Lip lift (upper lip lift) in Thessaloniki and Athens, Greece

A lip lift is surgery that raises and shortens the upper lip. I remove a strip of skin shaped like a bull’s horn (a “bullhorn”) along the base of the nose. This shortens the nose-to-lip distance so that the upper teeth show. The scar sits in the natural crease under the nose.

A lip lift does not correct every change around the mouth, but it does correct the position and shape of the upper lip. A facelift lifts the cheeks and jawline, but it does not shorten the upper lip; this is why the two are often combined.

A lip lift is an operation, and it is different from a lip flip or “Russian lips”, which are done with injections. Injectables add volume or relax the muscle, but they cannot shorten the distance between the nose and the lip.

A lip lift suits you if your upper lip is long and covers your upper teeth, even when you smile. There is no age limit, because what matters is your anatomy. I do not recommend it when the nose-to-lip distance is already short, because it can then cause both cosmetic and functional problems.

Typical candidates are people who have:

• a long distance from the base of the nose to the edge of the lip (the philtrum): about 15 mm or more in younger patients, and 16 mm or more in older patients, whose lip has already lengthened;
• an upper lip that has dropped like a “curtain” and covers the upper teeth, even when smiling;
• a lip that is out of proportion with the jaw and the face;
• a mouth corner that droops on one side, where an asymmetric lip correction can restore symmetry;
• a facelift planned, and want to complete the rejuvenation around the mouth.

Because the position of the lip also depends on anatomy, a lip lift suits younger people with a naturally long upper lip, not only those whose lip has changed with age.

When do I not recommend a lip lift?

• In heavy smokers, because healing can be poor.
• When the skin of the upper lip has very deep smoker’s lines: this needs particular care or a variation of the technique, and often a combination with laser or a peel.
• When the nose-to-lip distance is already short and the teeth already show well, because a lip lift would then show too much tooth.
• When the only aim is a fuller lip; fat transfer is the better option for that.
• When the asymmetry lies higher in the face rather than in the lip itself.
• During an active cold sore (herpes) outbreak on the lip; surgery is postponed.

At the consultation I measure your lip and look at how it moves, then we decide together whether a lip lift alone is enough or whether it should be combined with another procedure. You leave with a written plan and cost. Before surgery you stop smoking, review any blood thinners with your doctor and, if needed, take cold-sore prevention.

What happens at the consultation?

I measure the nose-to-lip distance, separately at the central part (the philtrum) and at the sides under the nostrils. I look at the shape and movement of the upper lip, how much of your teeth shows at rest, when you speak and when you smile, the symmetry of the mouth corners, the width of the nostrils and the quality of the skin. Together we decide whether a lip lift alone is enough or whether it should be combined with a facelift, fat transfer or laser. You receive a written plan and cost.

What tests and instructions apply before surgery?

Pre-operative blood tests are done where needed; when the lip lift is combined with a facelift, the facelift tests apply. Stop smoking at least 4 weeks before and 4 weeks after surgery. If you take anticoagulants or antiplatelet medicines, tell me; they are stopped only in agreement with the doctor who prescribes them. If you often get cold sores on the lip, we discuss it at the consultation so that you can take preventive treatment. The date of surgery is set once the tests are complete.

A lip lift is done under local anaesthesia and takes about half an hour. After careful assessment and measurement, I remove a strip of skin at the base of the nose, up to the outer edge of the nostrils, and close it with an absorbable stitch under the skin. You go home the same day.

My technique is the bullhorn lip lift [1, 2]: the incision is shaped like a bull’s horn and follows the natural outline of the base of the nose. It can be done on its own or as part of other facial lifting techniques, such as a facelift. The planning must lift the whole lip evenly and symmetrically, without lifting only the central part, which gives a “rabbit mouth” look.

Planning and measurements

I plan with separate measurements at the centre and at the sides of the lip, so that the lift is even [3, 4]. At the centre I remove less than under the nostrils, so that the teeth do not show too much at rest or when you speak. An overly aggressive lip lift causes a cosmetic and a functional problem.

The bullhorn incision

The incision starts exactly at the curve of the nostril, where it meets the upper lip, runs under the base of the nose following the curves of the philtrum and the columella, and ends on the other side, again under the nostril. When needed, the tissues are released as far as the nasolabial fold, to the extent each case requires [5]. If the nostrils are already wide, I take this into account in the planning, because the base of the nose can widen slightly.

Mouth corners and asymmetry

The bullhorn lip lift is usually enough. If one corner of the mouth has dropped, I lift that side more. This applies only to the lip; asymmetries higher in the face are not corrected. Drooping mouth corners can also be treated with a corner lip lift, which is not needed when a deep plane facelift is done. I do not perform vermilion advancement.

Incision and stitches

The scar lies under the base of the nose and follows its natural outline. I close it with a continuous absorbable stitch under the skin, which does not need removing. Tapes are placed over the incision and come off on day 5.

Combining a lip lift with other procedures

A lip lift can be combined with:

• a facelift (see the deep plane facelift page), which lifts the mouth corners at the same time;
• fat transfer to the upper lip and around the mouth, for volume.

Do I need to stay in hospital?

No. Under local anaesthesia you go home the same day. When the lip lift is done together with a facelift, the anaesthesia and hospital stay of the facelift apply.

Recovery is quick. You can go back to work wearing a face mask, the tapes come off on day 5, bruising and swelling settle in about 10 days, and the scar matures over a few months. Light exercise is possible after 1 week and strenuous exercise after 2 to 3 weeks.

The upper lip swells in the first days. This is expected and does not show the final shape. When the lip lift is combined with a facelift, you follow the facelift recovery plan.

Most patients having a lip lift alone can plan a short stay: there is no hospital night, and the tapes come off on day 5. Plan to stay in Greece for 5 to 10 days. If the lip lift is combined with a facelift, the facelift stay applies.

• Hospital: none. The operation is done under local anaesthesia and you go home the same day.
• Tapes and stitches: the tapes over the incision come off on day 5. The stitch under the skin is absorbable and does not need removing.
• Flying home: from day 5, after the tapes come off and your final check.
• Follow-up: by video call at 10 days, 1 month, 6 months and 1 year.
• At home: keep the incision dry in the first days, move your mouth gently, and arrange to work with a face mask or from home until the visible swelling settles at about 10 days. Avoid strenuous exercise for 2 to 3 weeks. All follow-up checks are done by me; nursing care at home can be arranged if you would like it.

The result shows straight away and improves as the swelling settles: the lip is shorter and the upper teeth show when you smile. The scar matures over a few months. How long the result lasts depends on the reason for surgery and on natural ageing, but in most people it lasts many years.

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After

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Lip lift

Results vary from patient to patient.

The scar is hidden under the base of the nose and in most cases becomes barely visible within a few months. If it stays noticeable, it can be improved with laser or a small revision. The face continues to age; if volume is needed, fat transfer can be added.

A lip lift is a small operation under local anaesthesia, but like every operation it carries risks. The most common are temporary: swelling, bruising and numbness. The ones that matter most for the result, a visible scar and over-lifting, are rare and are prevented by careful planning.

Smoking. Stop at least 4 weeks before and 4 weeks after surgery. Smoking slows the healing of the incision under the nose and can leave a more visible scar.

Blood thinners. Tell me if you take anticoagulants or antiplatelet medicines. They are always stopped in agreement with the doctor who prescribes them.

We do not publish prices. The cost depends on whether the lip lift is done on its own or together with a facelift or fat transfer, and on the hospital. You receive a written quote after the consultation. The main factors are:

• whether a separate corner lip lift is needed;
• combination with fat transfer;
• the anaesthesia: local, or, when combined with a facelift, that of the facelift;
• the hospital, in Thessaloniki or Athens.