Gullwing Lip Lift (Vermillion Advancement of the Lip)

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The Gullwing lip lift increases the size of the lips by creating incisions around the entirety of the lip directly at the border that separates the lip from facial skin. The Gullwing lip lift is a good alternative for patients who also wish to permanently advance the position of the lower lip or for men with facial hair who can then more easily conceal the surgical scar.

Gullwing Lip Lift Overview - 874

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The Skinny


Average Recovery

10 days

Permanence

Permanent

Application

Minor Surgical Procedure

Surgical

Yes

Cost

$3000 - $4500

The Specifics


What is a gullwing lip lift?

Also know as a direct lip lift or vermilion advancement of the lip, a gullwing lip lift is a surgical procedure to alter the size of the upper and/or lower lip augmenting volume.

Anatomy of the Lip

Female lip anatomy infographic

In a gullwing lip lift, incisions are made around the entire mouth (along the vermilion border), excess skin is removed, and the edge of the lip is advanced outward to augment the size. A gullwing lip lift will cause a fine scar along the border of the lip where it meets the facial skin (a.k.a. the vermilion border). Lipstick for women and facial hair in men will typically completely obscure the scar.

What cosmetic concerns does a gullwing lip lift procedure treat?

  1. Lip Size: The gullwing lip lift is a lip augmentation procedure to enhance the volume of the upper and/or lower lip by altering the position of the vermilion border.

Who is the ideal candidate for a gullwing lip lift procedure?

Ideal candidates for a gullwing lip lift include older patients and younger patients who have an elongated white upper lip, a height mismatch between the white lip and red lip (pink part) of the upper lip, or thin lips. Lip lifts are not recommended for those with infections in and around the mouth or on the upper lip or lower lip, smokers unwilling to quit around the time of the procedure, and those with certain chronic conditions.

What is the average recovery associated with a gullwing lip lift procedure?

Most gullwing lip lift patients resume normal activities within two days. Modifications to a soft diet and limitations on strenuous activities may last up to two weeks. Patients should limit excessive movement of their upper lip and lower lip. Most swelling and bruising will resolve within two weeks.

What are the potential side effects of a gullwing lip lift procedure?

Possible side effects from a gullwing lip lift procedure include bruising, bleeding, swelling, numbness, and scarring around the vermilion border of the upper lip and lower lip.

What can someone expect from the results of a gullwing lip lift procedure?

A gullwing lip lift will provide immediate and permanent results. Swelling and wound healing will resolve over about two weeks.

What is the average cost of a gullwing lip lift procedure?

This is a one time permanent surgical procedure that can cost anywhere from $3,000 to $4,500. The actual cost of the procedure is dependent upon location, surgeon, and length and involvement of the surgery. Remember this is a cosmetic surgery (not a reconstructive surgery) and so it will not be covered by insurance.

thumbs-upPros

  • Permanent

thumbs-downCons

  • Scar
  • Asymmetry
  • Loss Of Vermillion Definition
  • Lip Border Irregularities

Invasiveness Score

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

Invasiveness is graded based on factors such as anesthesia practices, incisions, and recovery notes common to this procedure.

What to Expect


The Gullwing lip lift is a surgical procedure that removes some of the skin above or below the vermillion border then repositioning the vermillion to reform its border. Here is a quick guide for what to expect before, during, and after a Gullwing lip lift.

The Takeaway


A gullwing lip lift is a procedure to augment the size and volume of the upper lip and lower lip through incisions around the vermilion border. Scarring is very common with this procedure, but can be obscured by lipstick or facial hair.

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Source List

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AEDIT uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

  1. Maloney, BP. “Cosmetic Surgery of the Lips.” Facial Plast Surg, vol. 12, no. 3, 1996, pp. 265–278.
  2. Paul K Holden, Ahmed S Sufyan, Stephen W Perkins Long-term analysis of surgical correction of the senile upper lip pubmed.gov; 2011-09-01
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