The lip lift is one of the most transformative and yet most underappreciated procedures in facial aesthetic surgery. Unlike fillers, which add volume to existing lip tissue, the lip lift surgically shortens the distance between the base of the nose and the top lip — reversing one of the most distinctive signs of facial aging and, in many patients, addressing a proportion they have wished to change since long before aging became a factor. A well-performed lip lift reveals more of the pink lip tissue, softens the space between the lip and the nose, and often shows a hint of the upper teeth at rest — the subtle marker of a youthful mouth. Done poorly, the scar at the base of the nose becomes visible or the lip shape looks unnatural; done well, neither the result nor the scar is identifiable as surgical.

Dr. John Anastasatos performs the lip lift at both his Beverly Hills and Athens, Greece practices with the technical precision this deceptively simple-looking procedure specifically demands. Board certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons (FACS), Dr. Anastasatos has been invited to deliver lectures on advanced facial techniques at the Royal Society of Medicine in London in three consecutive years (2024, 2025, and 2026), and is an active member of the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS) and the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS). Named by The Luxe Insider as one of the Top 10 Plastic Surgeons in the World and recognized as a Castle Connolly and U.S. News & World Report Top Doctor, he has been featured in Reuters, the Boston Globe, FOX News, Forbes, LA Confidential, Vogue Greece, and Elle Greece, as well as on the plastic surgery series Nip/Tuck. Patients travel to his dual-continent practice from across Europe, the Middle East, and the United States for lip lift surgery performed with the meticulous attention to scar placement and lip proportion that defines his broader facial work.

Understanding the Lip Lift

The lip lift addresses a specific anatomic concern that fillers cannot correct: the length of the upper lip. The space between the base of the nose (subnasale) and the top of the upper lip (cupid’s bow) is a defining proportion of the youthful face — typically around thirteen to fifteen millimeters in younger adults. With age, this space elongates as the skin between the nose and the lip stretches, and the pink vermillion of the upper lip thins and rolls inward. The result is a face that can appear older even when the rest of the features have aged gracefully, and a smile that shows less of the upper teeth than it once did.

The surgical lip lift — also known as the subnasal lip lift or bullhorn lip lift — removes a precisely measured strip of skin hidden at the base of the nose. The lip is lifted upward by just a few millimeters, but the effect on the face is disproportionately significant: more pink lip visible, a shorter distance from nose to lip, and a more naturally youthful smile. Unlike filler, the result is permanent, and unlike filler, it addresses the underlying cause of the aging appearance rather than compensating for it with volume.

“The lip lift is one of those procedures where a few millimeters genuinely change a face. Patients often don’t realize that what they’ve been trying to correct with filler is actually a length problem, not a volume problem. Adding filler to an already-long upper lip can make the issue worse, not better. When you shorten the lip appropriately, the face looks rested, the smile looks younger, and the patient’s own natural lip shape is preserved rather than covered with product.” — Dr. John Anastasatos

Why Patients Choose a Lip Lift

Patients pursue lip lift surgery for a combination of aging-related and genetic reasons. Common motivations include:

• Elongated Upper Lip from Aging: A lip-to-nose distance that has stretched over the years, making the face appear older than the patient feels.
• Naturally Long Upper Lip: A genetically longer upper lip that has always felt out of proportion, often limiting the patient’s smile or making the face appear heavier in the lower third.
• Disappearing Pink Lip: Age-related inward rolling of the vermillion border that has reduced the visible pink tissue of the upper lip.
• No Upper Teeth Visible at Rest: An upper lip that fully covers the teeth at rest, a common aging change that a lip lift can reverse.
• Unsatisfactory Filler Results: Patients whose filler has not produced the result they wanted, because their concern was length rather than volume.
• Desire for Permanent Enhancement: Patients ready to move past ongoing filler maintenance to a one-time procedure with lasting results.
• Downturned Lip Corners: Patients whose aging has included a downward angle at the corners of the mouth, often addressed with a corner lip lift rather than (or in addition to) the central lip lift.

Lip Lift Techniques

Several lip lift techniques exist, each addressing different aspects of lip-area aging. Dr. Anastasatos selects among them based on individual anatomy and goals.

Subnasal (Bullhorn) Lip Lift

The subnasal lip lift is the most common and versatile technique. A bullhorn-shaped incision is made just below the nostrils and base of the nose. A precisely measured strip of skin is removed, and the incision is closed so that the scar follows the natural contour where the nose meets the upper lip. Because the scar falls within this natural shadow, it typically heals to an inconspicuous line that is difficult to detect once fully mature. The lip is elevated by three to seven millimeters depending on the patient’s anatomy and goals.

Corner Lip Lift

The corner lip lift addresses the specific problem of downturned mouth corners — a change that can make patients appear sad or displeased even when relaxed. A small amount of skin is removed just above each corner of the mouth, lifting the corners into a more neutral or slightly upturned position. This technique can be performed alone or combined with a subnasal lip lift when both elongation and corner downturn are concerns.

Combined Approach

For comprehensive lip rejuvenation, a subnasal lip lift can be combined with fat transfer for volume enhancement, with filler for fine definition, or with corner lip lift for overall mouth shape. Dr. Anastasatos builds each plan around what each individual lip specifically needs.

What to Expect From Lip Lift Surgery

The lip lift is typically performed in the office under local anesthesia with optional oral sedation. The procedure itself takes approximately one hour. Patients return home the same day with a small dressing over the incision.

Mild swelling and tightness at the base of the nose are most pronounced during the first several days and resolve progressively over one to two weeks. Sutures are typically removed at approximately one week. Most patients feel comfortable returning to desk-based work within five to seven days. The scar continues to mature and fade significantly over the following six to twelve months — by the end of the first year, the scar is typically difficult to identify even at close range. The lip lift result itself is permanent.

Frequently Asked Questions About Lip Lift Surgery

Will the lip lift scar be visible?

When the procedure is performed with appropriate technique, the scar is hidden in the natural shadow where the nose meets the upper lip. Early in healing, the scar may be visible as a fine line; over six to twelve months, it matures to become typically difficult to detect even at close range. Dr. Anastasatos’s approach emphasizes precise scar placement and meticulous closure specifically because scar quality determines the success of the procedure.

How much will my lip be lifted?

Most patients have their lip elevated by three to seven millimeters. The amount depends on the patient’s existing lip-to-nose distance, the goals of the procedure, and the anatomy of the surrounding structures. During consultation, Dr. Anastasatos measures existing proportions and discusses the appropriate amount of lift for the individual patient.

Is the lip lift permanent?

Yes. The shortened lip-to-nose distance is permanent. Natural aging continues, but the correction achieved by the surgery does not reverse over time.

Is a lip lift better than filler?

It depends on the concern. For patients whose primary issue is upper lip length, a lip lift addresses the root cause in a way that filler cannot — and adding filler to an already-long lip can actually worsen the appearance. For patients whose concern is volume rather than length, filler is often the better choice. Many patients benefit from both, addressing length with lip lift and refining volume with filler afterward.

Can a lip lift be combined with other procedures?

Yes. Lip lift combines well with facelift, rhinoplasty, blepharoplasty, or other facial rejuvenation. Because the lip lift is a small, well-tolerated procedure, it is often added to a larger surgery without significant additional recovery.

How soon can I resume normal activities after a lip lift?

Most patients return to desk-based work within five to seven days. Strenuous activity and extreme facial expressions are restricted for approximately two to three weeks to protect the healing incision. Makeup over the scar is generally safe after sutures are removed.

Why Choose Dr. Anastasatos for Your Lip Lift

• Royal Society of Medicine Invited Lecturer: Presented on advanced facial techniques at the Royal Society of Medicine in London in three consecutive years (2024, 2025, 2026).
• Meticulous Approach to Scar Placement: Two decades of facial plastic surgery experience focused on refined scar work — the single most important factor in lip lift outcomes.
• Board-Certified and FACS: Certification by the American Board of Plastic Surgery and Fellowship in the American College of Surgeons reflect rigorous, verified training.
• Full Spectrum of Lip Techniques: Subnasal lip lift, corner lip lift, fat transfer, and filler — allowing each plan to be matched to the specific anatomy rather than limited to one technique.
• Top 10 International Recognition: Named by The Luxe Insider as one of the Top 10 Plastic Surgeons in the World and recognized as a Castle Connolly and U.S. News Top Doctor.
• Beverly Hills and Athens Offices: Patients can schedule consultations and procedures at either location, with coordinated care and follow-up across both practices.

Schedule Your Lip Lift Consultation in Beverly Hills or Athens, Greece

If you have noticed an elongated upper lip, a smile that shows less of the upper teeth than it once did, or a lip-to-nose proportion that has always felt off — lip lift surgery offers a permanent, precisely tailored correction with a recovery shorter than most patients expect. Dr. John Anastasatos welcomes patients to both the Beverly Hills office at 436 North Bedford Drive, Suite 202, and the Athens, Greece office at Palas Kefalari, Kolokotroni 23, Kifisia, for a private consultation covering your lip anatomy, the technique best suited to your goals, and realistic outcomes. Contact the practice to arrange your appointment with Dr. Anastasatos.

Dr. John Anastasatos serves patients from all over the world at his Athens office including: