Lip Lift
What Does a Lip Lift Correct?
Lip lift surgery may address several different issues. With age, the distance between the nose and the upper lip becomes longer. This lengthening may:
- make the upper lip appear thinner
- reduce tooth show
- make the area around the mouth look older
The main purpose of a lip lift is to create a younger appearance by shortening this elongated distance.
This procedure may also have additional advantages. Because the upper lip rotates slightly outward, the lip may appear fuller. In addition, tooth show may increase in some patients who do not show their teeth when smiling. However, the primary goal here is not to enlarge the upper lip, but to bring the lip proportions of the aging face closer to younger ratios.
Who Is It Suitable For?
This surgery is particularly suitable for patients who:
- have a clearly elongated distance between the nose and the upper lip
- have an upper lip that appears thinner
- have downward descent in the lip area with age
- want a younger and more rested perioral appearance
Especially in patients over the age of 45–50, this operation can contribute more meaningfully to rejuvenation, and scar healing is often better as well.
Is Lip Lift the Same as Filler?
No. They are not the same.
Filler is intended to add volume to the lip. A lip lift shortens the distance between the nose and the upper lip. For this reason, the rejuvenation logic is different.
In younger patients, I do not consider lip lift a primary option if the goal is simply to make the upper lip look fuller. In this group, if the real goal is volume, filler may be the better option.
How Is a Lip Lift Performed?
The technique I use is the so-called bullhorn technique, performed through an incision placed in the natural contour at the base of the nose.
In this method, skin is removed from the nasal base according to planned measurements, and the upper lip is elevated. This allows:
- the lip distance to shorten
- the red lip to become more visible
- the mouth area to regain a younger proportion
How Much Lift Is Usually Planned?
Measurement is very important here. I plan this procedure based on measurements.
In younger patients, this distance is often around 12–13 mm. In aging patients, it frequently becomes elongated to 18–22 mm.
In my approach:
- in patients who want a more conservative and natural result, I usually aim to bring this distance to around 15 mm
- in patients who want a more noticeable result, I may aim for the 13–14 mm range
The goal, however, is never an exaggerated look, but a proportion that is natural and appropriate for the patient.
In Which Patients Is It Less Suitable?
This operation should be evaluated more carefully especially in the following patient groups:
- very young patients
- patients whose nose-to-lip distance is already short
- patients who only want larger lips
- patients who are extremely sensitive about scars
In younger patients, both the scar issue can be more critical and the rejuvenation benefit of this procedure may be more limited. For this reason, rather than performing a lip lift only to enlarge the lip in a younger patient, more conservative methods are often the better choice.
Where Is the Scar and How Does It Heal?
The scar lies in the natural crease at the base of the nose. In most patients it heals well and becomes largely camouflaged over time.
However, it is important to be honest here: lip lift is not a procedure that promises scar healing as flawlessly as facelift or eyelid surgery. This is because the lip region is a mobile area and is exposed to tension in the early period.
In general, the scar heals well in about 80–85% of patients. Especially in older patients, scars tend to heal better. In younger patients, because the area is more mobile and the skin behaves differently, extra caution is needed.
Rarely, if the scar widens, scar revision may be required.
Will a Lip Lift Look Natural?
Yes, it can. Especially when planned more conservatively—for example, in the 14–15 mm range—the result looks very natural in most patients.
The aim here is not:
- to create a duck-lip appearance
- but to bring the upper lip distance closer to younger proportions
- to make the red lip slightly more visible
- and to create a fresher and younger mouth area
Will the Lip Look Over-Elevated?
In the early postoperative period, because of swelling and edema, the upper lip may look slightly larger or more elevated. Tooth show may also be somewhat increased at first.
However, as this early effect settles, the lip gradually moves into a more natural position.
What Should Be Avoided After Surgery?
The most important point after this operation is to avoid movements that stretch the lip area.
Especially:
- overstretching the lip
- very forceful mouth movements
- facial expressions that place tension on the area in the early period
may have a negative effect on the scar.
For this reason, protecting this area during the healing period is important.
Can It Be Combined with Other Procedures?
Yes. Lip lift can often be combined with other facial rejuvenation procedures.
Especially:
- facelift
- eyelid surgery
- perioral rejuvenation procedures
can be planned together.
However, I do not recommend performing this together with rhinoplasty in the same session, because operating around the nasal base at the same time may increase certain risks.
What Should the Expectation Be?
The correct expectation from this operation is:
- a younger appearance
- a shorter distance between the nose and the lip
- slightly more definition of the red upper lip
- and in some patients, increased tooth show
The goal is not simply to enlarge the lip, but to create a younger and more balanced perioral appearance.
Short FAQs
Does lip lift replace filler?
No. Filler adds volume, while a lip lift shortens the lip distance. Which method is correct depends on the patient’s needs.
Will the scar be noticeable?
The scar lies at the base of the nose and heals well in most patients. However, because the lip is a mobile area, scar healing must be monitored carefully.
Will my smile change?
Because the upper lip sits slightly higher, tooth show may increase. This can make the smile look more lively.
Will the lip look too elevated?
In the early period it may look more elevated because of swelling. As healing progresses, it settles into a more natural position.
Corner Lift
What Is a Corner Lift?
Corner lift is a different procedure from upper lip lift. A traditional lip lift mainly affects the central part of the upper lip, while its effect on the mouth corners is limited.
Corner lift is a more limited procedure performed to make the red lip at the mouth corner slightly more visible and to improve the downward-turned expression at the corner of the mouth.
In Which Patients Is It Needed?
An important point here is this: the sad appearance at the mouth corner is not always caused by the corner itself.
The most common reason is the heaviness of the face with aging, which pulls the mouth corner downward. In such a case, the more appropriate procedure is often a facelift.
However, if after facelift the red lip area at the mouth corner still looks insufficient, corner lift may provide an additional benefit in such patients.
How Is It Performed?
This procedure is performed through a small incision at the mouth corner. Usually, with a small incision of about 1 cm, the corner of the mouth is lifted slightly upward.
The aim is to create a more lively, more open, and more balanced appearance at the edge of the lip.
Is It Enough in Every Case of Mouth Corner Descent?
No. In some patients, the main reason pulling the mouth corner downward is not only skin and aging. The muscles that pull the lower lip downward, especially the depressor anguli oris (DAO) muscle, may be genetically or functionally very strong.
In such cases, corner lift alone may not be enough. In selected patients, it may also be necessary to release or divide this muscle from inside the mouth.
This decision should be made after examination and discussion with the patient.
Will There Be a Scar?
In this procedure, the scar lies at the corner of the lip. In older patients, the scar often heals very well. In general, we plan to hide this scar within the natural lines already present around the mouth.
However, because these natural lines are fewer in younger patients, the scar may be more visible. For this reason, I do not prefer corner lift very often in younger patients.
In Which Patients Is It Less Suitable?
Corner lift should be evaluated especially carefully in:
- very young patients
- patients who are extremely sensitive about scars
- patients whose main problem is facial heaviness but who focus only on the mouth corner
In this patient group, other methods are often more appropriate.
What Should the Expectation Be?
The goal of this operation is to make the mouth corner look slightly more elevated and more lively. It should not be expected to create a large and dramatic change in every patient.
In the right patient, it provides a small but meaningful contribution.
Short FAQs
Is corner lift the same as lip lift?
No. Lip lift mainly affects the central part of the upper lip. Corner lift focuses on the mouth corner.
Is the sad expression at the mouth corner always corrected with corner lift?
No. Sometimes the real issue is the downward heaviness of the face, in which case facelift may be the more appropriate procedure.
Will the scar be noticeable?
In older patients, the scar often heals very well. In younger patients, it may be more visible.
Is it suitable for young patients?
It is not a procedure I frequently prefer in younger patients.
