5.0(14)
Op. Dr. Murat Yaman
Plastic & Aesthetic SurgeryVerified
- 11+years exp.
- 5,000+surgeries
- 6Treatments
Turkish · English
From€2,890
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Facial Surgery
Lip lift in Turkey
A guide to a lip lift in Turkey: hospital prices compared with the UK, the US and Germany, bullhorn (subnasal), corner and other lip lift techniques, lip lift versus filler, who is a good candidate, the short stay, recovery, how the scar heals and the risks.
A written plan with the surgeon's name and the full price — usually within 24 hours.
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- Facial Surgery
- Hospitals
- 2
- Verified
- 4
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- €860
Verified surgeons for Lip Lift
4 doctors Compare doctors, ratings and prices — ask any of them for a free quote.
Prof. Dr. Ayhan Numanoğlu
Plastic & Aesthetic SurgeryVerified
- 56+years exp.
English · Turkish
FromPrice on request
Free quote
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Dr. Erdem Tezel
Plastic & Aesthetic SurgeryVerified
- 37+years exp.
English · Turkish
FromPrice on request
Free quote
60 seconds · no obligationView Profile
Prof. Dr. Özhan Çelebiler
Plastic & Aesthetic SurgeryVerified
- 44+years exp.
FromPrice on request
Free quote
60 seconds · no obligationView Profile
Lip lift in Turkey: what it changes
A lip lift shortens the skin between the base of the nose and the upper lip (the philtrum). With age — and in some people from youth — this area lengthens, the upper lip covers the upper teeth completely, and the pink part of the lip looks thin and turned in. Removing a narrow strip of skin under the nose lifts the lip, shows more of its pink part and a little of the upper teeth at rest, and gives a fuller-looking lip without adding any volume.
On our site a lip lift in Turkey starts at €860 at an accredited hospital. It is a small operation under local anaesthesia, but the result is on the centre of the face and the scar is permanent, so the surgeon's judgement matters more than the technique name. For other facial operations, see our facelift in Turkey guide; for making a full lip smaller, see lip reduction.
How much is a lip lift in Turkey?
A lip lift in Turkey costs from €860 at the hospitals listed on this page; the hospital list shows each one's price in your currency. The lip lift cost rises when a corner lift is added, when it is combined with another facial operation or when a previous lip lift is revised. The prices for other countries are approximate private-sector totals and are confirmed only in a written quote.
| Country | Typical price of a lip lift | What is usually included |
|---|---|---|
| Turkey | from €860 | Surgeon, local anaesthesia, operating theatre, dressings, medication, stitch removal, transfers |
| United Kingdom | about £2,500–£4,500 (approximate) | Surgeon and clinic fees; consultations sometimes extra |
| United States | about $3,000–$6,000 (approximate) | Surgeon's fee plus facility fee |
| Germany | about €2,000–€4,000 (approximate) | Surgeon and clinic fees |
How much is a lip lift in the UK? Private clinics usually quote about £2,500–£4,500 for a bullhorn lip lift, more in central London or when combined with a corner lift; the NHS does not fund it for cosmetic reasons. Package contents, payment at the hospital and hidden costs to check are explained on how it works.
Types of lip lift: bullhorn, corner and others
| Technique | Where the scar is | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Bullhorn (subnasal) lip lift | Along the base of the nose, shaped like a bullhorn | Shortens the whole upper lip, shows more of the pink lip and the teeth |
| Italian lip lift | Two small incisions under each nostril | Lifts mainly the sides of the upper lip; less central lift |
| Central lip lift | Under the middle of the nose | Lifts the centre, where the philtrum is longest |
| Corner lip lift | Small triangles at the corners of the mouth | Raises downturned corners for a less tired or sad look |
| Gull-wing (vermilion) lip lift | Along the border of the pink lip | Enlarges the pink lip directly; the scar is more visible, so it is used rarely |
The bullhorn lip lift is by far the most common. The surgeon marks the shape on your face, removes a strip of skin a few millimetres wide under the nose and closes it in layers so the scar sits in the natural shadow of the nostrils. How much is removed is planned from your lip length, how much tooth you show at rest and how your lip moves when you smile. A corner lip lift can be added in the same session, but its scars at the corners of the mouth are harder to hide.
Lip lift vs filler
Lip filler adds volume; a lip lift changes the length and the shape. The two solve different problems, and some patients have both — a lift first, then a little filler later if more volume is wanted. See fillers for the injectable option.
| Question | Lip filler | Lip lift |
|---|---|---|
| Shortens a long upper lip | No — extra volume can make a long lip look heavier or pushed forward | Yes |
| Shows more of the pink lip | Yes, by adding volume | Yes, by turning the lip up and out |
| How long it lasts | Usually about 6–12 months | Permanent, though the lip keeps ageing slowly |
| Scar | None | A fine scar under the nose |
| Recovery | Swelling for a few days | Swelling for one to two weeks, scar redness for months |
If you have had filler many times and your lip still looks long or duck-like, a lip lift is often the more natural answer. Your surgeon may ask you to let old filler dissolve or dissolve it before surgery, so the lip can be assessed as it really is.
Who is a good candidate for a lip lift?
- A long philtrum: the upper lip covers the upper teeth completely at rest, or the distance from the nose to the lip looks long for your face.
- A thin upper lip that turns inward, with little pink lip showing.
- Age-related lengthening of the upper lip.
- Good general health, no smoking (or stopping for several weeks before and after), and acceptance of a permanent scar under the nose.
Who should not have a lip lift: people whose philtrum is already short or who show a lot of upper teeth at rest — shortening it further can stop the lips from closing comfortably — and anyone with a tendency to thick or keloid scars, which should be discussed first. Patients with an asymmetric nose base or a previous rhinoplasty need careful planning, because the scar follows the nostrils.
The operation and your stay in Turkey
A lip lift takes about 45 minutes to an hour under local anaesthesia, sometimes with light sedation, and you return to the hotel the same day. Plan about 5–7 days in Istanbul: consultation and marking on day 1, surgery on day 2, a check after one or two days, and removal of the stitches after about 5–7 days. If it is combined with another facial operation, the stay is planned around that operation.
Flying home after a lip lift is usually fine once the stitches are out and the surgeon has checked the wound. Our post on flying after surgery has practical tips.
Lip lift recovery
- Days 1–3: swelling, tightness and some bruising of the upper lip. The lip can look too high and stiff at first — this settles. Eat soft food, speak and smile carefully, and keep the incision clean as instructed.
- Week 1: stitches out after about 5–7 days. Most people go out with a little make-up or a mask from about a week to ten days.
- Weeks 2–4: swelling goes down and the lip relaxes into position; it often drops slightly from how it looked in the first days.
- Months 1–6: the scar is pink and then fades. Sun protection on the scar matters.
Lip lift recovery is short, but expect your smile to feel unfamiliar for a few weeks.
The lip lift scar
The lip lift scar is the most important thing to understand before booking. After a bullhorn lip lift it runs along the base of the nose, where the skin of the lip meets the nostrils. In most people it becomes a fine line that is hard to notice at conversational distance after six to twelve months, but it is permanent, and it can widen, stay red longer or become raised, particularly in thicker or darker skin and in people prone to keloids. During the first months it can be visible without make-up.
Careful layered closure, not smoking, sun protection and following the aftercare all help. If a scar remains wide or uneven after it has matured, it can be improved with steroid injections, laser or a small scar revision; see also laser scar removal. A surgeon should show you lip lift before and after photos that include the scar at close range, at least six months after surgery.
Risks of a lip lift
Patient information from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) and the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) on facial surgery lists these as the main risks:
- Visible or widened scar under the nose, as described above.
- Over-correction: too much tooth showing, difficulty closing the lips at rest, or an unnatural "lifted" look — difficult to reverse, which is why surgeons are conservative.
- Under-correction or relapse: the lip drops back somewhat in the first months.
- Asymmetry of the lip or of the nostril base.
- Temporary numbness or stiffness of the upper lip and a changed smile for some weeks.
- Infection, bleeding and slow wound healing, more likely in smokers.
Choose a plastic surgeon who performs lip lifts routinely and plans conservatively, in a licensed hospital. The plastic surgeons on our site are shown with their experience and reviews.
Lip lift results: what to expect
A good lip lift gives a shorter, more defined upper lip with more of its pink part showing and a little of the upper teeth visible at rest — the look of a younger lip, not a filled one. The result is permanent, although the lip continues to age slowly. Judge the result after three to six months and the scar after a year, comparing photos taken in the same light.
Hospitals with Plastic & Aesthetic Surgery in Turkey
Frequently asked questions
At the accredited hospitals on our site a lip lift starts at about €860 (shown in your currency on this page). The price rises with a corner lift, combined surgery or a revision; your exact price is in the written quote after the surgeon has seen your photos.
Private clinics in the UK usually quote about £2,500–£4,500 for a bullhorn lip lift, more in central London or with a corner lift. The NHS does not fund it for cosmetic reasons.
The most common lip lift: a strip of skin shaped like a bullhorn is removed along the base of the nose, which shortens the upper lip and shows more of its pink part. The scar sits in the shadow of the nostrils.
Yes, a permanent scar along the base of the nose. In most people it fades to a fine line after six to twelve months, but it can widen or stay red, especially in people prone to thick scars.
They solve different problems. Filler adds volume for about 6–12 months but cannot shorten a long upper lip; a lip lift shortens the lip permanently and shows more of its pink part, at the cost of a scar.
A small operation that removes skin at the corners of the mouth to lift downturned corners. It can be done with a bullhorn lip lift, but its scars are harder to hide.
Swelling and stiffness last one to two weeks, the stitches come out after about 5–7 days and most people go out normally after a week to ten days. The scar fades over six to twelve months.
Plan about 5–7 days: consultation, surgery under local anaesthesia, a check after one or two days and stitch removal.
Yes. The lip may drop slightly in the first months and keeps ageing slowly, but the shortening is permanent.
People with a short upper lip or who already show a lot of upper teeth at rest, and those prone to keloid scars should not have one or should discuss it carefully first.
Patient stories