FACESURGICAL
Lip Lift in Murrieta
A lip lift is a surgical procedure that shortens the philtrum, the skin between the base of the nose and the upper lip, so more of the pink vermilion and more upper tooth show when the mouth is at rest. A strip of skin is removed through an incision hidden in the crease beneath the nose, and the lip is advanced upward and closed. The change is structural and permanent, which distinguishes it from injectable lip filler, where added volume is temporary and does not shorten the philtrum.
At a Glance
- In a systematic review of 7 studies and 1,754 patients, bullhorn lip lift shortened mean philtral length from 14.02 mm to 12.03 mm and raised vermilion height from 5.05 mm to 7.01 mm[2]
- Mean patient satisfaction across reviewed studies was 4.4 of 5 on the Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale, with revision rates of 0.6% to 6.7%[2]
- Hypertrophic scarring was reported in 4.6% of cases; no major complications were reported across the included studies[2]
- The incision is placed in the natural crease at the base of the nose, and the procedure typically takes under an hour under local anesthesia[1]
- Over-correction of philtral length can produce an unnatural smile, so the amount of skin excised is planned against the individual's proportions[3]
Overview
The upper lip lengthens with age. The philtrum elongates, the vermilion thins and rolls inward, and the amount of maxillary incisor visible at rest decreases, so the mouth appears flatter and longer. A lip lift treats the proportion directly by excising skin at the top of the philtrum, which raises the vermilion border and increases tooth show without adding any material to the lip.
Several techniques exist. The subnasal or bullhorn lift, the most common, uses a single bullhorn-shaped incision along the base of the nose and elevates the center and sides of the upper lip together. A central lip lift uses a smaller incision focused on the Cupid's bow. The Italian technique places two incisions within the nostril sills and produces a subtler change. A corner lip lift raises downturned mouth corners, and a gullwing or direct lift places the incision along the vermilion border itself for definition.
A systematic review of seven studies covering 1,754 patients found consistent morphometric change and high satisfaction. Traditional bullhorn technique shortened philtral length from a mean of 14.02 mm to 12.03 mm, raised vermilion height from 5.05 mm to 7.01 mm, and increased incisor show from 1.51 mm to 3.50 mm. Mean satisfaction on the Global Aesthetic Improvement Scale was 4.4 of 5. No major complications were reported across the included studies, and revision rates ranged from 0.6% to 6.7%. The review concluded that technique selection should follow the individual anatomic pattern, with no single method superior for every patient.
What to expect
- Consultation with measurement of philtral length, vermilion height, and incisor show at rest and on animation, plus photography
- Selection of technique based on the anatomic pattern, including bullhorn, central, Italian, corner, or gullwing
- Marking of the planned excision along the nasal base and nostril sills, sized to the intended reduction
- Administration of local anesthesia, or general anesthesia when combined with other facial surgery
- Incision along the marked pattern and excision of the measured skin strip
- Elevation of the upper lip and confirmation of symmetry against the marked landmarks
- Deep layered sutures placed to take tension off the skin edges
- Fine skin closure at the nasal base and nostril sills
- Application of ointment and review of postoperative wound care
- Suture removal and scar assessment at the first follow-up visit
How a lip lift works
- Vermilion show is a function of philtral length. When the skin between the nose and the lip is long, the vermilion sits low and rolls under, and the upper teeth are hidden at rest. Removing skin at the top of the philtrum shortens that distance and lifts the vermilion border into view.
- The excision is placed at the base of the nose, where the incision falls in an existing crease and along the nostril sills. Concealment at that junction is one reason the subnasal approach is the most widely used technique.
- Closure advances the lip upward. Deep sutures carry the tension so the skin edges meet without pull, and the vermilion eversion that follows increases apparent lip height without any implant or injected material.
- Because the skin is removed and not stretched, the correction does not dissipate the way an absorbable filler does. The lip continues to age, and the shortened philtrum remains shortened.
- The amount of skin removed is small and the margin for error is smaller. Over-shortening a philtrum produces a smile that reads as unnatural and cannot be undone, and there is no procedure that puts the skin back. The excision is therefore planned against the individual's own proportions – existing philtral length, how much incisor already shows at rest, and what the lip does when the face moves – rather than against a target measurement borrowed from a study population.
- A lip that lengthened after nasal surgery is a specific case with a specific cause: the base of the nose and the top of the lip share a junction, and work on one can alter the other. Dr. Banthia performs [rhinoplasty](/treatments/rhinoplasty/) as well, which means the lip is assessed against the nose above it rather than in isolation.
When it's recommended
- A long philtrum with limited vermilion show at rest
- Age-related lengthening of the upper lip and inward rolling of the vermilion
- Reduced maxillary incisor show when the mouth is relaxed
- A thin-appearing upper lip in a patient seeking a structural change without filler
- Upper lip lengthening after prior rhinoplasty or lip surgery
- Downturned oral commissures, addressed with a corner lift
- Asymmetry of the upper lip or Cupid's bow
Is a lip lift right for you?
Reach out to learn more from Dr. Vishal Banthia.
Recovery & aftercare
- Swelling and bruising are expected and largely resolve within about one month
- Many patients return to desk work the next day or within several days
- Strenuous activity is typically avoided for approximately two weeks
- Sutures at the nasal base are typically removed within the first week
- The incision heals as a fine line in the crease beneath the nose and continues to fade over months
- Normal sensation in the lip can take up to six months to return fully
- Initial healing takes roughly 6 to 8 weeks, with the settled result apparent by about four months
Alternatives
- Hyaluronic acid lip filler, which adds volume temporarily and does not change philtral length
- Fat grafting to the lips for volume restoration
- A botulinum toxin lip flip, which everts the upper lip temporarily by relaxing the orbicularis oris
- Vermilion advancement (gullwing) when the goal is definition at the lip border
- Orthodontic or dental treatment when the concern is tooth position or gingival display
- Observation, with the existing lip proportions left unchanged
Related treatments
Frequently Asked Questions
- A lip lift is a surgical procedure that removes a strip of skin between the base of the nose and the upper lip, shortening the philtrum. Raising the lip in this way increases the visible pink vermilion and the amount of upper tooth that shows when the mouth is at rest.
- A lip lift changes lip proportion by removing skin, so it shortens the distance between the nose and the mouth and lifts the vermilion border. Filler adds volume to the body of the lip and does not shorten the philtrum. The surgical change is permanent; filler is absorbed and requires repeat treatment.
- The incision is placed in the natural crease at the base of the nose and along the nostril sills, where it typically heals as a fine line and fades over months. Hypertrophic scarring has been reported in about 4.6% of cases, and it is a more significant consideration for patients with a history of keloid or thickened scars.
- Swelling and bruising are heaviest in the first week and mostly settle within a month. Many patients return to desk work within a few days and resume strenuous activity at about two weeks. Initial healing takes roughly 6 to 8 weeks, and full sensation in the lip can take up to six months to return.
- The shortened philtrum is a permanent structural change, so the result does not fade the way an absorbable filler does. The lip continues to age after surgery, and skin quality and volume change over time.
- A systematic review of 1,754 patients reported no major complications across the included studies, with minor issues limited to swelling, bruising, hypertrophic scarring, and temporary altered sensation. Revision rates ranged from 0.6% to 6.7%, mostly for aesthetic refinement. As with any surgery, individual risks are reviewed during consultation.
- A lip lift is generally deferred for patients whose philtrum is already short, since further shortening exposes the teeth excessively at rest. It is also deferred for active nicotine users, patients with a history of keloid scarring, those with unmanaged bleeding disorders or on anticoagulation without clearance, and anyone with active infection or inflammatory skin disease at the nasal base.
- They do different things, and only the surgical one is available from Dr. Banthia. Filler adds volume to the lip body and does nothing to philtral length; a lip lift shortens the philtrum and shows more of the vermilion already present. He performs the surgical version and offers no cosmetic injectables at all, so a patient whose lip is thin but well-proportioned is told that filler is the closer match and is not steered into an operation.
- The skin is removed, so the shortening does not dissipate the way an absorbable material does. What continues is ageing: the lip goes on changing, from a shorter starting point. Dr. Banthia sets that expectation before the operation, along with the scar – a fine line in the crease under the nose, which is well concealed on most faces and is still a scar on every one.
- Consultations for lip lift are available at Dr. Banthia's Murrieta office (39755 Date St, Suite 105, Murrieta, CA 92563); Dr. Banthia's Carlsbad office (2390 Faraday Ave, Carlsbad, CA 92008). Contact the office to schedule an appointment at the location most convenient for you.
Lip Lift risks & candidacy
Who should avoid this
- Active infection or inflammatory skin disease at the base of the nose or upper lip
- A history of keloid or hypertrophic scarring, given the visible incision location
- Active tobacco or nicotine use, which impairs healing at the incision
- Bleeding disorders or anticoagulant therapy without medical clearance
- A philtrum that is already short, where further shortening would expose the teeth excessively at rest
- Uncontrolled diabetes or another condition that impairs wound healing
- Goals that the operation cannot meet, identified during consultation
Possible risks
- Visible or hypertrophic scarring at the nasal base, reported in approximately 4.6% of cases
- Asymmetry of the lip or Cupid's bow
- Over-shortening of the philtrum, producing excessive tooth show or an unnatural smile
- Under-correction requiring revision, with reported revision rates of 0.6% to 6.7%
- Temporary altered sensation or numbness of the upper lip
- Persistent swelling of the upper lip
- Bleeding or bruising at the incision
- Infection at the incision site
- Distortion of the nostril sills or nasal base
- Wound separation with tension on the closure
Your practitioner
Dr. Vishal Banthia, MD, FACS
Dr. Vishal Banthia is a double board-certified facial plastic surgeon practicing in Murrieta and Carlsbad, California. He is certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the American Board of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. His practice is surgical and face-only: facelift, neck lift, eyelid surgery, and rhinoplasty. He lectures internationally, has published peer-reviewed research indexed in the National Library of Medicine, and received the American Academy of Otolaryngology's Humanitarian Travel Award for cleft lip and palate surgery in Honduras.
Sources & references
This article draws on 3 sources, including peer-reviewed research, leading medical institutions.
Medically reviewed by Dr. Vishal Banthia, MD, FACS · Last reviewed: 2026-08-07