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Lip Lift: Measurements, Filler, Scars, Recovery and the Things Clinics Leave Out
What a lip lift can change, what it cannot, how to know whether your lip is long enough to lift, and why the scar and the measurement matter more than anything else.
A lip lift shortens the distance between the base of the nose and the upper lip, an area called the philtrum. It does this by removing a thin strip of skin just under the nose. The upper lip sits higher, more of its pink part (the vermilion) shows, and the upper teeth become slightly more visible at rest. It is usually performed under local anaesthetic, with or without sedation, and takes about an hour to an hour and a half. Most people return to social life in seven to ten days. The final result settles over three to six months, and the scar takes about a year to mature.
It is increasingly popular, often as an alternative to repeated lip filler. It is also a permanent change to the most expressive part of the face, and it is easy to overdo. This guide explains who it suits, how it is measured and what the scar honestly looks like.
What a lip lift is — and what it cannot do
With age, the upper lip lengthens and thins. The skin loosens, the lip rolls slightly inwards, and less of the upper teeth show when the mouth is relaxed. The face can look older and more tired as a result. Some people also have a naturally long upper lip.
A lip lift removes skin between the nose and the lip and draws the lip upwards. The lip looks fuller because more of its pink part turns outwards and shows, not because volume is added. The lip border becomes more defined, and the balance between lip and nose improves.
A lip lift does not add volume. A lip that is genuinely thin will look more visible but not fuller in the way filler or fat makes it fuller. It also does not remove the fine vertical lines around the mouth ("smoker's lines"), which need skin treatment. It does not correct a gummy smile, it does not treat the lower lip, and it does not change the shape of the teeth or jaw.
Lip lift or filler?
Filler adds volume. It is quick, needs no surgery and is reversible, but it is temporary, typically lasting from several months to a year. It cannot shorten a long upper lip. In a long lip, adding volume makes the lip heavier and can make it look duck-like, pushing it forwards rather than upwards.
A lip lift shortens and turns out the lip. It is surgical and permanent, and it leaves a scar, but it changes the proportion that filler cannot.
Both. Some people benefit from a lip lift for position and a small amount of volume for fullness. Filler can be added later if needed, or fat can be used (see facial fat transfer).
If you have had repeated filler, tell your surgeon. Existing filler can affect planning and is sometimes dissolved before surgery.
The most important thing on this page: the measurement
A lip lift succeeds or fails on millimetres.
At consultation, your surgeon should measure two things with your face relaxed: the length of your upper lip from the base of the nose to the lip border, and how much of your upper front teeth show when your lips are slightly parted at rest. In a youthful face, a few millimetres of the upper teeth show at rest. A long upper lip often shows little or none.
You are likely to benefit if your upper lip is long in proportion to your face and your upper teeth barely show at rest.
You are unlikely to benefit if your upper lip is already short, or your teeth already show well at rest. Shortening the lip further exposes too much tooth and gum, looks unnatural and can make it hard to close the lips comfortably.
A lip lift typically removes only a few millimetres of skin. Removing too much is the most serious mistake in this operation, because it is very difficult to lengthen a lip again once it has been shortened. A conservative lift that can be taken slightly further later is much safer than an aggressive one.
Why people consider it
A long upper lip, from ageing or genetics, that makes the face look older or the lower face heavy.
Thin upper lips where little of the pink part shows.
Little or no upper tooth show at rest.
Disappointment with filler, where volume has not given the upturned, defined look they wanted.
A downturned mouth, where a corner lift may help.
Techniques
All lip lifts remove skin to shorten the upper lip. They differ in where the scar is placed.
Subnasal "bullhorn" lip lift. This is the most common technique. The incision follows the curve of the base of the nose, from one nostril to the other, in the shape of a bullhorn. It shortens the whole width of the upper lip, and the scar sits in the natural shadow under the nose.
Italian lip lift. Two small incisions are made under each nostril, rather than one continuous incision. It gives a more modest lift with shorter scars.
Central lip lift. The incision lies only under the central part of the nose. It lifts the middle of the lip and suits people whose central lip is long.
Corner lip lift. Small triangles of skin are removed at the corners of the mouth to raise downturned corners. It is often combined with a subnasal lift. The scars at the corners of the mouth are more visible.
Direct (gull-wing) lip lift. Skin is removed directly above the lip border. It sharpens the border strongly, but it leaves a scar along the edge of the lip, so it is used less often today, mainly in older patients or where a scar can be concealed.
The skin removal is only part of the operation. The skin is anchored to the deeper tissues under the nose, which reduces tension on the scar and the tendency for the lip to stretch back over time.
With age, the lips may become longer, thinner and increasingly turned inward. In these patients, lip filler alone may be insufficient and, when used to compensate for structural changes, can sometimes create an unnatural appearance.
Dr. Feryal Yıldız approaches age-related lip rejuvenation by addressing both lip position and volume. When appropriate, she may recommend combining a lip lift with carefully selected lip filler or fat grafting to restore proportion, subtle volume and a more natural lip shape.
For Dr. Yıldız, the goal is not simply to create fuller lips, but to restore youthful lip anatomy while preserving individuality and natural expression.
The scar
Every lip lift leaves a scar. With the subnasal technique, it lies in the crease where the nose meets the lip, and in most people it becomes a fine line that is hard to see at conversational distance once mature.
It is not invisible. For the first months it is pink and can be noticeable. It matures and fades over about a year. Some people form wider or raised scars, particularly those with thick or oily skin, darker skin types, or a history of raised scarring. The scar can also make the nostril sill look flatter or change the shape of the nostril base if it is not placed with care. A scar revision or treatment such as laser can improve a scar that heals poorly.
Ask to see scars at a year, in real light, without make-up.
Who this suits
Most people who consider a lip lift are between 30 and 55, but the measurement matters more than the age. It suits adults with a long upper lip and little tooth show, good general health, and a willingness to accept a scar under the nose.
Not smoking matters, because smoking impairs healing and widens scars. Stop well before and after surgery, as instructed.
Realistic expectations matter most: a shorter, more defined upper lip, not a different mouth.
The operation and the first weeks
A lip lift is usually performed under local anaesthetic, with or without sedation, and sometimes under general anaesthetic. It takes about an hour to an hour and a half. You go home the same day.
The upper lip swells for the first days and can feel tight, stiff and numb. Smiling and eating feel strange at first. The lip can look over-lifted while it is swollen, and it settles.
After surgery:
- Use cold compresses for the first 48 hours to reduce swelling.
- Sleep with your head raised for the first week.
- Eat soft food and avoid wide mouth opening, hard food and exaggerated expressions while the stitches are in.
- Keep the incision clean as instructed, and use any ointment you are prescribed.
- Avoid strenuous exercise for the first two weeks.
- Keep the scar out of direct sunlight, and use high-factor sun protection for at least a year.
- Do not smoke.
- Avoid dental treatment that stretches the lip for the first few weeks, if possible.
The recovery timeline
Days 1–3. Swelling and tightness are at their peak. The lip may look over-lifted.
Days 5–7. Stitches are usually removed around this time.
Days 7–10. Most people return to social life and work. Residual swelling and a pink scar can be covered with make-up once the wound has healed.
Weeks 2–6. Swelling continues to settle, and smiling becomes more natural. Some stiffness or numbness may remain.
Months 3–6. The lip settles into its final position. A small amount of drop is expected as the tissues relax.
Up to 12 months. The scar matures and fades.
How long it lasts
A lip lift is long-lasting. The skin removed does not come back, but the lip continues to age, and a small amount of stretch over the first months and years is normal. Anchoring the lift to the deeper tissues reduces this.
Risks and complications
No operation is risk-free, and a page that leaves this section out is not worth trusting. The recognised risks of a lip lift include:
A visible or widened scar under the nose, or a raised or keloid scar in people prone to them.
Overcorrection. The lip can be shortened too much, showing too much tooth and gum. It is very difficult to reverse.
Undercorrection or relapse. The change can be too subtle, or the lip can stretch back.
Asymmetry of the lip or the lip border.
Change in nostril shape or a flattened nostril sill.
Numbness or altered sensation of the upper lip. It is usually temporary.
Stiffness of the upper lip or a change in the smile. It is usually temporary.
Infection and wound separation. Both are uncommon.
Further surgery, including scar revision, for any of the above.
Anaesthetic risks, if sedation or general anaesthetic is used.
Combining a lip lift with other procedures
A lip lift is often combined with other facial procedures, such as facial fat transfer for lip or facial volume, a facelift, or a brow lift. It can be combined with rhinoplasty, but because both operations affect the base of the nose, many surgeons prefer to stage them.
If you are travelling to Istanbul for surgery
Patients come to us from the UK, Ireland, Germany, France, the Gulf and elsewhere. Travelling for surgery is a reasonable decision, and it needs more planning than surgery at home.
Assessment. Lip length, tooth show and facial proportion decide whether a lip lift will help and how much to remove. Photographs are a useful starting point, but the measurement is made in person.
How long to stay. Plan to stay until your stitches are removed and your wound has been reviewed, typically about a week. [TO CONFIRM — Dr Yıldız's recommended length of stay in Istanbul]
Flying. Swelling can increase on a flight. Keep your head up, stay hydrated, and bring a cold pack if allowed.
Sun. Protect the scar carefully, especially if you are travelling from or to a sunny climate.
Aftercare at home. Arrange who will review your healing once you are home. Health systems in your home country are generally under no obligation to provide routine aftercare or revision for private surgery performed abroad, though they will treat a genuine emergency.
Revision terms in writing. Agree in advance what happens if the result or the scar needs further treatment: who performs it, where, and who pays.
Your records. Take home your operation note, including the amount of skin removed, and your discharge instructions.
Choosing a surgeon
Check the qualification, not the adjective. Ask which specialist register the surgeon is on, in which country, and verify it independently.
Ask them to measure your lip and tooth show, and to explain what those numbers mean for you.
Ask how many millimetres they plan to remove, and why.
Ask how they anchor the lift and place the scar, and ask to see mature scars at a year.
Ask who will be operating on the day.
Be wary of pressure. Time-limited pricing or a decision expected on the day suggest that commercial priorities come before clinical ones.
Frequently asked questions
What does a lip lift do?
It shortens the distance between the nose and the upper lip, so the lip sits higher, more of its pink part shows, and the upper teeth show slightly more at rest.
Is a lip lift better than lip filler?
It does something different. Filler adds temporary volume but cannot shorten a long lip. A lip lift permanently shortens and turns out the lip but leaves a scar. Some people benefit from both.
Will there be a scar?
Yes. In the subnasal technique, it sits in the crease under the nose and usually fades to a fine line over about a year. It is not invisible, and some people scar more than others.
How do I know if I am a candidate?
If your upper lip is long in proportion to your face and your upper teeth barely show when your lips are relaxed, you may benefit. If your lip is already short or your teeth already show well, a lip lift is unlikely to help.
Is a lip lift permanent?
Yes. The skin removed does not come back, although a small amount of stretch over time is normal and the lip continues to age.
Can a lip lift be reversed?
Not easily. Lengthening a lip that has been shortened is very difficult, which is why a conservative approach is important.
How long does recovery take?
Most people return to social life in seven to ten days. Swelling settles over several weeks, and the scar matures over about a year.
Is a lip lift painful?
Most people describe tightness and soreness rather than significant pain, controlled with ordinary painkillers.
Will it change my smile?
Your smile may feel stiff for a few weeks. Once healed, it should look natural, with slightly more upper tooth show.
Can men have a lip lift?
Yes. In men, the scar can be partly hidden by facial hair, and the aim is usually a more subtle change.
Can it be combined with other procedures?
Yes. It is commonly combined with fat transfer or a facelift. Combining with rhinoplasty is possible but often staged.
Arranging a consultation
If you are considering a lip lift, the useful next step is a proper assessment. That means measurement of your upper lip and tooth show, an honest answer to whether a lip lift, filler or both would suit you, and a clear explanation of the technique and scar.
You are welcome to contact the clinic to arrange a consultation with Op. Dr. Feryal Yıldız. There is no obligation to proceed, and you should not be asked to decide on the day.
