Bullhorn lip lift

A bullhorn lip lift (also known as a bullhorn excision or subnasal lip lift) is an innovative lip lift technique that involves removing some of the skin below the nostrils. Joining the remaining skin tautens the lips and shortens the space between the upper lip and the nose. The ideal gap is around 1-1.5cm, but this space can increase to 3-5cm as we grow older. The lift procedure will leave your lips looking fuller and more prominent while still appearing very natural. It will also make your teeth more visible when you smile, giving your face a more open, pleasant and attractive expression. The technique takes its name from the shape of the skin removed during the procedure, which looks like a bullhorn.

We carry out this lip lift treatment on an outpatient basis using local anaesthetic. The procedure takes between 30 and 60 minutes depending on the scope of treatment required.

The bullhorn lip lift is suitable for all women who feel their lips are too long and narrow. This might be due to a genetic predisposition or the result of growing older. Over time, our lips grow narrower as part of the natural ageing process; the space between the mouth and nose grows larger and makes a person’s face look older. There is no age limit for this lip lift. Both young people and those in advanced years can benefit from this innovative procedure.

We will hold a detailed consultation with you here at the prevention-center – as we do for all our patients – to discuss whether a lip lift would be a suitable method for you.

Immediately after the procedure, you should cool your upper lip to minimise the swelling. You will be able to leave the prevention-center in Zurich the same day – a longer stay in the clinic is not necessary. Following the treatment, you should take 2 or 3 days of rest and avoid any physically demanding activities. You should also try not to speak too much or chew too intensely during this period. After around a week, we will remove the sutures, leaving you presentable and ready to return to work. At that point, there will be hardly any sign of the procedure.

No, the sutures are very fine and are mainly placed in the natural crease of the nasal wing and at the front of the nostrils, where they cannot be seen. Thanks to the surgical skills and many years’ experience of our doctors at the prevention-center in Zurich, the scars will be almost invisible once the healing process is complete.

If you choose to have the procedure performed by a competent, experienced practitioner – like our doctors at the prevention-center in Zurich – then the risks of this treatment are minor. In very rare cases, patients experience wound healing disorders, though this risk is inherent to all surgical procedures. You can minimise this risk by diligently caring for the wounds. Following the procedure, you may experience some slight swelling, redness or small bruises in the lip region, though such symptoms usually fade away on their own very quickly. You can accelerate the recovery process by cooling the treated areas. We will discuss the potential risks and side effects in detail in the personal consultation we hold with each patient before treatment.

A bullhorn lip lift achieves long-lasting results and does not usually require a subsequent refresher treatment. By contrast, the effects of hyaluronic acid fillers fade after a few months, as the body breaks the substance down over time. Regular refresher treatments with repeated injections are required to preserve the results of fillers. However, this also means that the results of the bullhorn lip lift are irreversible.

On the other hand, a bullhorn lip lift is often able to achieve a more harmonious lip shape than hyaluronic acid injections. Ultimately, this technique actually reshapes the lips rather than just adding extra volume. The appearance of fuller lips is achieved by tightening the skin and stretching the upper lip.

Which method is the right choice varies from customer to customer and must therefore be decided on a case-by-case basis. At the prevention-center in Zurich, we would be happy to advise you on the different options open to you and which treatment would be most suitable for you.