How Much Does a Lip Lift Cost?

The average cost of lip lift surgery is $3,325, according to hundreds of patient reviews on RealSelf. Lip lift prices can range up to $8,000, depending on a few key factors.

An upper lip lift removes a small strip of skin under your nose, shortening the area between the nose and the top lip (the philtrum), to make them look more plump and youthful. This facial plastic surgery procedure creates the illusion of more lip volume and reveals more of your upper teeth (called “tooth show”).

Patients can also opt for a corner lip lift which raises the corners of the mouth, or a lower lip lift to balance an oversized upper lip. 

This surgical procedure is more expensive up-front than temporary lip fillers, but this permanent solution for fuller lips can be more cost effective in the long run.

Read on to find out the biggest factors that impact lip lift costs—and whether real patients say their results were worth the expense.

Related: Everything You Need to Know About a Lip Lift

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Is a lip lift worth the money?

Lip lift surgery earns a solid 89% Worth It Rating from reviewers on RealSelf, so most patients who weighed in say their results were worth the price tag.  

If you’re not sure yet whether this permanent lip enhancement option will be worth it to you, you may want to start with temporary options like injectable fillers or a Botox lip flip.

• Lip augmentation with dermal fillers (like Juvéderm or Restylane) creates fuller lips with a more defined cupid’s bow. The average cost of lip fillers is several thousand dollars less than surgery, and results can last for a year or longer.
• A Botox lip flip uses the injectable neurotoxin to “flip up” the edge of the upper lip, also known as the vermillion border. Typically, two to three units of Botox are injected into each side of the philtrum to achieve the desired effect. This treatment typically costs $200, and the effects can last as long as three months.

However, there are some real benefits to going the permanent route. Years of upkeep with Botox or lip injections could end up costing the same or even more than a one-and-done lip lift surgery.

It may also be a more desirable option for people with thin lips who may be more prone to the dreaded “duck lips” look, an outcome that doesn’t happen with a surgical lip lift.

It's a good idea to consult with a plastic or facial plastic surgeon about your concerns, aesthetic goals, and budget, so they can determine whether or not you'd be a good candidate for any of these procedures.

What affects the cost of lip lift surgery?

Surgical lip lift costs depend on these factors.

1) Your lip lift surgeon's credentials and level of expertise

A board-certified plastic surgeon or facial plastic surgeon with decades of experience will charge a higher surgeon’s fee than one who’s just starting their career, but you don’t want to leave lip lift surgery to an amateur: it's well worth the time and expense to find a surgeon with a years-long record of successful outcomes, including before and after photos and glowing patient reviews. 

Risks of a lip lift gone wrong include a visible raised scar under the nose, or an elongated upper lip or nostrils. These issues could require a second surgical procedure to fix—at additional expense.

If too much tissue is removed and you're left with a gummy smile, it may not be possible to correct the issue without adding significant volume to your lip (through fillers or fat transfer), which may not create a natural-looking result. This is definitely a procedure you want done right the first time.

RealSelf Tip: Some plastic surgeons charge a consultation fee of a few hundred dollars. Most subtract it from the total cost of your lip lift procedure once you book it, but just be aware that if you’re shopping around and booking consultations with multiple providers before making your final choice, those fees could add up.

2) Where you get your lip lift surgery 

A surgeon in a major city like New York or LA has to cover higher overhead costs (including the lease for their practice) when setting their prices. Those in smaller metro areas where the cost of living is more reasonable typically charge less.

However, if you live in an outlying area with only a few good lip lift surgeons and a lot of demand for their services, they may be able to charge a premium.

Here's the good news, wherever you live: lip lifts are an outpatient procedure that's usually performed in your provider’s office under local anesthesia. That means you won’t have to budget for hospital or surgical facility fees—nor will you have to pay an anesthesiologist for administering general anesthesia.

3) The complexity of your procedure

There are a few different types of lip lift procedures, with varying degrees of complexity. 

A bullhorn lip lift (sometimes called a subnasal lip lift) involves just one small incision at the base of the nose, to shorten the philtrum and create a more defined pout. 

More invasive lip lift procedures, like the gullwing lip lift or corner lip lift, remove skin in more visible areas (along the vermilion border or at the corners of the mouth, respectively). To avoid visible scars, your surgeon will need to take extra care with tiny, precise sutures, which could take more time and add to your cost.

Some patients also opt to have other procedures done at the same time. Providers typically offer a small discount on each additional procedure, so if you’re considering having something else done, it may be worth combining them into one operation (with one recovery period).

Does insurance cover lip lift surgery?

A lip lift is an elective cosmetic procedure (rather than one that's medically necessary), so it's not covered by health insurance.

Lip lift costs in U.S. states

Browse average lip lift costs in U.S. states, according to recent RealSelf member reviews (as of July 2023). States not currently listed did not have enough data to include.

Lip lift costs in major U.S. metros