Contents:

• Direct or “Gullwing” Lip Lift
• Bullhorn Lip Lift
• Central Lip Lift
• Corner Lip Lift
• Italian Lip Lift
• Recovery after lip lift

When seeking a natural, permanent solution to enhancing the lips, you will likely consider a lip lift procedure. Lip lifts shorten the distance between the upper lip and the bottom of the nose, creating the appearance of fuller lips.

An alternative for lip augmentation is injecting dermal filler, but the right option for you will depend on your goals and budget. Many patients opt for lifts over fillers because if lip fillers aren’t injected with strategic care, they can create an unnatural “duck lip” appearance. In comparison, lip lifts promote more natural results. It can also become a hassle to keep up with yearly lip filler treatments, so a lift eliminates the need to return to the injector chair.

While improvements can be seen almost immediately after your lip lift, you should be able to see the final results within about three months, according to RealSelf.

However, deciding whether you want a lip lift is just the first step, as you also have to consider which type of lift is most suitable from a wide range of options. Each lip lift procedure has its own set of goals and outcomes, and your plastic surgeon will help you decide.

But to help, we’ve provided an overview of the most common types of lip lifts below.

Types of lip lift procedures

Direct or “Gullwing” Lip Lift

During a direct lip lift (also commonly known as a gullwing lift), the outer skin of the upper lip is pulled upward, closer to the nose.

A thin strip of skin is removed from the area above the upper lip and then the remaining skin at the central part of the lip is pulled upward, creating the illusion of a more enhanced vermillion (the red part of the lips). The incisions do leave some scarring, but they are typically easy to cover up with makeup.

The procedure can take 15 minutes to an hour and is often performed under local anesthesia.

Results

The direct lip lift creates a more defined lip border and is suitable for people who want to reduce the length of their philtrum. This lift is sometimes known as the “gullwing” lip lift because the shape of the results closely resembles a childlike drawing of a seagull in flight. If you are concerned about scarring, you may want to consider other techniques, as the scars are more visible in a direct lift.

Best candidates

If you have tried your fair share of fillers and decided you would rather have a more permanent solution to a thin upper lift, the direct lip lift could be a great option. This lift is also an excellent option if the space between your nose and lips has elongated with age.

Benefits

• Restores a youthful appearance to the lips
• Leaves permanent results
• Leaves natural-looking results
• Creates the illusion of a shorter, more youthful face

Bullhorn Lip Lift

The bullhorn lip lift, also known as the subnasal lift, shortens the space between the upper lip and nostrils much like the direct lip lift. However, it does so while rolling out the upper lip to make the pink tissue more visible.

The subnasal lip lift is known as the “bullhorn” lip lift because it leaves a subtle scar from one nostril to the other, shaped like a bullhorn. The procedure typically takes 1 to 2 hours in-office under local anesthesia. An incision runs from the base of one nostril to the other to remove excess skin from the center, right and left areas of the upper lip and pull it upward. The incision is then closed with sutures. 

Results

The bullhorn lift is excellent for giving the lips a more volumized appearance but can also improve asymmetries. It is commonly sought-after by those who like want a discrete lip lift scar, as the incisions are typically hidden by the nostrils, and find the results more attractive than the direct lip lift.

Best candidates

Great candidates for the bullhorn lip lift are people who want more pronounced lips without quite as much volume as fillers tend to add. People with small mouths and a wider nasal base are known to be excellent candidates for the procedure, according to Healthline.

If you lack space between the very top of your upper lip and the bottom of your nose, with less than 1.5 centimeters, the bullhorn lip lift may not be the best option for achieving your goals.

Benefits

• Incisions are hidden by the nostrils
• Restores a youthful appearance to the lips
• Leaves permanent results
• Leaves natural-looking results
• Leaves more attractive results

Central Lip Lift

In a central lip lift, an incision is made directly under the nose and a small amount of skin at the lower part of the nose is removed. This creates the illusion of added volume to the upper lip. The procedure usually takes about 30 minutes under local anesthesia but varies depending on how much excess skin needs to be removed and lifted. 

Results

Much like the other type of lip lifts, this procedure helps elevate the upper lip to create the appearance of fuller lips without adding volume. The results of the central lip lift differ from other techniques as it highlights the central part of the upper lip, lifting it higher than the rest of the lip.

Best candidates

The central lip lift is best for candidates with moderate sagging skin in the area around the lower part of the nose and the central part of the upper lip.

Benefits

• The incision is hidden at the base of the nose
• Restores a youthful appearance to the central part of the lips
• Leaves permanent results
• Leaves natural-looking results

Corner Lip Lift

In a corner lip lift, incisions are made at both corners of the mouth and a small portion of the skin is removed, lifting a downturned upper lip just a few millimeters higher and restoring a bright, youthful expression.

The procedure takes about an hour and 30 minutes under local anesthesia. This technique is best for patients seeking lip lift surgery to reverse the signs of aging, as it only creates powerful results for patients with some sagging skin around the corners of their mouths.

Results

This technique slightly lifts the corners of the lips to create a subtly happier appearance. Your mouth, like your eyes, is one of the features of the face that shows the most expression. The corner lip lift is an excellent way to rejuvenate instances where the outer lips droop more through aging. The corner lip lift is sometimes known as the “grin lift” because it gives the face a softer, more smiley appearance.

Best candidates

If the aging process has caused your cheeks to droop down, giving your lips a downturned appearance, you may appear sad, even if you are in a great mood. The central lip lift can be an excellent procedure for lifting this droopiness and giving your face a more inviting appearance.

Benefits

• Restores a youthful appearance to the outer part of the lips
• Improves symmetry and harmony of the lips
• Reduces the appearance of a downturned mouth
• Leaves permanent results
• Leaves natural-looking results
• Promotes a softer, happier appearance

Italian Lip Lift

During an Italian lip lift, two incisions are made below each nostril and excess skin is removed. Sutures are then used to close the incisions. The procedure takes about 30 minutes to an hour to complete. 

Results

Like other lip lifts, the Italian lift reduces the space between the upper lip and the nose, but it also increases the curve of a patients’s cupid’s bow (where the upper lip bends in a bow-like shape at the centre). Highlighting cupid’s bow restores a more youthful look to the lips.

Best candidates

The Italian lip lift is best for patients looking for a subtle lip lift, as it involves two separate, small incisions rather than one larger incision. The incisions do not go across the base of the nose as with other lip lifting techniques, meaning this surgical procedure has the advantage of leaving behind less noticeable scarring.

Benefits

• Restores a youthful appearance to the lips
• Leaves permanent results
• Leaves natural-looking results
• Incisions are well-hidden

Lip Lift type	Results	Best candidates	Main Benefit
Direct	Creates a more defined lip border, reduces size of philtrum	People who are not achieving goal results from fillers, people whose philtrums have elongated with age	Creates the illusion of a shorter, more youthful face
Bullhorn	Gives the lips a more volumized appearance, improves asymmetries	People who want more pronounced lips without quite the volume that fillers tend to add	Incisions are hidden by the nostrils
Central	Elevates the central part of the upper lip to create the appearance of fuller lips without adding volume	People with moderate sagging skin in the area around the lower part of the nose, central part of the upper lip	Incisions are hidden at the base of the nose
Corner	Slightly lifts the corners of the lips to create a subtle happier appearance	Mature patients looking to lift drooping around the corners of their lips	Improves symmetry and harmony of the lips and reduces the appearance of a downturned mouth
Italian	Reduces the length of the philtrum, increasing the curve of the cupid’s bow	Patients looking for a subtle lift to their lips	Incisions are well-hidden

Next steps

If you are considering a lip lift to permanently enhance the appearance of your lips, you should discuss the operation with a board-certified plastic surgeon.

Fortunately, that’s where we come in. The Kaplan Center is led by Dr. Gordon Kaplan, an experienced plastic surgeon who specialises in facial procedures.

Come in for a consultation to discuss your goals and find out which lip lift is best for you.