dr. Arístides Arellano’s credential archive, alongside an explanation of the difference between a specialty licence and a board certification.
Recovery · step by step
- Day 0 — the sessionThe Fotona Nd:YAG laser is applied inside and outside the lip, 20–40 minutes. No needles and no general anaesthesia.
- First hoursThe lip looks fuller and slightly reddened from the heat. This is an immediate, transient effect, not the final result. Normal activity can resume the same day.
- Days 1–3Possible mild dryness or tightness. Hydration and sun protection. If there is a history of cold sores, follow the antiviral instruction.
- Weeks 2–6New collagen forms. This is where the real effect appears: a firmer lip with a discreet enhancement.
- The seriesThe protocol is usually planned as several sessions spaced a few weeks apart; the result is judged once the series is complete, not at the first visit.
- MaintenanceThe effect is temporary. Maintenance sessions across the year are usually recommended to keep it. Results may vary.
Frequently asked questions
Is LipLase the same as getting lip filler?
No. LipLase injects nothing: it uses the Nd:YAG laser of the Fotona platform to heat the tissue and stimulate your own collagen, so its effect is subtle, gradual and temporary. Hyaluronic acid filler adds immediate volume in whatever amount is chosen. They are different tools: if you want a marked increase in volume, you will probably do better with filler, and we will tell you so.
How long does the LipLase result last?
It is a temporary result. The collagen that is stimulated remodels over time, so the effect lasts months rather than being permanent. That is why the protocol is planned as a series of sessions and maintenance sessions are usually recommended across the year. Results may vary from one patient to another.
Does it hurt? Do I need time off?
Most patients describe a tolerable sensation of heat during the session, which lasts 20 to 40 minutes; depending on the case, cooling or an anaesthetic cream is used. There is virtually no downtime: the lip may look a little full and reddened for a few hours and then normal activity resumes the same day.
How many sessions do I need?
Collagen forms over time, so LipLase is planned as a series of several sessions spaced a few weeks apart, not as a single visit. The exact number depends on your lip and your goals, and is defined at the consultation. Be wary of anyone promising the final result in one session.
Is it safe on darker skin?
Yes, with the settings adjusted. In phototypes IV to VI, the most common in Mexico, a poorly indicated energy treatment can cause pigment changes. That is why more conservative settings and a prior assessment are used. If you have an active cold sore or a lesion in the area, the session is postponed until it heals.
Does LipLase lift a fallen lip or downturned corners?
Very little. LipLase improves the quality, firmness and own-volume of the lip; it does not correct the structural descent of the lower face. If the real problem is laxity or downturned corners from tissue descent, the honest answer may lie in a broader facial plan or in surgery, not in a surface treatment on the lip.
Every case is different. Discuss yours in a personal consultation.
Book a consultation on WhatsAppEvery figure published on this site is approximate and is not a quote. Any procedure or treatment first requires a private assessment consultation with Dr. Arístides Arellano —$800 MXN, charged separately— and it is at that consultation that the definitive cost of your case is determined.
Educational content; it does not replace a medical consultation. Results may vary from person to person.