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Lip lift (upper lip lift) in Istanbul
For a long space between the nose and upper lip. Read how the operation works, where the scar sits, how it compares with fillers and what recovery involves.
- Operation time Usually under 1 hour
- Hospital stay Same day
- Time in Istanbul About 7 days, including stitch removal
- Back to work Next day to a few days
What is a lip lift?
A lip lift is a short operation that shortens the distance between the base of the nose and the upper lip by removing a thin strip of skin, usually along the crease under the nose. The lip is lifted and turned slightly outwards, so more of its pink part shows and it looks fuller, without filler or implants. It is usually done under local anaesthesia in under an hour, and you go home the same day. Many people return to work within a few days; the look settles over up to 4 months.
What it can do
- Shorten a long space between the nose and the upper lip
- Show more of the pink part of the upper lip, so it looks fuller
- Lift downturned mouth corners, with a corner lift
- Give a long-lasting change without filler
What it cannot do
- Add volume to a lip of normal length: dermal fillers may suit that better
- Leave the skin unmarked: a fine scar remains, usually in the crease under the nose
- Predict exactly how your teeth will show, which depends on your anatomy and the technique
Is it right for you?
A lip lift suits adults whose upper lip is long rather than simply thin. There are no agreed numerical thresholds, so the decision rests on an in-person examination at rest and when you smile.
Usually a good fit if
- The space between your nose and upper lip is long and your upper lip looks thin
- Your upper lip covers your upper teeth more than you would like
- Your upper lip has lengthened and thinned with age
- Your mouth corners turn down
- You do not want fillers, or fillers have not given the result you hoped for
Better to wait or consider alternatives if
- Your nose-to-lip distance is already short: shortening it further could stop your lips closing or show too much gum
- You tend to form thick or raised scars, as the scar under the nose could become noticeable
- You cannot stop smoking for several weeks before and after surgery
- What you mainly want is volume and your lip length is normal
- You are under 18
Techniques
Most lip lifts are done under the nose: in a review of 17 studies, 93.6% of cases used a subnasal approach, most often the bullhorn pattern. Other incisions suit particular goals.
Bullhorn (subnasal) lip lift
A single incision shaped like a bull's horns runs along the base of the nose and lifts the centre and sides of the lip. Some surgeons also release and suspend the deeper muscle layer through it.
Best for
A long upper lip across its whole width
Central and Italian lip lifts
A central lift raises only the Cupid's bow; an Italian lift uses two incisions under the nostrils for a milder effect.
Best for
A more limited or targeted lift
Gullwing lip lift
The incision follows the border of the pink lip in a gull-wing shape, defining the lip line; the scar sits on that border.
Best for
Defining a faint lip border
Corner lip lift
Small excisions at the mouth corners lift downturned corners; this can be combined with other lifts.
Best for
Downturned mouth corners
Op. Dr. Bilgehan İlker
Specialist in plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery
- Specialist training: Dokuz Eylül University
- Medical degree: Trakya University
- Health tourism authorization: ST-2657
- Dr. İlker speaks English and Turkish.
How Dr. İlker approaches a lip lift
Op. Dr. Bilgehan İlker is a specialist in plastic, reconstructive and aesthetic surgery, trained at Dokuz Eylül University. A lip lift is a small operation on a very visible part of the face, so planning focuses on proportion: lip length, how your teeth show and how the lip relates to your nose.
With no agreed numerical rules for who should have one, the decision comes from an examination, and filler is discussed honestly as an alternative.
- Assessed at rest and smiling Lip length, tooth show and lip closure are checked in both positions before a plan is made.
- Scar placement The incision is designed to sit in the natural crease under the nose where possible.
- Consent in writing You receive a written plan and sign consent, with time to think before surgery.
The operation, step by step
A lip lift usually takes under an hour.
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Consultation and planning
Your face, health and goals are assessed, and the type of lip lift is chosen.
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Marking and anaesthesia
The strip of skin to be removed is marked and numbed with local anaesthetic while you stay awake; general anaesthesia may be used if another procedure is combined.
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Removing the skin
A thin strip of skin is removed along the planned line.
-
Lifting and closing
The lip, or its corners, is lifted into the new position and closed with fine stitches.
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Going home
You go home the same day with a companion. Non-dissolving stitches usually come out after a few days, around day 5.
Your days in Istanbul
Plan the trip around stitch removal and a final check; your own dates are confirmed after your examination.
-
Examination
Before surgery
Arrive in time for an in-person examination at least 48 hours before surgery, as BAAPS advises.
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Home the same day
Surgery day
Rest with your head raised, eat soft foods and talk as little as is comfortable.
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Stitches out
Before you fly home
Stitches usually come out around day 5, so about 7 days in Istanbul allows for this and a final check before you fly.
Recovery, day by day
Typical timelines from Cleveland Clinic and AAFPRS; your own instructions come first.
- Day 1
Swelling and tightness
Swelling, soreness and a tight feeling are common. Sleep on your back with your head raised, talk little, eat soft foods and avoid alcohol and smoking.
- Week 1
Stitches out
Swelling and bruising start to fade. Stitches come out after a few days, around day 5, and many people are back at work.
- Week 2
Scar at its pinkest
The scar is pink or red and at its most visible. Avoid weight training and heavy lifting for about 2 weeks.
- Weeks 3–4
Swelling gone
Swelling and bruising have usually gone within a month. Protect the scar from the sun.
- Months 2–3
Incision healed
The incision heals over 6–8 weeks, though the lip can feel tight for a few months.
- Month 6
Settled
The look usually settles by about 4 months, and the lips can take up to 6 months to feel completely normal.
- Month 12
Scar fading
The scar keeps fading towards your skin tone. Use sun protection on it throughout the first year.
Contact us straight away if you notice
- Signs of an allergic reaction
- Signs of infection, such as fever
- Heavy bleeding
- Swelling that gets worse or does not go away
In an emergency, call your local emergency number.
Aftercare at home
- Sleep on your back with your head raised for the first days.
- Talk less and avoid wide mouth movements early on, and eat soft foods.
- Avoid alcohol and smoking while you heal.
- Avoid strenuous activity for 2 weeks.
- Protect the scar from the sun for 12 months.
Risks and how they are reduced
The scar is in a visible place, and a review of 17 studies (2,265 patients) noted a lack of high-quality data on complications.
Careful selection, conservative planning of how much skin to remove, stopping smoking and gentle aftercare all reduce risk.
| Risk | How often |
|---|---|
Swelling, bruising and tightnessExpected; tightness of the lip can last a few months. | Common |
An unwanted look or a noticeable scarThe most frequent problem in the literature, averaging 7.23% in the review of 17 studies. Thick or visible scars are more likely if you tend to scar. | Uncommon |
Over-shorteningRemoving too much can stop the lips closing comfortably or show too much gum; there are no reliable figures for how often this happens. | Varies |
Nerve damage and asymmetryRare risks. Temporary changes in sensation, reported after combined lip lift and rhinoplasty, usually settled within months. | Rare |
Infection, lasting swelling or anaesthetic allergyPossible, as with any operation; report any warning sign early. | Varies |
Results and how long they last
Swelling and bruising usually clear within a month, the incision heals over 6–8 weeks, and the look settles by about 4 months. The scar keeps fading after that.
Cleveland Clinic describes a lip lift as permanent, unlike fillers. Long-term data are limited, and whether the lip lengthens again with age is not known.
How long it lasts: Long-lasting, unlike fillers; long-term data are limited and the face keeps ageing.
With any surgical or interventional procedure, results vary from person to person. We recommend a detailed consultation with your doctor before any procedure.
Before and after
Before and after photos are shared only with patients’ written consent. You can ask to see examples during your consultation.
Before and afterQuestions to ask at your consultation
Take these to any surgeon you see — including us.
- Is my upper lip long enough for a lip lift, or would filler suit me better?
- Which type of lip lift do you recommend, where will the scar be, and how will my teeth show?
- How do you avoid removing too much skin?
- Who will perform the operation, and where?
- What is included in my plan?
- Whom do I contact if I have a problem after I fly home?
What shapes your plan and quote
No prices are published on this site. After your examination, you receive a personal written plan.
- The type of lip lift
- Local or general anaesthesia
- Whether it is combined with another procedure, such as rhinoplasty
- How long you need to stay in Istanbul
We do not publish prices: every plan is personal and is written for you after your assessment.
Frequently asked questions
Is a lip lift permanent?
Cleveland Clinic describes it as permanent, unlike fillers and botulinum toxin, which wear off. Long-term data over many years are limited, though, and your face continues to age, so think of it as a long-lasting change rather than a fixed one.
Will a lip lift leave a scar?
Yes. The scar usually sits as a fine line in the natural crease under the nose and fades over time. A noticeable scar or an unwanted look is the most frequent problem reported, at about 7% in a review of 17 studies.
Lip lift or filler: which is right for me?
A lip lift shortens the space between nose and lip and is long-lasting; filler adds volume and is temporary. If your lip length is normal and you mainly want volume, dermal fillers may suit you better. An examination shows which applies.
How long is lip lift recovery?
Swelling and bruising start to fade within a week and are usually gone within a month. The incision heals over 6–8 weeks, and the lip can feel tight for a few months. Many people return to work within a few days.
Is a lip lift painful?
The area is numbed with local anaesthesia while you stay awake. Afterwards, soreness and a tight feeling are common and are managed with painkillers. Talking less and eating soft foods in the first days also help. The tightness can last a few months but eases gradually.
When can I go back to work after a lip lift?
Many people return the next day or within a few days, depending on how comfortable they feel with the swelling. Avoid weight training and heavy lifting for about 2 weeks, and expect the scar to look pink for a while.
Will a lip lift change my smile or speech?
You are asked to talk less in the first days, and the lip can feel tight for a few months as it settles. Nerve damage and asymmetry, which could affect the smile, are rare risks. Your smile is assessed before surgery so the plan takes it into account.
Can a lip lift be combined with rhinoplasty?
Yes. A systematic review of simultaneous rhinoplasty and lip lift found high satisfaction and few complications, mostly mild scarring and temporary changes in sensation that settled within months. Combining them may mean general anaesthesia and a longer stay in Istanbul.
Will my teeth show more after a lip lift?
They may. Shortening the upper lip can show more of the upper teeth, which some people want and others do not. Sources differ on this, so tooth show is planned for you individually at your examination; over-shortening can expose too much gum.
How long should I stay in Istanbul for a lip lift?
About 7 days is a sensible plan, so stitches can come out around day 5 and you can be checked. ASPS advises waiting 7–10 days after facial procedures before flying; after a short procedure under local anaesthesia, your surgeon may allow earlier travel.
Medical informationThe information on this page is general information only. It is not medical advice and does not replace a diagnosis or treatment. Every surgical and interventional procedure carries risks, which will be explained to you in detail during your consultation. Whether this procedure suits you can only be decided after an in-person examination and assessment. We encourage you to also seek independent advice from your own doctor before deciding.
A conversation, at your pace.
Wondering whether a lip lift or filler suits you?
Send your questions, with photos at rest and smiling if you wish. Op. Dr. Bilgehan İlker will tell you plainly which option is worth discussing at an examination.
- Nef 22 Ataköy, D Blok, Kat 1, Daire 36, Çobançeşme E-5 Yanyol Cad. No:22, Bakırköy / İstanbul
- Monday to Saturday, 10:00–18:00
- +90 542 280 27 51
- Dr. İlker speaks English and Turkish.
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