It usually starts with: “everybody asks me if I am sad or upset”.
Then you start looking at your face through a magnifying glass and happen to discover that it is not about you being sad. It is rather that you simply have narrow lips and long philtrum that give your face a somewhat fierce expression. Long distance between a nose base and an upper lip is a characteristic feature for mature people as this is how gravity works. It may also affect younger patients. Regardless of age, it makes people look angry or upset. This issue is hard to be resolved with lip fillers as they push lips forward rather than upwards.
Surgical bullhorn lip lift is a low-maintenance method of lip enhancement which brings long-term effects such as better proportions and balance. No more elongated face, nor long philtrum hanging over the teeth.
Welcome more feminine and rejuvenated facial expression.
How it looks like?
Lip lift is a brief surgery which lasts about 40 minutes. It is performed awake, under local anaesthesia. The numbing shot is the most unpleasant moment during the whole process. Afterwards patient may experience some pulling, but not pain. The surgeon starts with making an incision right below the nose. It has the shape of bull horns, hence the name of the treatment – bullhorn lip lift. Excess skin is removed from the area under the nose. An upper lip is rolled out and lifted. The procedure is completed by placing thin surgical sutures under the nose, in the natural skin fold. A lip lift can be combined with total rhinoplasty or nose tip refinement. In such case both surgeries are performed under general anaesthesia.
Before and after a lip lift
Below before and after photos present ladies from all age groups. Some are as young as 25 years old, some in their forties or fifties. All of them originally had thin upper lip which made their faces out of proportion. All of them had a love affair with lip fillers until they became finally fed up with the injections. What they disliked most about fillers was the effect of lips going forward rather than upwards. None fell in love with a lip lift instantly. Obviously, they were most concerned about the scar. Finally, they were so satisfied with the effects, that they decided to make their before and after lip lift public.
Review the before-after pictures to see how their faces have changed thanks to this minor surgery. In all cases a lip lift produced a spectacular but natural effect. A perfect pout. No fish or duck lips.
Semra from the UK, in her early thirties, was interested in changing proportions of her face as she felt that it is a long philtrum which makes her look sad. It was easy for her to take a decision about a surgical lip lift as her sister had this procedure done by Dr. Osuch with an excellent result.
To balance her face, a philtrum was reduced by as much as 1 cm. No additional surgeries were performed. After a lip lift her face changed completely. Now it is more balanced, with right nose-lip ratio. She particularly appreciated the natural effect of lip augmentation which she was unable to get with fillers.
Asia, in her late forties, come to us from the USA after becoming disappointed with lip fillers. She has bullhorn lip lift performed to reduce philtrum by 5 mm. The procedure, which lasted for 45 minutes, greatly contributed to rejuvenating her face by improving proportions. The picture on right hand side was taken 3 months after her surgery. She was so happy with the result that after two months she came back to us for upper eye lifting.
Sibel, 41 years old, from London. Dr. Osuch cut off 8 mm of the skin to better harmonize her lips with the rest of the face. Notice that the curvature of the upper lip has been improved without overexposing the upper teeth. Bullhorn lip lift rejuvenated her face, even though no other surgical or non-invasive treatments were performed. She told us that after a lip lift, she feels so much younger.
From flat to perfect pout. This patient came to us from the UK to get her lip lift done. You can see how her lips improved. Her teeth is visible, but not overexposed. Now it was shortened by 5 mm to better define the lips. Her new philtrum measures 1.2 cm. The picture on right hand side was taken just 11 days post-op.
One day she called us and told that her father, whom she did not tell nothing about her procedure, told her she had looked more “lovely” than usual. He could, however, not figure out what exactly was different. This speaks volumes as to how natural, yet different results bullhorn lip lift gives. As a make-up fan and lipstick enthusiast, the patient is happy with a more prominent cupid bow which now looks amazing.
Jola from the UK, in her early thirties, was frustrated with lip fillers. As she wanted a dramatic result to match her personality, she had more and more fillers injected every 3-4 months until she developed fillers fatigue. When she took a decision to have lip lift done, it turned out that she needs to get all fillers dissolved. As she did not want to use hyaluronidase, she waited a year until the filler dissolved naturally. Bullhorn lip lift changed shape of her lips and improved symmetry. The picture on right hand side was taken 2 years after her lip lift surgery.
Diane from the UK, in her mid-twenties wanted a lip lift for a special occasion – a wedding. But as she had a lot of lip fillers and was wearing orthodontic braces, she needed to wait for her lip lift surgery to be done till finish of her dental treatment. In the meantime, she had her filler dissolved. After a few months from her first consultation with Dr. Osuch, she came back and had bullhorn lip lift done (7 mm removed). Although it was a minor surgery, and no additional procedures were done, her face changed completely. She looks so much feminine and elegant, with balanced face proportions.
Sarah, UK. This young lady’s in her early twenties original philtrum length was 2.2 cm, which was totally out of proportion with her whole face. She is very young, but her lower part seemed sad and a bit older when compared to the upper part. This was caused by just one detail: lip-nose ratio and quite a long philtrum. Before she decided for a lip lift, she has been having lip injections done for 6 years over and over again. In her case this treatment needed to be repeated every 3 months as the acid was metabolized very quickly. After a lip lift (7 mm removed) her upper lip became fuller, beautifully harmonizing with the rest of her face. Now she appears younger and more cheerful. This is exactly how this surgery works.
Lip fillers fatigue story. This young woman from the UK, only in her mid-twenties felt that fillers did not help to reduce her long philtrum. Fillers gave her more volume, but she wanted a different lip shape, with her upper lip lifted up rather than flat. Her original philtrum was 18 mm, after a bullhorn lip lift – 14 mm. Only 4 mm of tissue was removed but the difference in lips shape is visible.
The picture on right hand side was taken only two months post-op. The scar under the nose is quite visible. It will continue to mature for a year post-op.
This patient in her early thirties, came from London to have a bullhorn lip lift done. Her original philtrum was only 16 mm, so no aggressive treatment was possible to be done. This patient aimed at changing the angle as she felt her lip hung down. In her case a conservative lip lift (3 mm were cut off) was done to produce a natural and subtle result of raising middle lift and showing her teeth. If, with time, she feels like more volume, she can follow-up with lip fillers of fat grafting to lips.
Patient in her early thirties who always disliked her face as she felt something was off balance. Over years she tried fillers and Botox. She even considered a rhinoplasty. None helped until she finally came to conclusion that it was the philtrum which caused sad appearance and made her face out of proportion. Her philtrum was originally 19 mm. After a surgery – 12 mm. “After” photo was taken 3 months post-op. Lips became more defined. This small detail influenced her whole face. Now she looks more feminine and refreshed. As she put it: “by having the lip lift I do not feel I need to overline my lips or inject them”.
Patient in her 50’s main concern was thin upper lip. She felt that her face was out of proportion when it comes to long philtrum. It made her look older that she felt inside. At first, she thought that plastic surgery is the craziest thing she has ever done to herself, but as the swelling subsided and the recovery was over, she told us she 100% feels like herself again. After a lip lift, which originally measured 19 mm (6 mm was removed), you can see a visible difference in the shape and visibility of her upper lip. After this treatment she became a great lipstick fan and loves how lipstick now enhances her actual lip rather than enhancing the fact that she had no lip.
This before-after presents a lip lift result 2 weeks post-op. The patient has more prominent and better defined upper lip, raised in the middle part. Bullhorn lip lift was performed under local anesthesia, lasted 45 min. Her stitches were removed 9 days after the surgery.
Recovery and the scar
Lip lift ends up with placement of a dressing under the nose. This must be worn for a week. Stitches are removed 7-9 days post-op by a GP in your home country. For a full recovery you should reserve around a week. A limited facial expression is recommended during this time. So is refraining from laughing and switching to a liquid diet such as shakes, cream soups, etc. for 2–3 days post-op.
The scar is the biggest issue in case of this treatment. Although it is located in the natural crease of skin just under the nose, where a shadow naturally falls, and gets white with time, some people cannot accept it. If you are concerned about the scar, we suggest that you choose other methods of lip augmentation such as lip implant, lip fillers or own fat transfer.
If you want to ensure the best appearance of a scar, please pay close attention to a post-op treatment. The following are key: non exposure to the sun for one year, using solar filters, and applying a silicone gel as of one month post-op.
Key information
| Required medical tests | Morphology (HGB, HCT, RBC, WBC, PLT), coagulation (prothrombin time, APTT, INR), antigens (HBS, HCV, HIV). |
| Contraindications | Diabetes, circulatory system diseases, unregulated hypertension, blood coagulation issues, pregnancy, philtrum less than 15 mm long, good dental show when smiling, lips excessively filled with hyaluronic acid. |
| Procedure time | 40 minutes |
| Anesthesia | Local |
| Time spent in the clinic | 1 hour post-op |
| Recovery | 1-2 weeks |
| Stitches removal | 7-9 days post-op, by a GP in your home country |
| Coming back to gym | After 4 weeks |
Price
The price of the procedure is given here. Fee for a lip lift is a fixed price and includes all the costs. It does not depend on the amount of cut skin or the expected lip shape. Lip lift is priced differently if you decide to have a sedation or general anaesthesia. Also, we charge more for all revision surgeries. For details, please see our price list.
QUESTIONS
Please have a look at below FAQ which includes a lot of useful information about this surgery. For general FAQ regarding organizational rules in Dr. Osuch Clinic, please click here.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Send us pictures of your face and fill out medical questionnaire here. Four photos (face front and both profiles plus front face with a smile, teeth show) will be needed. Non-descript background please. You can arrange for a consultation, blood tests and surgery in one visit to Warsaw.
All details are described in our Terms and Conditions.
Key steps are the following:
- Photos sent via online questionnaire
- Getting a quote
- Booking surgery slot
- Within 7 days – sending your flight ticket as a confirmation of your surgery date. No deposit is needed
- For blood tests please come to us at 10 am at the latest. We charge extra for blood tests. Details: price list
- Consultation with Dr. Osuch and surgery take place the same day
- You are leaving the clinic 1-2 hours post-op & fly back home the same day
- Stitches: to be removed 7-9 days post-op by a GP in your home
- No follow-up visits are needed
Please check the price list here. The price includes all the costs.
Cash on the procedure day – PLN, EUR, USD, GBP. No deposit/ booking fee is required.
PLANNING
The surgery slots are usually available within a week/ month. Everything depends on the current season. Exact slots – to be provided by a receptionist via e-mail.
You can go to work straight away if you accept stitches and dressing under your nose. Once you have your stitches removed (typically 7-9 days post-op) you can start applying make-up and come back to work without any dressing.
No. More about this you can find here. Once you get your braces removed, please send us 4 pics of your face for Dr. Osuch review.
Depends on the amount of injected filler. Sometimes yes, sometimes it is not necessary. Details will follow when we see your photos.
No. Please refer to your doctor to have it dissolved.
Please include info about this in your questionnaire. We will come back with our suggestion. Lip implant can be removed during your lip lift surgery under the same anesthesia. Removal of a lip implant is charged extra.
It will be agreed individually with Dr. Osuch, based on your expectations and medical possibilities. Amount of tissue to be removed varies from patient to patient. Sometimes we can only perform a conservative lip lift (2-3 mm of skin), sometimes more than 1 cm can be removed.
Please wait a year after rhinoplasty as the nose needs up to12 months to settle and fully recover. Then send us photos for our assessment.
ANESTHESIA & BLOOD TESTS
No and there are no exceptions in this respect. The blood tests are needed for your own safety during the surgery. To have blood tests done, please come to the clinic one day, 10 am at the latest. Blood tests will be done in our lab.
A local one. An injection is made in the lip area, under the nose.
This is charged on top of a lip lift price, as we engage anesthetic team plus you stay in the clinic overnight. For details, please check our price list here.
PREPARATION FOR A SURGERY
All pre-surgery instructions are available here.
On the surgery day please:
- Do not drink coffee
- Eat a normal, light meal and take all your daily medications (applies to chronic illnesses)
- Do not apply make-up/ skincare products on the surgery area
- Put on comfortable clothes
- Remember to have an ID document with you
Please contact our Reception to confirm. Generally, people who have a cold/ herpes or are on antibiotics/ anti-inflammatory medications should not have plastic surgery done.
Yes.
No cosmetic treatments 2 weeks before your surgery please.
LIP LIFT VARIATIONS
Bullhorn, corner and Italian lip lift.
We do not perform such surgeries. Please consider other methods such as fillers/ own fat transfer/ permalip. Find more information here.
We do not offer such option mainly because of scar located in the prominent area on the face. Please consider other methods such as fillers/ own fat transfer/ permalip. Find more information here.
Please send your face pictures and appropriate info via online questionnaire. Revision lip lift is priced differently. For details please see our fees.
STITCHES & THE SCAR
Dissolvable (put inside) and fine high quality non absorbable stitches put on the skin. Stitches from the skin have to be removed 7-9 days post-op by a GP in your home country.
7-9 days post-op by GP in your home country.
The scar is always sort of an issue. Important: lip lift is a surgical procedure which ends up with stitching and results in a scar. The scarring process is very individual. With time the scar is whitening and becoming less visible. Its appearance is also greatly influenced by a person’s genetics. Dr. Osuch always places the stitches just under the nose, in the natural nose crease. It is quite easy to be covered by make-up.
If you are afraid of a scar – please consider lip augmentation methods other than a lip lift – lip fillers/ own fat transfer, lip implant.
LIP LIFT COMBINED WITH OTHER SURGERIES
Please include this info in your questionnaire you are sending to us. Dr. Osuch will review your case and come back with his recommendation. We reserve the right to invite you for a consultation first before we book any surgery date for you. Combined surgeries will be done in sedation/ general anesthesia.
Please include this information in your lip lift questionnaire you will be sending to us. It is good to fill out blepharoplasty questionnaire as well. Both procedures are possible to be done under one, local anesthesia.
Please include this info in your face lift questionnaire you are sending to us. Dr. Osuch will review your case and come back with his recommendation and pricing. As combined surgeries will be done in sedation/ general anesthesia, we reserve the right to invite you for a consultation first, before we book any surgery slot for you. More details to be provided by a return e-mail.
POST-OPERATIVE
We recommend silicone gel such as Veraderm or Dermatix. All precise instructions will be given by Dr. Osuch right after your surgery.
The scar after a lip lift can be exposed to sun after a year post-op. If you do it sooner, you risk discoloration of the skin, which is very hard to be managed afterwards. Fresh scar quickly attracts sun, that’s why we strongly recommend high sun blockers (SPF 50+).
Lip lift candidate?
To check if you are a good candidate for a lip lift, please fill in our online questionnaire. You will need to upload pictures – face front with mouth relaxed and both profiles. We will propose the surgery which will be of greatest benefit to you, along with a quote.
You will come to our clinic in Warsaw, Poland, once. Blood tests will be done in our lab one day prior to the surgery. The following day, a consultation and surgery will follow. You can fly back home the same or the following day. No follow-up visits are required. Stitches should be removed 7-9 days post-op by a GP in your home country.
Contact
Dr Osuch
Plastic Surgery Clinic
ul. Wiktorii Wiedeńskiej 9a lok U2
02-954 Warszawa
