Face & Eyes

Lip Lift

at Cadogan Clinic, London’s Leading Cosmetic Surgery Specialists. 

Get in touch

Award Winning Specialist Clinic

We've won 12 top industry awards since 2010 and regularly feature in the national and international press.

Industry Leading Consultants

We've invited only the very best consultants in the country to practice with us.

Care Quality Commission

We're regulated by the independent regulator of health and social care in England.

GMC Registered Surgeons

All of our surgeons are registered with the General Medical Council.

Medically Reviewed April 2023, by Mr. Bryan Mayou (GMC: 1414396) - founder of the Cadogan Clinic and one of the world's leading plastic surgeons

What is Lip Lift?

A lip lift is a surgical procedure to elevate the upper lip, shortening the distance between the lip and the nose.

Lip lift surgery is ideal for people who are looking to add height and definition to the lip, rather than adding volume. However an upper lip lift will help the lips to appear fuller, without the use of fillers. Lip lift surgery is permanent, which makes it an attractive option for people who do not want the upkeep which comes with dermal fillers. 

A lip lift will also help to address the problem of thin lips, a common complaint caused by the aging process. It can also help to lift a downturned mouth, as drooping lips are yet another issue caused by the aging process. Lip lift surgery helps to turn back the clock and will make the middle portion of your face look younger and rejuvenated.

We offer a number of different lip lifts here at the Cadogan Clinic, depending on the make up of your face and what you hope to achieve from surgery. Your surgeon will discuss the options with you at your consultation to find out which will be best for you.

Get in touch

Lip Lift At a glance

Surgery Time

1 - hour

Time off work

7 days

Hospital Stay

Day Case

Shower

After 1 week

Reasonable Mobility

After 1 day

Exercise

After 4 - 6 weeks

Sleeping on back

Sleeping on back recommended for 3 weeks

Full Recovery

4 - 6 weeks

Driving

1 week


Before and after Lip Lift

Why do people have it?

There are several reasons people may choose to have lift lip surgery. The treatment effectively addresses problems like a thin upper lip, caused by aging or genetics, and an elongated philtrum, the vertical groove running between the nose and the upper lip.

A lip lift offers a permanent solution to thin lips lacking in volume and definition. It is a more permanent solution to dermal fillers, which makes it an attractive option to those who do not want the maintenance which comes with fillers. We only offer semi-permanent fillers here at the Cadogan Clinic.

Who is suitable?

Cadogan Clinic considers individuals fit for the procedure, if all of the following are true of them:

  • You are in good psychological and physical medical health
  • At your ideal body weight
  • You have a positive outlook and realistic expectations of what can be achieved via surgery
  • You are looking for a permanent result
  • You have a space between your nose and upper lip measuring 15mm or more
  • You have thin lips caused by aging or genetics
  • You have downturned lip corners
  • You are looking for an alternative to lip fillers

Words from our clients:


The cost of a Lip Lift

Get in touch now to get a price

Lip lift costs vary and can be higher when paired with another treatment, for example a corner lip lift combined with another lip procedure, or done under general anaesthetic.

Get in touch 0207 901 8500

What are the options?

We offer a number of different lip lifts; direct lip lift, subnasal bullhorn, central lip lift, corner lip lift and Italian lip lift. We will look at these different techniques in more detail here.

A direct lip lift is a great procedure to define the border of the lip. In this particular technique, the surgeon will take a thin skin strip from just above the upper lip. The skin is then pulled up, which makes the upper lip appear more pronounced. Sometimes this particular technique is referred to as a ‘gullwing lip lift’. Patients may be left a small scar on the upper lip area.

A subnasal bullhorn lip lift gets its name from the shape of the incision which is made along the base of the nose. The surgeon will then pull the centre, right and left of the lip upwards towards the nose. 

The primary aim of a central lip lift is to shorten the space between the nose and upper lip. An incision is made at the lower nose. This technique is similar to the subnasal bullhorn.

A corner lip lift is a popular lip lift surgery and helps to give the face a more ‘smiley’ appearance by lifting downturned lip corners. This is achieved by making two small incisions at the mouth corners before the surgeon removes a small amount of skin. A corner lip lift can be combined with another lift lip procedure in order to achieve fuller-looking lips.

The Italian lip lift is another procedure which is very similar to the subnasal bullhorn. The main difference is two incisions are made beneath each nostril. Usually no scar is left behind.


Lip Lift Surgeons

We have invited a selection of the country's very best consultants to join us at the Cadogan Clinic so that you can be sure that whatever the nature of your treatment, you will be seeing one of the top practitioners in the country.


What to expect

Below you will find some key information to help you prepare for surgery and make necessary arrangements to ensure you have the support you need and that everything runs smoothly on the day.

Due to our underlying medical philosophy and strict medical standards, we only offer lip lift surgery by trained plastic surgeons. Not only is this safer, but is proven to deliver superior aesthetic outcomes.

You will meet with one of our highly trained cosmetic surgeons at our Clinic on Sloane Street, Chelsea for a no-obligation in-person assessment.

Your consultant will discuss the following with you at this consultation:

  • The best options for you and your facial anatomy, and the results that you would likely achieve
  • An explanation of the various procedure options available to you, their expected outcomes and associated recovery times and costs
  • Go through your past medical history
  • Answer any questions you may have

If you both agree on treatment during the consultation, a bespoke treatment plan will be drawn up.

If you choose to proceed with surgery, the next time you come into the Clinic after your final consultation will be the day of your procedure.

Before admission the following behavioural changes are recommended / required:

  • In the 6 weeks before your procedure we recommend smoking is discontinued as patients who smoke have a higher risk of healing more slowly and complications
  • In the week before your procedure you must cease taking Aspirin or any medication that contains Aspirin
  • In the 6 hours prior to surgery you must not consume food or any drink, other than small sips of clear fluid (e.g. still water, black coffee, black tea) which are allowed up to 2 hours before admission

On the day of your procedure we ask that you arrive for your admission an hour before the agreed start time of surgery. At this point a nurse will come and record blood pressure and other relevant tests, you will meet with your anaesthetist and your surgeon who will make the final mark-ups.

Following the procedure, you will recover in our ambulatory recovery rooms for between two to three hours. Once you are able to eat and drink, and our specialist nursing team are happy that your initial recovery is complete, you will be allowed to leave the clinic with a friend or family member.

It is common to feel a little pain and discomfort in the immediate aftermath of surgery, but this will wear off in due course. Lip lift recovery is relatively quick and any residual discomfort should subside in a matter of days.

You will meet with our nursing team one week after surgery to check the incision sites and we also recommend meeting one of our aestheticians to discuss ongoing treatment to support the healing process if required.

A final check-up will take place at the clinic six weeks post-surgery.

The Patient Journey. A breakdown of what you can expect on your journey with us

We are deeply invested in ensuring that every step of your surgical journey with us is as informative and reassuring to you as it can be. This article outlines what you can expect at each stage of the journey

The Patient Journey

Frequently Asked Questions

There is only a short downtime involved in a lip lift procedure. We strongly recommend resting for 24 hours after surgery and avoiding strenuous exercise and smoking in the following weeks. If you smoke, we strongly urge you to quit ahead of your lift lip surgery.

We recommend taking extra care around the lip area by avoiding sleeping on your face and avoiding opening your mouth too wide. Using a toothbrush with a smaller head will help.

You should be able to return to normal day-to-day activities in about seven days after surgery.

The level of scarring depends on the technique being employed. Upper lip lift surgeries which require more incisions, for example the corner lip lift and subnasal bullhorn, may leave more scars behind than the central lip lift which only requires one incision. Patients who undergo a direct lip lift, where a strip of skin is taken from above the upper lip, may be left with a small scar in the upper lip area.

Our expert surgeons will minimise the appearance of scars by hiding the incisions in the body’s natural folds wherever possible.

You should expect to see the early results of your lip lift within a couple of weeks post surgery. The results should be more obvious by two to three months after your lip lift. In the event you are left with any scars, these can take a year or so to heal. The appearance of scars fades over time.  It is important that you follow all aftercare advice issued by your surgeon in order to minimise the appearance of any scarring. Lip lift results are permanent.

Your initial consultation is £150 to cover the cost of your qualified surgeons time and expertise. 

Your surgeon will discuss the cost of the procedure with you at this point, but prices start from £3,200.

Lip lift costs vary and can be higher when paired with another treatment, for example a corner lip lift combined with another lip procedure, or done under general anaesthetic.

For all treatments booked more than 24 hours after your initial consultation, you will receive a written quote via email ahead of your return visit to the Cadogan Clinic.

We strongly recommend that you stop smoking in the weeks before your upper lip lift. It has been medically proven that smoking can affect anesthesia. This is also true of alcohol, so you should avoid consuming any alcohol for 48 hours ahead of surgery.

Blood thinning medications, such as aspirin, should be avoided for two weeks before the procedure.

On the day of your lip lift, you should avoid eating or drinking for six hours before surgery.

A lip lift offers a permanent solution to thin lips which lack definition and volume. Lip fillers are only a temporary fix and the procedure needs to be repeated regularly in order to maintain the results. Lip fillers are a great way to introduce volume to thin lips, but not definition. Some people do not like the results from lip fillers as they feel it looks too artificial. However the process can be easily reversed if someone is not happy with the results of their fillers. An upper lip lift would require further surgery to correct if the patient is unhappy with the result.


A state of the art, award winning clinic.

Founded in 2004 by world renowned plastic surgeon Mr Bryan Mayou, we now work with over 100 leading consultants and successfully treat over 20,000 patients each year. We have been winning industry awards since inception.

About Us

Best in Class Facilities

All of our treatments take place at our beautiful boutique premises in Chelsea. We have six consulting rooms and five operating rooms, as well as a dedicated pre and post-operative suite, and a full team of specialist nursing staff.

Our Clinic

A Strong Tradition of Innovation

We were founded in 2004 by world renown plastic surgeon Mr Bryan Mayou, best known for his pioneering work in the area of liposuction, lasers and microvascular surgery. We continue to collaborate with pioneers in our field.

Our History

At Home in Sloane Street, London

We are proud that our state of the art award-winning clinic is located in one of the best neighbourhoods in the country

Welcome to Sloane Street

Clinics Nationwide

We offer surgical consultations in London, Birmingham, Chelmsford and Bristol, and attract international patients from all corners of the globe such as as the USA, the Middle East and Europe.

Get in Touch

What are the risks?

A lip lift is considered to be a low-risk medical procedure. However, just like any other cosmetic surgery, there is always a risk of complications. Risks may include poor wound healing, scarring, blood loss, nerve damage or an allergic reaction to the anesthetic.

Your surgeon will discuss these risks with you at your initial consultation.




Trustpilot

Laurel Wreath for Awards

2023

Aesthetic Awards

Highly Commended Best Clinic in London

Laurel Wreath for Awards
Laurel Wreath for Awards

2021

Aesthetics Awards

Highly Commended

Laurel Wreath for Awards
Laurel Wreath for Awards

2021

My Face My Body

Best Clinic Winner

Laurel Wreath for Awards
Laurel Wreath for Awards

2020

My Face My Body

Best Clinic Winner

Laurel Wreath for Awards
Laurel Wreath for Awards

2019

My Face My Body

Winner

Laurel Wreath for Awards
Laurel Wreath for Awards

2018

My Face My Body

Highly Commended

Laurel Wreath for Awards
Laurel Wreath for Awards

2018

Aesthetics Awards

Highly Commended

Laurel Wreath for Awards
Laurel Wreath for Awards

2017

Aesthetics Awards

Winner

Laurel Wreath for Awards

0207 901 8500

Get in touch