What is a Gull Wing Lip Lift?

Question

What is involved in the gull wing lip lift?  What does it do?

Ricardo L. Rodriguez, MD · Answer

It's a procedure I do not recommend because it leaves a visible scar right in the kisser.
Secondly, it destroys a natural landmark, which is the vermillion roll. Go instead for the Bullhorn lift. The scar is hidden under the nose. 
Hope this helps!

Jed H. Horowitz, MD, FACS · Answer

Good day! For your guidance, the subnasal bullhorn lift is a technical variant of the gull-wing lip lift. This procedure involves the removal of either an ellipse or a curved-edge ellipse of tissue from under the nose. The skin then is raised, and sutured to lift the lip and expose more of the upper-lip vermilion. However, the downside of this procedure is it has a visible scar. Find a board-certified plastic surgeon and ask about detailed information on what type of lip lift suits you best. Best of luck! #RealSelf100

James M. Pearson, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question. 'The Gull Wing Lip Lift' is another name for the 'Bullhorn Lip Lift' which are both more accurately described as a Subnasal Lip Lift. The 'Gull Wing' and 'Bullhorn' monikers derive from the shape of the planned skin excision in the subnasal area.
  
The Subnasal Lip Lift procedure is performed to accentuate the size and/or shape of the upper lip by removing skin from the region just underneath the nose. As the distance is decreased between the nose and the lip, the red lip is 'lifted'. In appropriate individuals, shortening this distance may impart or restore a more favorable balance to lips and face.

Otto Joseph Placik, MD · Answer

A gull wing lift lip is essentially a method of removing a strip of skin just above the border of the upper lip. It has the shape of a gently extended M and looks like a child's drawing of a sea gull. This essentially advances the border of the upper lip.
It leaves a visible scar which can obscure the natural upper lip border (called the white roll) and is not popular unless formed in an existing scar.

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

Improvement of the upper lip can be acheived by the gull wing lift or less invasively, by administration of facial fillers to recreate the anatomic subunits of the upper lip white roll and most importantly, the philtral columns.
The enhancement of the philtral columns can, in most cases, restore youthfullness to the upper lip.

What is a Gull Wing Lip Lift?

Answers (7)