What it unlocks
A lip lift shortens the philtrum and shows a little more of the upper lip at rest. The change is small in millimeters and large in expression. Done well, it reads as something you were always wearing.
Our approach
We plan lip lifts with attention to the existing philtral length, dental show, and smile dynamics. The incision sits beneath the nasal sill and is closed with a technique designed to fade.
Every suture, every instrument, every decision, chosen for quality. Nothing here is an afterthought.
What to expect
- Setting
- Office-based surgery
- Anesthesia
- Local anesthesia
- Duration
- Forty-five to sixty minutes
- Recovery
- Five to seven days for visible swelling. Scar matures over six to twelve months.
- Downtime
- Most patients return to social engagements at ten to fourteen days.
- Candidacy
- Adults with a long philtrum and reduced upper-lip show at rest.
- Results timeline
- Initial result at two weeks. Scar continues to fade for six to twelve months.
Questions patients ask
What is a bullhorn lip lift?
A subnasal lip lift in which the incision follows the curve of the nostril sill. The skin removed is shaped like a bullhorn, hence the name. The scar hides at the base of the nose.
Will the scar from a lip lift be visible?
The incision is placed beneath the nasal sill where the skin transitions and shadows fall. With careful closure and time, the scar fades. Most patients consider it imperceptible at one year.
Is a lip lift permanent?
Yes. The philtral shortening is permanent, although the lip continues to age over decades like the rest of the face.
What to expect
The consultation
The lip lift consultation addresses three questions: what the patient sees, what the anatomy shows, and what is achievable. The most common presentation is a philtrum, the distance between the base of the nose and the upper lip, that has lengthened with age or was anatomically long from the beginning. The result is loss of tooth show at rest, a thin-appearing upper lip, and a cupid's bow that has flattened or descended. Filler can temporarily address some of these concerns. It cannot shorten the philtrum. Only a lip lift does that.
The consultation measures the philtrum height, assesses the amount of tooth show at rest and in animation, evaluates the cupid's bow, and determines how much shortening is appropriate. The ideal philtrum height in women is typically eleven to thirteen millimeters. In men it is slightly longer. The distance that will be shortened is marked before surgery and confirmed with the patient.
Patients who want more upper lip volume rather than a shorter philtrum are assessed separately. Volume is a filler concern. Structural proportion is a surgical concern. Many patients benefit from both, and the consultation distinguishes which intervention addresses which concern.
The surgery
Lip lift surgery at this practice is performed under local anesthesia with or without oral sedation, depending on the patient's preference and anxiety level. The procedure takes forty-five minutes to an hour. It does not require general anesthesia.
The incision is placed at the base of the nose, precisely following the natural contour of the alar-facial groove and the nasal sill. The placement of this incision is the most technically important aspect of the procedure: too low and the scar is visible; too irregular and it does not follow the natural crease; asymmetric and the result is asymmetric. The incision must trace the natural anatomy of the nose base with exact fidelity.
A carefully measured strip of skin is removed. The upper lip is elevated and sutured to the base of the nose using a closure technique designed to distribute tension across the repair and minimize scar widening. The amount of elevation is confirmed intraoperatively against the preoperative plan. A millimeter more or less than planned changes the outcome.
PRFM is applied to support healing and optimize scar maturation. Sutures are removed at five to seven days.
Recovery
Day one through three: swelling of the upper lip, which temporarily makes the lip appear larger and the result appear over-corrected. This is expected and resolves. Patients are specifically counseled not to assess the result during this period.
Day five to seven: sutures removed. The lip begins to settle. Swelling is substantially reduced.
Week two: most patients are socially presentable. The scar is pink and visible on close inspection. Camouflage makeup is effective.
Month one to three: the scar fades progressively. It transitions from pink to flesh-colored. At three months it is nearly invisible in most patients.
Month six: the scar is mature and effectively invisible in the vast majority of patients. The result is final.
What cannot be done during recovery: no significant upper lip movement for the first week, which means limited facial expressions and soft food only. No strenuous activity for two weeks. No sun exposure to the scar for three months; the scar must be protected with SPF.
Are you a candidate?
The ideal candidate for a lip lift has a philtrum height above the appropriate range for their age and gender, limited tooth show at rest, and a cupid's bow that has lost definition. Age is not the primary determinant: some patients are in their twenties with anatomically long philtrums. Others are in their fifties or sixties and have experienced progressive lengthening with age. Both benefit from the procedure for different reasons.
Candidates should not smoke, as nicotine significantly impairs wound healing and increases the risk of scar widening. They should have realistic expectations about what the procedure changes: the philtrum shortens, the tooth show increases, the cupid's bow becomes more defined. The lip does not change in shape. Volume does not increase beyond what the structural change creates by elevating the pink tissue of the lip.
Patients who have had prior lip augmentation with filler are candidates; the filler is not a contraindication. Patients who have had prior lip lifts by another surgeon who are unhappy with the result or the scar are assessed individually; revision lip lift is complex and is discussed honestly.
Patients who are not candidates include those whose primary concern is lip volume rather than philtrum length, those with unrealistic expectations about the scar, and those who cannot reliably protect the scar from sun exposure during the healing period.
Frequently asked questions
Will people be able to see the scar?
In the vast majority of patients, the scar becomes effectively invisible within three to six months. The incision is placed at the base of the nose following the exact contour of the alar-facial groove and nasal sill, where the natural shadow and tissue transition make scar tissue disappear. The technique of closure, the suture material, the tension management, and the application of PRFM all contribute to scar quality. Patients who protect the scar from sun exposure during healing, use silicone scar treatment, and follow postoperative instructions consistently achieve the best scar outcomes. A visible scar in an experienced surgeon's hands is uncommon. It is not impossible, and it is discussed during consultation.
What is the difference between a lip lift and lip fillers?
Lip fillers add volume to the lip. A lip lift shortens the philtrum and structurally elevates the upper lip. They address different concerns. Filler can temporarily simulate some aspects of a lip lift result by projecting the vermilion and creating the impression of a fuller lip, but it cannot shorten the philtrum or produce permanent structural change. Many patients benefit from both: a lip lift for structural proportion and a small amount of filler for volume. The consultation determines which intervention is appropriate for which concern and in what combination.
Is the result permanent?
Yes. The structural change created by a lip lift is permanent. The amount of skin removed does not grow back. The philtrum does not re-lengthen to its preoperative measurement. Aging continues, and the lip will change over decades as it does throughout life, but the proportional improvement achieved by the procedure persists. Patients who had the procedure in their thirties and are seen in their fifties show a philtrum that has aged naturally from the improved baseline, not one that has returned to the preoperative length.
How much does a lip lift change the appearance of the upper lip?
The changes are specific and measurable. The philtrum shortens by the amount of skin removed, typically three to five millimeters. Tooth show at rest increases, typically by one to three millimeters. The cupid's bow becomes more defined because the vermilion border is elevated to a more prominent position. The lip appears fuller because the pink tissue of the lip is lifted into greater prominence. These are structural changes. They are visible and significant. The face looks younger, more balanced, and more expressive without looking altered.
Can a lip lift be combined with other procedures?
Yes. Lip lift is commonly combined with blepharoplasty, brow lift, and non-surgical treatments including injectables in a single session. It is occasionally combined with rhinoplasty and facelift when the patient is addressing multiple concerns. The combination is discussed during consultation. Recovery from a lip lift is straightforward enough that it is rarely the rate-limiting procedure in a combination.
Do Dr. Saman and Dr. Ahmedli both perform lip lifts?
Yes. Dr. Saman and Dr. Ahmedli both perform lip lift surgery. Scar placement, incision technique, and the standard of care are consistent across both surgeons. Patients who prefer a specific surgeon may request one. Those without a preference are scheduled based on availability. The result and the standard are the same.
What type of anesthesia is used for a lip lift?
Lip lift is performed under local anesthesia with or without oral sedation. General anesthesia and TIVA are not required. The local anesthetic is administered precisely at the operative site and takes effect within minutes. Oral sedation is available for patients who prefer a more relaxed state during the procedure. Patients who choose sedation require a driver and should not operate a vehicle or make significant decisions for the remainder of the day.
When you're ready, we're here.
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