Lip Lift
Also known as bullhorn lip lift, subnasal lip lift
Shortens the distance between nose and lip, exposing more upper tooth. A structural fix where filler is only a workaround.
US $3,000–8,000.
How it works
A strip of skin is excised just beneath the nose and the upper lip is elevated, reducing philtral length and increasing vermilion show. Unlike filler, it does not add volume — it repositions what you already have.
How it's used
Measure your philtral length first: roughly over 15mm in women and 20mm in men suggests candidacy. The scar sits in the shadow beneath the nose and depends heavily on closure technique, so review the surgeon healed scar photographs specifically, not just the lip result.
Trade-offs
In favour
- Permanent, unlike filler
- Increases upper tooth show, which reads as youthful
- Does not create the projected "duck lip" look filler can
- Improves lip proportion structurally
Against
- Visible scar under the nose if poorly executed
- Not reversible
- Over-elevation causes a permanently raised, gummy appearance
- Not suitable for short philtrums
Risks and side effects
- Noticeable or hypertrophic scarring at the nasal base
- Over-elevation with excessive tooth show and difficulty closing the lips
- Distortion of the nostril base
- Asymmetry
- Numbness of the upper lip
Recovery
Week 1: swelling and a tight upper lip, sutures in place. Days 5–7: sutures removed. Weeks 2–6: swelling settles, scar pink. Months 3–12: scar fades and softens.
How good is the evidence?
Well-documented technique with good outcomes and high satisfaction when patient selection is appropriate.
Sources
Sources point to guideline bodies and literature searches rather than single papers, so they stay accurate as the evidence moves.