What is a lip lift?
A lip lift is a surgery that shortens the distance between the base of the nose and the border of the upper lip —the philtrum— to raise the lip, show a little more of the teeth when smiling and give a more defined contour. It is a small procedure, done under local anaesthesia, but with a structural, permanent effect.
Over the years something happens that almost no one names but everyone perceives: the upper lip lengthens and thins. The distance between nose and lip increases, the red border (vermilion) rolls inward, and the upper teeth stop showing when speaking or smiling. It is one of the earliest signs of ageing in the lower third of the face, and no amount of filler corrects it, because the problem is not one of volume but of length and position.
That is the key distinction on this page: filler adds volume; a lip lift shortens and raises. Filling a lip that has lengthened only makes it heavier and pushes it further down — the result is the bulky, unnatural lip that many patients specifically want to avoid. When the philtrum is long, the solution is not to inflate the lip: it is to shorten it.
Techniques used by Dr. Arístides Arellano
The technique and the exact amount of skin to remove are defined at the assessment, measuring the philtrum, the dental show and the shape of the lip at rest and when smiling:
- Subnasal lip lift ("bullhorn" technique): the most common. The incision is designed hidden in the crease at the base of the nose, following the contour of the nostrils and the columella, in a bullhorn shape. A measured band of skin is removed and the lip rises, shortening the philtrum and gently everting the vermilion so more pink lip shows without injecting anything.
- Corner lip lift: for downturned corners that give a sad or displeased expression at rest. Each end of the mouth is discreetly elevated. It can be done alone or together with the subnasal lip lift.
- Combination with rhinoplasty: because the subnasal lip-lift incision sits right at the base of the nose, in some cases both procedures share the surgical field and can be planned in the same session, assessing how the nasal tip and the lip relate to each other.
- Conservative, measured design: the safety margin matters more here than in almost any other facial surgery. Lifting too much produces a short lip, with too much gum showing and a forced smile; and what is removed cannot be given back. That is why the pre-operative measurement is deliberately prudent.
How is it performed?
A lip lift is performed on an outpatient basis, usually under local anaesthesia —with or without light sedation— and lasts approximately 45 minutes to an hour and a half. The philtrum is marked and measured, the calculated band of skin is removed beneath the base of the nose, and it is closed in layers with fine sutures so the scar sits in the natural crease. The patient goes home the same day.
All surgery carries risk and requires a prior medical assessment. Results may vary according to each patient, their anatomy and their individual healing process.
Who is a good candidate?
The best candidate is someone with a long philtrum who wants a permanent change, not a filler that must be repeated. Lip length is measured at consultation; not everyone needs it:
- A long distance between the nose and the upper lip, whether congenital or from ageing.
- A thin or "disappearing" upper lip, with little exposure of the upper teeth when smiling or speaking.
- Someone seeking a permanent result who is tired of getting filler every few months.
- Good general health and realistic expectations: a lip lift shortens and raises a few millimetres; it is a subtle, proportionate change, not a drastic transformation.
- Accepting that there is a real scar at the base of the nose —well hidden in the crease, but permanent— and understanding that the result is not reversible.
- Not a good candidate is someone who already has a short philtrum, someone seeking mainly more volume (that is filler, not a lip lift), or someone who cannot accept a scar, however discreet.
Recommended post-surgical treatments
In the first days, meticulous wound care is advisable, sleeping with the head elevated and avoiding wide movements of the mouth while it heals. Once the scar at the base of the nose matures, Dr. Arístides may recommend treatment on it and strict sun protection so it fades well. See the full guide: Post-surgical recovery and care.
Before and after
Most patients want to see before-and-after photographs before deciding. Out of respect for each person’s privacy, Dr. Arístides Arellano shows real cases —always with documented consent— during your in-person consultation, where you can review results from patients with a starting point similar to yours. Results may vary from patient to patient.
Approximate price
The cost of a lip lift is defined at your in-person consultation, because it depends on the technique (subnasal, corner or both), on whether it is combined with another procedure such as rhinoplasty and on the type of anaesthesia. Approximate price — the definitive cost is set at your private consultation with Dr. Arístides Arellano. See the price list.
About Dr. Arístides Arellano
Dr. Arístides Arellano is a plastic surgeon holding a specialty licence: he practises under a Mexican medical licence (D.G.P. 1125959) and a specialty licence in Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery (0002008), both issued by the Directorate General of Professions (DGP), which reissued his certificate of professional standing in 2025. His career began before Mexico’s present-day specialty-board system existed: he belongs to the founding generation of plastic surgery in Puebla, the second generation of a surgical tradition started in 1971 by Dr. Francisco Arellano Ocampo. Trust is verified, not promised: both licences are public and anyone can look them up in the DGP’s National Registry of Professionals.
Related patient guide
Before operating on any part of your face, it is worth choosing well who you entrust it to: How to choose a plastic surgeon in Puebla: the checklist, including how to verify a specialty licence with the DGP.
Trust is verified, not promised. All 210 scanned documents —degree, licences, diplomas, publications and certificates, from 1977 to 2025— are open in Dr. Arístides Arellano’s credential archive, alongside an explanation of the difference between a specialty licence and a board certification.
Recovery · step by step
- Days 1 to 3Swelling of the lip and the base of the nose; mild discomfort. Head elevated and wound care.
- Days 5 to 7Suture removal. Swelling subsides and most already feel presentable.
- Weeks 2 to 4The scar is still pink; easily concealed. Return to normal activity.
- Months 2 to 6The scar matures and fades; the result settles and looks natural.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a lip lift cost in Puebla?
The cost is defined at the in-person consultation, because it depends on the technique (subnasal, corner or both), on whether it is combined with another procedure such as a rhinoplasty, and on the type of anaesthesia. It is a small, outpatient procedure. You can review the price references and book your assessment to receive an exact figure. Results may vary.
What is the difference between a lip lift and lip filler?
Filler adds volume with a substance and is temporary; a lip lift surgically shortens the lip and raises it, and is permanent. When the problem is that the distance between the nose and the lip has lengthened, filler does not correct it: it only makes the lip heavier. In that case the solution is to shorten it, not inflate it.
Is a lip lift result permanent?
Yes. Because a band of skin is removed and the lip is repositioned, the change is structural and permanent, unlike filler, which is reabsorbed. The face keeps ageing over time, but the shortening of the philtrum does not reverse.
Where is the lip lift scar?
In the subnasal technique the incision is designed hidden in the crease at the base of the nose, following the contour of the nostrils and the columella, so it stays very discreet. It is a real, permanent scar, but well concealed; it matures and fades over time, and sun protection helps it blend in.
Is a lip lift done under general anaesthesia?
Usually not. It is performed on an outpatient basis under local anaesthesia, with or without light sedation, and lasts approximately 45 minutes to an hour and a half. The patient goes home the same day. The type of anaesthesia is confirmed at your assessment, depending on the case and whether it is combined with another procedure.
How much downtime does a lip lift have?
Most feel presentable within one to two weeks. The first days bring swelling of the lip and the base of the nose, and sutures are removed around the fifth to seventh day. The scar stays pink for a few weeks and then fades; it is easily concealed during that period. Results may vary.
Who is not a good candidate for a lip lift?
Someone who already has a short philtrum, someone seeking mainly more lip volume —that is filler, not a lip lift— and someone who cannot accept a scar, however discreet. General health is also assessed. Lip length is measured at consultation to confirm the indication.
Does a lip lift leave too much gum showing?
That is precisely the risk the prudent measurement aims to avoid. Lifting too much produces an overly short lip with excess gum and a forced smile, and what is removed cannot be given back. That is why the design is deliberately conservative: it is calculated with a margin and prioritises a subtle, proportionate change.
Every case is different. Discuss yours in a personal consultation.
Book a consultation on WhatsAppEvery figure published on this site is approximate and is not a quote. Any procedure or treatment first requires a private assessment consultation with Dr. Arístides Arellano —$800 MXN, charged separately— and it is at that consultation that the definitive cost of your case is determined.
Educational content; it does not replace a medical consultation. Results may vary from person to person.