Lip Lift Scar: Where It Sits, How It Heals and What Helps

In most people a lip lift scar settles into a fine line in the natural crease just beneath the nose and fades over time, but the scar is an unavoidable trade-off of the operation and in some people it can be noticeable or thick.^1,2,5 It is most visible in the first weeks of healing; full healing can take up to twelve weeks, while softening and fading continue for months, sometimes a year or two.^1,2,3

Technique is only part of the story: the shape of the nasal base, skin type, tension on the incision and early care all play a part.⁴ This guide covers where the scar sits, how it changes, who is at higher risk and what helps. Whether a lift or filler suits you is covered in lip lift or lip filler.

Where exactly does a lip lift scar sit?

In the most common subnasal (under-the-nose) lip lift, a bull’s-horn-shaped strip of skin is removed just below the nose, along the base of the nostrils and beneath the columella, the bridge of skin between them. Cleveland Clinic describes these scars as usually fine lines hidden in the natural crease below the nose.² ISAPS similarly notes that incisions are made just under the nose or above the lip, where scars are well camouflaged.¹

Other techniques place the scar elsewhere. The “Italian” lip lift uses two separate incisions, one under each nostril, and does not lift the centre of the lip; the “gullwing” or direct lip lift places the incision along the red border of the lip; and a corner lift leaves scars at the corners of the mouth.² A scar under the nose falls into the shadow of the nostrils, whereas one along the lip border sits on a more exposed part of the face.

How does the scar change month by month?

According to ISAPS, swelling peaks at 3–5 days, stitches come out at 5–7 days and full healing takes up to 12 weeks.¹ Cleveland Clinic notes that the surgical site heals in six to eight weeks, that the best result can take up to four months to appear, and that the lip may feel tight for a couple of months, sometimes up to six.² The incision is most visible early in healing and may then fade and blend with the surrounding skin tone.²

The NHS notes that most scars fade, that this can take two years or more, and that scars cannot be removed completely.³ A pink, slightly raised scar in the first months is not the final result.

Who is more likely to have a noticeable scar?

A 2026 systematic review states that excessive skin tension along the incision is associated with wider scars and contour irregularities, and that skin type should be assessed before surgery for the risk of hypertrophic scarring. Careful alignment at the base of the nostril is considered critical to avoid notching, asymmetry or distortion of the nostril sill.⁴

Of the seven studies in that review, only one, a corner-lift series, gave a figure for thick scars (4.6%); the others either did not report scar outcomes or described them only in words. No standard scar assessment scale was used, and follow-up ranged from 3 to 31 months.⁴ There is therefore no reliable figure for “the” scar rate after a lip lift.

ISAPS advises avoiding smoking throughout the healing period.¹ We describe preparation for medicines and nicotine on our lip lift page.

How does the shape of your nose affect the scar and the result?

Because the incision follows the nasal base, the shape of the nostrils and columella decides where the scar lies, so these are examined first.

A lip lift can also change the lower part of the nose. In a retrospective study of 55 women who had a subnasal lip lift without rhinoplasty, followed for an average of 14 months, the nasolabial angle fell by an average of 4.56 degrees, the width between the nostril wings increased by 2.2% and measured nasal projection increased by 26.3%. The authors noted that this may contribute to the nasal tip looking more projected than it is.⁶ If the nasal tip already droops or projects, the plan may need to be considered together with rhinoplasty; the 2026 review also notes that work on the nasal tip may be added when a drooping tip and a long upper lip occur together.⁴

What helps protect the scar?

The expert recommendations in the 2026 review are: removing stitches between days 5 and 7 to minimise suture marks; starting silicone gel, silicone sheeting or paper (micropore) tape early, once the wound surface has closed; and strict sun protection for at least three months. The authors stress that it has not yet been shown which of these regimens actually reduces poor scar outcomes.⁴

The NHS suggests massaging a scar with a water-based cream a few times a day for up to ten minutes once the wound has fully healed, keeping it covered in the sun for at least a year and using sunscreen of SPF 30 or more. For troublesome scars, steroid creams or injections, laser and other treatments are options.³ A scar that stays thick or wide is assessed at review as it matures, and revision can be discussed if needed.

Signs that need a call without waiting

Contact your surgeon promptly if the scar becomes increasingly swollen, painful or warm, or if pus comes from it; the NHS advises urgent assessment for these signs.³

Travelling to Istanbul

A lip lift is usually done as a same-day procedure under local anaesthesia, so you can plan to stay in Istanbul until the stitches come out at five to seven days. The scar is then followed at the 1, 3, 6 and 12-month reviews, which can be held online where appropriate if you live abroad, with an in-person examination if needed. Photographs taken in the same light and from the same angle make the scar’s progress easier to follow.

Frequently asked questions