Bullhorn Lip Lift

The Bullhorn Lip Lift at V CLINIC Brno is a surgical procedure that permanently shortens the philtrum — the space between the nose base and the upper lip — by removing a bullhorn-shaped strip of skin directly beneath the nose. The result is a subtle upward eversion of the upper lip, revealing more lip colour and creating fuller-looking lips without filler. Unlike dermal fillers, results are permanent and the technique follows natural creases to minimise scar visibility. The 45-minute outpatient procedure uses local anaesthesia, with suture removal at day 9.

The bullhorn lip lift is a permanent surgical alternative to repeated lip filler treatments and targets a specific anatomical feature — the length of the philtrum (the vertical groove between the nose base and the upper lip border). With age, the philtrum elongates, causing the upper lip to thin and invert downward; this is also a genetically variable feature that some patients find disproportionate regardless of age. At V CLINIC Brno, the procedure removes a carefully designed ellipse of skin in a bullhorn shape — wider in the centre, tapering toward the sides — directly beneath the base of the nose. The excision shortens the philtrum, rotating the upper lip upward and outward, optically increasing the visible pink portion of the lip. The scar is placed in the natural crease at the nose base, where it becomes progressively less visible as it heals. Fine sutures are used for closure and are removed at day 9, after which the patient begins scar massage to further improve the final result. The procedure is performed under local anaesthesia in approximately 45 minutes with no overnight stay required. Recovery involves two to three weeks of visible swelling and some tightness, with a full recommendation to avoid sun exposure on the scar during the initial healing phase. Bullhorn lip lift is frequently combined with facelift procedures for patients undergoing comprehensive facial rejuvenation, and can be performed alongside a corner lip lift for patients wanting both philtrum shortening and upturned mouth corners. Unlike filler, which typically requires top-up every 6–18 months, the result of a bullhorn lip lift is permanent.