What exactly is a lip lift?
A short surgical procedure — usually the subnasal or 'bullhorn' lip lift — that removes a precise strip of skin just under the nose, shortening a long philtrum (the nose-to-lip distance). The upper lip rises and rolls gently outward, more pink vermilion shows, and the upper front teeth become visible again at rest. It changes structure permanently, using only your own tissue.
How is a lip lift different from lip filler?
They solve different problems. Filler adds volume to the lip you already have — rational when the philtrum length is normal and the only wish is fullness. A lip lift changes proportions: it shortens the philtrum, everts your existing lip and restores tooth show — things no syringe can do. Chasing a long philtrum with filler is how 'duck lips' happen: volume stacked on a structural problem. The comparison page covers the honest decision grid.
What is an ideal philtrum length — and how do I measure mine?
Youthful philtrums typically run about 11–15 mm; with age (or genetics) they lengthen, and beyond roughly 16–18 mm the upper lip visibly thins and the teeth disappear at rest. Measure with a small ruler from the base of the nose to the top edge of the upper lip, face relaxed. Your number plus photos is exactly what assessment works from.
Will I have a visible scar?
There is a scar — honesty first — and its entire management is design: the incision follows the base of the nose, tucked into the natural shadow and creases, closed in fine layers with meticulous tension control. It matures from pink to pale over 12–18 months with sun protection and silicone care. Well executed, it becomes something people don't see unless told where to look; the dedicated scar page shows the full calendar.
How many millimetres of skin are removed?
Typically 3–6 mm — usually around a quarter to a third of your philtrum length, never more than conservatism allows. The reason for restraint is one-directional: removed skin cannot be put back. A slightly conservative lift can be refined later; an over-lifted lip is a genuinely difficult problem. Millimetre humility is the operation's core skill.
Is a lip lift permanent?
Yes — the skin removed is gone, and the new proportions are yours for good. Ageing continues normally from the new baseline, and over many years tissues may relax by a millimetre or so, but there is no maintenance schedule, no refill cycle and no device to replace.
Can a lip lift fix a gummy smile?
No — and this matters: it can make one worse. A lip lift raises the resting position of the upper lip, so if you already show significant gum when smiling, lifting the lip higher amplifies exactly that. Gummy smiles have their own treatments (from muscle-targeted injections to orthognathic options). This is a candidacy gate we check honestly — smile photos are part of assessment for precisely this reason.
Will a lip lift help smoker's lines around my mouth?
Not meaningfully — those vertical lines are a skin-surface problem addressed by resurfacing (laser, peels) or sometimes filler, not by lifting. A lip lift changes proportion and eversion. If perioral lines are your main concern, you'll be told plainly that this is the wrong operation for that goal.
Is it done under local anaesthesia? How long does it take?
Yes — the standard lip lift here runs under local anaesthesia, typically 45–90 minutes, walk-in walk-out. No general anaesthetic, no hospital night. It's one of the few structural facial procedures with an almost outpatient-dentistry footprint — which is also why the Istanbul trip stays short.
What is recovery like — and when can I smile, kiss, eat normally?
Expect swelling and tightness for the first 1–2 weeks, a stiff-feeling smile early on (it loosens as swelling settles), and sutures out around day 5–7. Eating is fine from day one — smaller bites, avoiding very spicy or very hot food briefly; straws are fine (this isn't a tooth extraction). Kissing waits ~2–3 weeks, wide-mouth dentistry a bit longer. Socially presentable in about a week; the honest final judgement of lip position belongs to month 2–3.
Do men have lip lifts?
Increasingly, yes — with a differently calibrated plan: conservative millimetres, a flatter (not rosebud) vermilion goal, and respect for the naturally longer male philtrum range. The men's article covers the specifics; the honest gates are identical.
Can a lip lift be combined with rhinoplasty?
Sometimes, carefully — and often better staged. Both procedures work at the nasal base and share blood supply territory; combining them is case-by-case (technique- and anatomy-dependent), while staging — usually rhinoplasty first, lip lift after settling — keeps each operation's result and safety margins clean. If you're planning both, say so at assessment and the sequencing gets designed honestly.
How much does a lip lift cost in Istanbul?
Priced individually and quoted in writing after a free photo assessment — all-inclusive (surgeon, facility, local anaesthesia, aftercare and transfers), typically 50–70% below comparable UK/US private pricing. Because the procedure is local-anaesthesia and short, it's also one of the most accessible entries in facial surgery. Dr. Erdal holds Türkiye's official health-tourism authorisation (No. 2026034015610080000444996).
Do I need a visa to come to Türkiye?
Travellers from the UK, Ireland, the US, Canada, Germany and the Nordic countries can generally enter visa-free for short tourist stays, with direct flights to Istanbul from most major cities. Rules can change — verify officially before travel.
