Lip Lift (Upper Lip Shortening) in Turkey | TruvaBeauty

Enhance your smile and balance your features with a modern lip lift. Performed by board-certified surgeons in internationally accredited Turkish hospitals, the procedure shortens an elongated upper lip, increases the visible “red lip,” and reveals more natural tooth show. TruvaBeauty manages every detail-from consultations and scheduling to private transfers, accommodations, and bilingual on-site support-so you can focus on a smooth recovery and beautifully balanced results.

What is a lip lift?

A lip lift-most often a subnasal “bullhorn” technique-removes a thin strip of skin at the base of the nose to shorten the philtrum, increase the visible red lip (vermilion show), and enhance upper tooth display. The procedure refines proportion and contour but does not add volume like fillers or fat grafting, though these treatments can be combined for enhanced results. ^{Cleveland Clinic PubMed}

Who is (and isn’t) a good candidate

• Well-suited for: Adults in good health with a long upper lip (reduced tooth show at rest), thin upper vermilion, or age-related lip elongation-who want a structural, permanent change and have realistic expectations after counseling.^{PubMed Cleveland Clinic}
• Consider waiting/optimizing if: You smoke/vape nicotine, have poorly controlled medical conditions, or primarily want volume (filler/fat may be preferred or combined). Your surgeon will screen for contributing dental/occlusal issues before surgery.^{Cleveland Clinic}

Techniques your surgeon may recommend

• Subnasal “bullhorn” lip lift (standard): The most commonly reported method in the literature, producing reliable philtral shortening and vermilion show. Variations include straight, wavy, and “Italian” patterns.^{Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (2021) Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (2023)}
• Deep-plane/CUPID lip lift: Releases deeper perioral tissues to improve everted shape and tooth show while aiming to optimize scar quality and longevity.^{ASJ (CUPID Lip Lift)}
• Direct vermilion advancement (upper-lip advancement): Advances the red lip with an incision at the vermilion-skin border; used selectively when more show is needed and a front-of-lip scar is acceptable.^{ScienceDirect}
• Corner lip lift: Elevates downturned oral commissures; sometimes combined with a central lift for harmony.^{ASJ (Corner Lift)}

Combining with rhinoplasty: Historically approached with caution because both procedures meet under the columella. Contemporary series and reviews show simultaneous rhinoplasty + lip lift can be safe and effective in carefully selected patients. Your plan will be individualized.

^{JAMA Network PMC (Simultaneous Rhinoplasty)}

Benefits & risks-what to know

Potential benefits: Shorter, more youthful upper lip; greater upper-tooth show; increased visible vermilion; improved perioral balance-changes documented with quantitative measures in clinical studies.^{JOMS Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (2023)}

Known risks (not exhaustive): Bleeding/hematoma, infection, delayed healing, scar visibility or widening, asymmetry, over- or under-correction, temporary numbness or tightness, subtle changes to nasal base or columella, and need for revision. Careful design, atraumatic technique, and good aftercare mitigate these risks.^{Cleveland Clinic JOMS}

Systems that reduce surgical risk: Our partner hospitals use the WHO Surgical Safety Checklist, which reduced major complications (≈11%→7%) and mortality (1.5%→0.8%) in multicenter trials. We also follow ASPS-aligned patient-safety principles and VTE risk assessment where relevant.^{NEJM ASPS (Patient Safety)}

What does the evidence say?

• Technique prevalence & outcomes: Systematic reviews show the subnasal/bullhorn approach is most common and improves philtral length, vermilion height, and tooth show with high satisfaction in reported cohorts.^{Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (2021) Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (2023)}
• Quantified aesthetic change: Prospective measurements demonstrate significant lip-length reduction and vermilion/upper-tooth-show increases after subnasal lifts.^JOMS
• Adjuncts for polish: Evidence-based perioral rejuvenation supports combining lip lift + micro-fat grafting when volume is also lacking.^{PubMed Lippincott Journals}
• Concurrent rhinoplasty: A 2016 safety series and 2024 systematic reviews report favorable aesthetic outcomes with minimal added complications in selected cases.^{JAMA Network PMC (Simultaneous Rhinoplasty Review)}

Surgical details

Setting: Accredited hospital/operating room (outpatient).
Anesthesia: Usually local anesthesia with or without mild sedation; general anesthesia is reserved for combined procedures.^{Cleveland Clinic}
Key steps: Precise pre-op marking → subnasal (or selected) skin excision → careful tissue release (depth varies by technique) → layered closure with meticulous symmetry → steri-strips/taping and ointment.
Suture removal is commonly at 5-7 days; scar care continues as instructed.^{AAFPRS Cleveland Clinic (Cosmetic Surgery)}

Recovery (typical)

• Days 1-7: Swelling, mild bruising, tightness; head elevation; no pulling wide smiles; sutures removed ~day 5-7.
• 1-3 weeks: Bruising fades; most desk work resumes within a week; avoid strenuous activity until cleared.
• 6-8 weeks: Incision strength and feel normalize; scar continues to fade for months (sun protection + silicone/occlusive therapy as instructed).^{Cleveland Clinic}

Preparing for surgery

• Stop nicotine 4-6 weeks before/after (speeds healing and reduces wound/scar problems).
• Share full history/medications & dental status; perioral harmony involves teeth, bite, and smile dynamics-your surgeon may coordinate with dental specialists when indicated.^PubMed
• Plan for scar care & sun protection; early follow-ups are scheduled for suture removal and symmetry checks.^{Cleveland Clinic (Cosmetic Surgery)}