How Lip Lift Surgery Is Done: The Bullhorn Incision Under the Nose Explained Step by Step

She had a habit of tucking her upper lip under her teeth in photographs. Not out of vanity, exactly; the lip had simply grown longer and flatter over the years, and smiling no longer showed any teeth at all. A dentist noticed it first. Then a friend mentioned a bullhorn lip lift procedure, and a late-night search turned up a hundred confident videos and very little plain explanation.

That gap is what this article fills. A lip lift is real surgery on one of the most visible square inches of the face, so it deserves the same honest treatment as a knee replacement or a gallbladder removal: what the surgeon actually does, why the scar sits where it does, what the first two weeks feel like, and which complaints matter enough to pick up the phone.

Nothing here is a recommendation. The decision about whether an operation is right for a particular face, and who should perform it, always rests with the person and their treating team.

What is a bullhorn lip lift procedure, in plain language?

A lip lift is a surgical operation that shortens the distance between the base of the nose and the top of the upper lip. The name of the most common version, the bullhorn lip lift, comes from the shape of the skin that is removed: a curved strip, wide in the middle and tapering at both ends, that looks a little like the horns of a bull laid flat. When that strip is taken out and the edges are stitched together, the skin of the upper lip is drawn upward and slightly outward.

Two things change as a result. The upper lip appears shorter, which many people associate with a younger face, and the pink part of the lip, called the vermilion, rolls outward so more of it is visible at rest. Unlike a filler, a lip lift does not add volume; it repositions what is already there.

The operation is elective and cosmetic. Health systems such as the NHS describe cosmetic surgery as a personal choice that should be made with full information, a clear view of risks and time to reflect, rather than under any pressure (NHS, Cosmetic procedures). Nothing about a lip lift is medically necessary, which means the threshold for going ahead is entirely about whether the person understands what they are trading: a permanent change in lip position, and a permanent scar, in exchange for a shape they prefer.

Surgeons perform the procedure in a treatment room or day-surgery unit. Most people go home the same day. The technical steps are described below, but the idea itself is simple: remove a measured sliver of skin, close the gap neatly, and let the tissue heal in its new position.

Why the philtrum matters: the anatomy behind the incision

The philtrum is the vertical groove that runs from the bottom of the nose to the center of the upper lip, bordered by two soft ridges called the philtral columns. Its length is one of the quiet markers of facial age. In many people the philtrum lengthens over the decades as skin loses elasticity and the soft tissue of the upper lip descends, so the pink border thins and the teeth disappear when the mouth is at rest. MedlinePlus notes that facial skin sags and loosens with age as the underlying support weakens, which is the same process a facelift is designed to counter (MedlinePlus, Facelift).

A bullhorn lip lift addresses the philtrum directly. Because the skin removed sits at the very top of the groove, right against the nose, the entire upper lip moves as a unit. Surgeons plan the cut around a few landmarks: the sill of the nostrils, the columella (the strip of tissue between the nostrils), and the natural crease where the nose meets the lip. Placing the incision precisely in that crease is what allows the scar to hide.

Beneath the skin lies the orbicularis oris, the ring of muscle that lets you purse, whistle and speak. A skin-only lip lift leaves this muscle untouched, which is why speech and lip movement are typically preserved. Some techniques also lift the muscle or the deeper tissue, and a surgeon will explain whether they plan to do so and why.

Nerves supplying sensation to the upper lip run beneath this area. Temporary numbness or tingling after surgery is common and usually settles, though the exact timeline varies and no clinician can promise full return in every case (Mayo Clinic, Face-lift, describes the same pattern for facial surgery generally).

How the bullhorn lip lift procedure is done step by step

Here is what actually happens in the room, from marking to the last stitch.

Marking. With the person sitting upright, the surgeon draws the planned excision on the skin under the nose while the face is at rest. The upper line follows the crease at the nostril base; the lower line curves below it to define how much skin will be removed. The amount is decided case by case, based on the existing philtrum length and the shape being aimed for. Photographs are taken.

Anesthesia. The area is cleaned and numbed. Most lip lifts are done under local anesthetic, sometimes with light sedation, so the person is awake but comfortable (MedlinePlus explains local and sedation options in its Anesthesia overview). General anesthesia is uncommon for this operation but may be chosen if it is combined with other procedures.

Excision. The surgeon cuts along the marked lines and removes the bullhorn-shaped strip of skin. In a skin-only technique the muscle below is left intact. Small blood vessels are sealed as they are encountered.

Undermining and lifting. The lip skin below the cut is gently freed from the tissue underneath for a short distance so it can slide upward without tension. Excess pull on the closure is what produces wide scars, so surgeons work to make the skin meet the nostril base easily.

Closure. The wound is closed in layers: deeper dissolving stitches take the strain, and very fine surface stitches line up the skin edges exactly along the nostril crease. The whole procedure typically takes around an hour, though timing varies with the surgeon and any combined work.

A small dressing or ointment is applied, and the person is usually able to leave once they feel steady.

Anesthesia and sensation: what you are aware of during the operation

People are often more anxious about being awake for facial surgery than about the surgery itself. It helps to know what local anesthesia does and does not do.

A local anesthetic is a medicine injected into the tissue that blocks the nerves from sending pain signals for a limited period. You remain fully conscious. You may feel pressure, tugging and the vibration of instruments, and you will hear the surgeon talking. You should not feel sharp pain; if you do, you say so and more anesthetic is given. The injections themselves sting briefly, and many surgeons apply a numbing cream first or use a very fine needle to soften that moment (MedlinePlus, Anesthesia).

Sedation, when used, is a medicine given by mouth or through a vein that makes you drowsy and relaxed without putting you fully to sleep. It is chosen by the clinical team based on your health history, how long the operation is expected to take and your own preference. Someone who has had sedation must be driven home by another adult and should not make important decisions that day.

Which approach is used is not a matter of bravery. Local anesthesia alone has practical advantages for a lip lift: the surgeon can ask you to smile or purse your lips during the closure to check symmetry, and recovery from the anesthetic is quick. Sedation adds comfort for people who find facial procedures distressing. General anesthesia carries its own set of risks and recovery time and is reserved for longer or combined operations.

Whatever is planned, the anesthesia decision belongs to the surgeon and anesthetist together with you, after they know your medical history, medications and any past reactions.

Lip lift vs bullhorn lip lift: what are the differences?

The phrase lip lift covers a family of operations, and the bullhorn technique is one member of it. Confusion arises because some surgeons use lip lift to mean the bullhorn version specifically, while others use it for anything that raises or reshapes the lip line. The table below sets out the main types in neutral terms.

Technique	Where the incision sits	What it changes	Where the scar lies
Bullhorn (subnasal) lip lift	Along the base of the nose	Shortens the whole philtrum, rolls out the vermilion	In the nostril crease
Italian lip lift	Two shorter cuts under each nostril	Shortens the philtrum with less central skin removal	Two small marks under the nostrils
Gullwing (direct) lip lift	Along the border of the pink lip	Raises the vermilion line itself	At the visible lip edge
Corner lip lift	Small triangles at the mouth corners	Lifts downturned corners	At the corners of the mouth
Central lip lift	A narrower excision at the philtrum center	Emphasizes the Cupid’s bow	Center of the nostril crease

The bullhorn approach is the most widely performed because its scar can be hidden in an existing fold and because it treats the full width of the lip. A gullwing lift produces a more dramatic change in the shape of the pink border but leaves a scar on the lip itself, which is harder to conceal and more visible when the skin is pale. Corner lifts target a different problem entirely and are sometimes combined with a bullhorn lift.

None of these is universally better. The right choice depends on where the concern lies (a long philtrum, a thin vermilion, or downturned corners), on skin type and scar history, and on the surgeon’s judgment. Asking a surgeon why they favor one pattern for your face is a fair and useful question.

Who is a lip lift usually for, and who is usually asked to wait?

A lip lift suits a particular pattern rather than a particular age. The classic candidate has a long philtrum, a thin or inward-rolled upper lip and little or no tooth show at rest, and wants a change that fillers cannot deliver because the problem is length, not volume. Some are older adults whose lip has descended with time; others are younger people whose lip has always been long. The surgeon assesses the proportions of the whole face, because shortening the lip in someone whose philtrum is already short can look unbalanced.

Certain people are usually asked to wait, or to reconsider:

• Anyone who smokes or vapes nicotine. Nicotine narrows blood vessels and impairs wound healing, and surgeons commonly ask for a period off nicotine before and after facial surgery (Mayo Clinic, Face-lift).
• People with a history of keloids or hypertrophic scars, which are raised, overgrown scars that extend beyond or sit above the original wound. The nose-lip junction is a visible site, and a poor scar there is difficult to correct (Mayo Clinic, Keloid scar).
• Those with an active skin infection, cold sore or acne flare near the nose, until it has cleared.
• People taking medicines that affect clotting, who need the prescribing clinician’s input before any decision about pausing or continuing them. That decision is never made by the person alone.
• Anyone whose expectations do not match what the operation can do, or who feels pressured by a partner, a deadline or an online trend.

Age alone is rarely a bar, but general health matters. Uncontrolled diabetes or a bleeding disorder raises complication risk for any elective operation. The NHS advises taking time to think, discussing the procedure with the surgeon who will perform it, and never feeling rushed into a cosmetic decision (NHS, Cosmetic procedures). A good consultation includes a frank conversation about why now, and whether a lift, an alternative or no treatment fits best.

Bullhorn lip lift recovery: what the first days and weeks usually look like

Recovery from a lip lift is shorter than from many facial operations, but the site is impossible to hide, so people notice every stage. The following is a typical pattern, not a schedule anyone can be promised.

The first 48 hours. The upper lip swells and feels tight, as if it has been stung. Bruising may spread toward the cheeks. Eating is awkward because opening the mouth wide pulls on the stitches; soft foods and small bites help. Sleeping with the head raised on extra pillows reduces swelling, a step recommended after facial surgery generally (Mayo Clinic, Face-lift). The wound is kept clean according to the team’s instructions, usually with gentle cleansing and a thin layer of ointment.

Days 3 to 7. Swelling peaks and starts to recede. Numbness or an odd tingling in the lip is common and reflects bruised sensory nerves. The upper lip may look too high or too everted during this phase; that appearance softens as the swelling drops.

Around one week. Surface stitches are usually removed, in line with the timing described for facial incisions on MedlinePlus (Facelift). The scar line is pink and slightly raised. Most people feel comfortable in public with light makeup once the surgeon confirms the wound is sealed.

Weeks 2 to 6. Residual swelling settles and the lip takes on close to its final position. Strenuous exercise, which raises blood pressure and can worsen swelling or bleeding, is typically resumed only when the team says so. Sun protection over the scar matters from this point onward, since new scars darken easily in ultraviolet light.

Months 3 to 12 and beyond. The scar fades and flattens. Scar tissue keeps remodeling for a year or more, which is why judgments about the final look are premature in the early months (MedlinePlus, Surgical wound care).

Is a lip lift painful? What people actually report

Pain is the question people are most reluctant to ask directly, so it is worth answering plainly. During the operation, with adequate local anesthetic, there should be no sharp pain, only pressure and the sensation of the skin being moved. The most uncomfortable part for many is the numbing injection itself, which lasts seconds.

Afterward, the dominant sensations are tightness and swelling rather than the kind of pain most people associate with surgery. The upper lip feels stretched, especially when smiling, yawning or brushing the teeth. Many people describe it as similar to a badly bitten lip or a heavy cold sore. This discomfort is usually greatest in the first two to three days and eases as the swelling subsides.

Pain management is typically simple. Surgeons commonly suggest over-the-counter pain relief and cold compresses in the first days; some prescribe a short course of stronger medicine for the initial period. Which medicine, how much and for how long are decisions for the treating team, who know the person’s other medications and health conditions. Some pain relievers affect bleeding, so no one should choose one independently before or after surgery without asking. Cold compresses applied through a clean cloth reduce swelling and dull the ache; direct ice on the fresh wound is avoided.

Pain that worsens after the third day, rather than improving, is not part of normal recovery. Nor is pain concentrated on one side, or pain accompanied by heat, spreading redness or discharge. Those patterns point to bleeding under the skin or infection and warrant a call to the surgical team the same day, as the wound-care guidance from MedlinePlus advises for any surgical incision (Surgical wound care).

Numbness, oddly, worries people more than pain. A patch of altered sensation over the upper lip is expected and typically improves over weeks to months as small nerves recover.

The lip lift scar: where it sits, how it matures and what affects it

Every lip lift leaves a permanent scar. That sentence should appear in every honest description of the operation, because the scar is the main trade-off and the reason technique matters so much.

In a bullhorn lift the scar runs along the junction of the nose and the lip, following the curve of the nostril sills and dipping slightly at the columella. Placed accurately in that crease, it is shaded by the nose from most angles and is often hard to spot once it has faded. Placed even a couple of millimeters too low, it sits on the flat skin of the lip where light hits it directly, and it is far more noticeable. This is a matter of surgical planning and of tension: a closure that is pulled tight tends to stretch into a wider, paler line.

Scar maturation follows a predictable arc. In the first weeks the line is red or pink and may feel firm or slightly raised. Over the following months the redness fades, the firmness softens and the scar flattens. Full maturation takes many months and often more than a year, as MedlinePlus describes for surgical wounds generally (Surgical wound care). Photographs taken at six weeks say little about the final result.

Several factors influence the outcome. Genetics come first: people who have formed thick or raised scars after previous cuts, piercings or acne are at higher risk of doing so again, and those with a history of keloids should discuss it frankly before agreeing to any facial incision (Mayo Clinic, Keloid scar). Smoking impairs healing. Sun exposure darkens young scars. Picking at crusts or removing dressings early disrupts the healing edge.

Surgeons often recommend silicone-based scar products, gentle massage once the wound is sealed, and strict sun protection. Whether any of these is appropriate, and when to start, is a decision for the team caring for the wound.

What are the downsides of a lip lift? Risks and complications in plain terms

The most common downside is not a complication at all but a mismatch between expectation and result. A lip lift changes proportion, not volume; someone hoping for fuller lips may be disappointed by a shorter philtrum with the same thin vermilion. The change is also permanent. Skin removed cannot be replaced, and a lip lifted too far cannot be lowered without difficult revision surgery.

Beyond that, the recognized surgical risks include:

• A visible or widened scar, particularly if the closure is under tension or the person scars poorly.
• Asymmetry, where one side of the lip sits higher than the other or the nostril bases look uneven.
• Nostril distortion. Because the incision sits at the nose base, excessive pull can widen the nostrils or flatten the sills.
• Prolonged numbness or altered sensation over the upper lip, which usually improves but can occasionally persist.
• Bleeding, hematoma (a collection of blood under the skin) and infection, which are possible after any incision and are the reasons for early follow-up calls (MedlinePlus, Surgical wound care).
• A lip that appears too everted or shows too much gum when smiling, if more skin is removed than the face can accommodate.
• Difficulty fully closing the lips or a change in the way the mouth rests, in rare cases where too much is taken or the muscle is disturbed.

There are also softer downsides. The site cannot be covered by clothing or hair, so the first two weeks are socially visible. Anyone whose work or life makes that hard should plan around it. The operation is elective and rarely covered by insurance or public health systems, and revision surgery, if needed, adds further scarring and cost.

The NHS advises anyone considering cosmetic surgery to ask specifically about complication rates in that surgeon’s own practice, what happens if something goes wrong and how revisions are handled (NHS, Cosmetic procedures). A surgeon who answers those questions calmly and specifically is offering the right kind of care.

Alternatives to a bullhorn lip lift procedure: fillers, corner lifts and doing nothing

A lip lift is not the only route to a different upper lip, and for some people it is the wrong one. The alternatives fall into three groups.

Dermal fillers. Fillers are gel-like substances, most commonly based on hyaluronic acid, injected into the lip to add volume or define the border. They are non-surgical, involve no incision and can be adjusted or, in the case of hyaluronic acid, dissolved. Their effect is temporary; the NHS notes that lip filler results typically last between 6 and 18 months before repeat treatment is needed (NHS, Lip fillers). Fillers add fullness but do not shorten a long philtrum. In fact, overfilling a long upper lip can make it project forward and look heavier, which is why people with the classic lip-lift pattern are often told fillers will not solve their concern.

Other surgical options. A corner lip lift addresses downturned mouth corners rather than philtrum length. A gullwing lift raises the vermilion border directly, with a more visible scar. Fat grafting, which transfers a person’s own fat into the lip, adds volume surgically but again does not change length. Some people combine a bullhorn lift with a small amount of filler later, once healing is complete; that sequence and timing is a clinical decision.

Doing nothing. This is a legitimate choice and should be presented as one. A long upper lip is a normal variant, not a defect. Makeup techniques that define the lip border can create the appearance of a fuller upper lip without any procedure. Time spent living with the feature, or seeking a second opinion, costs nothing in scar tissue.

The NHS encourages anyone considering a cosmetic procedure to weigh the non-surgical and no-treatment options, understand that all procedures carry some risk, and take a cooling-off period before committing (NHS, Cosmetic procedures).

What people often get wrong about lip lifts

Myth: a lip lift makes lips bigger. It does not add volume. It shortens the skin above the lip and rolls the pink border outward, so the lip looks fuller from the front, but the amount of lip tissue is unchanged. Someone who wants a plumper lower lip, for example, will get nothing from a bullhorn lift.

Myth: the scar disappears. No surgical scar disappears. A well-placed bullhorn scar becomes hard to see because it sits in a shadowed crease and fades over a year or more (MedlinePlus, Surgical wound care). It is still there, and in some people it remains visible.

Myth: it is a minor, lunchtime procedure. The operation is short and done under local anesthetic, but it involves cutting and permanently removing skin from the center of the face. The NHS is clear that all cosmetic surgery is real surgery with real risks and deserves the same care in choosing a practitioner and preparing (NHS, Cosmetic procedures).

Myth: more skin removed means a better result. Over-resection is one of the most common causes of dissatisfaction: an upper lip that sits too high, shows too much gum, looks tense at rest or pulls the nostrils outward. Conservative removal is generally safer because a second, small lift is far easier than undoing an excessive one.

Myth: results can be judged at two weeks. At two weeks the lip is still swollen and the scar is at its reddest. The shape settles over weeks, and the scar matures over many months.

Myth: it replaces a facelift or a filler. It does neither. It addresses one specific feature, the length of the upper lip, and nothing else.

Myth: anyone with a long lip is a candidate. Smoking, scar history, unrealistic expectations and certain medical conditions can all make surgery unwise, and a good surgeon will say so.

Questions to ask your care team before agreeing to a lip lift

A consultation is a two-way interview. The surgeon assesses your face and health; you assess whether this person, this technique and this moment are right. The questions below are the ones patients later wish they had asked.

• Which lip lift technique do you recommend for my face, and why that one rather than the alternatives?
• How much skin do you plan to remove, and how did you decide that amount?
• Exactly where will the incision and scar lie? Can you show me on my own face?
• Will you work on the skin only, or also on the muscle or deeper tissue? What difference does that make?
• What type of anesthesia will be used, who will give it, and what should I expect to feel?
• How many of these operations do you perform, and what complications have occurred in your own practice?
• If the result is asymmetrical, over-lifted or the scar is poor, what happens next, and who bears the cost of any revision?
• What should I stop or continue among my current medicines and supplements, and who decides that with my prescribing doctor?
• How long will I need off work, and when can I exercise, wear makeup or expose the area to sun?
• Who do I call out of hours if I notice bleeding, worsening pain or signs of infection?
• Can I see healed results in patients with a similar skin tone and lip shape, photographed at least a year after surgery?
• What would you advise if I decided not to have surgery at all?

The NHS recommends checking a surgeon’s qualifications and registration, confirming the operation will take place in a properly regulated facility, and ensuring the person who consults with you is the person who will operate (NHS, Cosmetic procedures). It also advises against booking at the first appointment. Taking notes, bringing a companion and asking for written information are ordinary, sensible steps for any elective surgery. A team that welcomes these questions is telling you something about how they will handle the rest of your care.

When to call your doctor after a lip lift: red-flag signs

Most lip lift recoveries are uneventful, and the normal course includes swelling, bruising, tightness and some numbness. The signs below are different. They suggest bleeding, infection, poor wound healing or a reaction that needs assessment, and they should prompt a same-day call to the surgical team or, when the team cannot be reached, to an urgent care service.

• Bleeding that soaks a dressing or does not stop with gentle pressure after several minutes.
• A rapidly enlarging, tense, painful swelling on one side of the lip, which can indicate a hematoma.
• Pain that increases after the third day instead of easing, or pain out of proportion to what you were told to expect.
• Spreading redness, heat or firmness around the wound, thick or foul-smelling discharge, or the wound edges separating (MedlinePlus, Surgical wound care).
• Fever or chills.
• Skin along the incision turning dusky, purple or black, which can signal compromised blood supply.
• Difficulty breathing, wheeze, hives or swelling of the tongue or throat, which may indicate an allergic reaction and is a medical emergency requiring immediate emergency services.
• Sudden weakness or drooping of part of the face, or numbness that is spreading rather than stable.

Bruising that shifts color, a lip that looks temporarily too high, itching along the healing line and patches of altered sensation are all expected and can be raised at the scheduled follow-up visit. If you are unsure whether something is normal, call anyway. Surgical teams would far rather answer a question at nine in the evening than treat an established infection two days later.

Keep the team’s contact details, including the out-of-hours number, somewhere visible before the day of surgery. Every decision about treatment of a complication, from a change in wound care to a return to the operating room, is made by the treating team based on what they see and hear from you.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a bullhorn lip lift cost?

This article does not quote prices, because fees vary widely with the surgeon, the facility, the anesthesia used and whether other procedures are combined, and a figure that is accurate in one setting is misleading in another. A lip lift is elective cosmetic surgery and is not usually covered by insurance or public health systems. Ask any surgeon for a full written quotation that includes follow-up care and their policy on revision surgery before deciding.

How painful is a bullhorn lip lift?

Most people describe tightness and swelling rather than severe pain. With adequate local anesthetic there should be no sharp pain during the operation, only pressure and the brief sting of the numbing injection. Afterward the upper lip feels stretched, especially when smiling or eating, for two to three days before easing. Pain that worsens after day three, or is concentrated on one side, is not normal and should be reported to the surgical team.

What are the downsides of a lip lift?

The permanent scar under the nose is the main trade-off, and it may be more visible in some people than others. Other recognized risks include asymmetry, widened nostrils, a lip that sits too high or shows too much gum, prolonged numbness, bleeding, hematoma and infection. The change is permanent, so over-correction is difficult to reverse. People with a history of keloid scarring or who smoke face higher risks.

What is the difference between a lip lift and a bullhorn lip lift?

Lip lift is the general term for operations that raise or reshape the upper lip; the bullhorn lift is the most common type, named for the curved strip of skin removed at the base of the nose. Other lip lifts include the gullwing, which cuts along the pink lip border, the Italian, which uses two smaller cuts under the nostrils, and the corner lift, which raises downturned mouth corners.

How long does bullhorn lip lift recovery take?

Swelling and bruising are most noticeable in the first week, surface stitches are usually removed around one week, and the lip settles into close to its final position over the following several weeks. The scar keeps maturing for a year or more, in line with general surgical wound-healing timelines described by MedlinePlus. These are typical ranges, not promises, and individual healing varies with health, smoking status and scar tendency.

Will a lip lift scar be visible?

All lip lifts leave a permanent scar. In a bullhorn lift it runs along the crease where the nose meets the lip, where the shadow of the nose helps conceal it once it has faded. Placement, closure tension, sun exposure, smoking and individual scar tendency all affect how noticeable it remains. Anyone who has formed raised or keloid scars before should raise this with the surgeon before agreeing to any facial incision.

Can a lip lift be reversed?

Not in any simple sense. The skin removed is gone, so a lip that has been lifted too far cannot be lowered by putting skin back. Revision options exist for asymmetry or a poor scar, but they involve further surgery and further scarring and are often more difficult than the original operation. This is why surgeons generally favor conservative skin removal; a small second lift is easier than correcting an excessive one.

Does a bullhorn lip lift change your smile or speech?

A skin-only bullhorn lift leaves the lip muscle intact, so speech and lip movement are typically unchanged once swelling settles. The smile can look different because the upper lip sits higher and may show more teeth. If too much skin is removed, the lip can appear tense at rest or reveal excess gum when smiling, which is one reason careful planning matters. Temporary stiffness in the early weeks is expected.

Can lip fillers do the same thing as a lip lift?

No. Fillers add volume to the lip; a lip lift shortens the skin between nose and lip. For someone whose concern is a long philtrum, filler can make the lip heavier without fixing the length. Fillers are temporary and adjustable, with NHS guidance describing results lasting roughly 6 to 18 months, whereas a lip lift is permanent. Some people have both, in sequence, on their surgeon’s advice.

Who should not have a bullhorn lip lift?

Surgeons usually advise against or delay surgery for people who smoke or use nicotine, those with a history of keloid or hypertrophic scars, anyone with an active skin infection or cold sore near the site, and people whose expectations do not match what the operation can achieve. Health conditions that impair healing or clotting, and medicines that affect bleeding, need review with the prescribing clinician. The final judgment rests with the treating team.

References

• NHS: Cosmetic procedures
• MedlinePlus: Facelift
• MedlinePlus: Surgical wound care – open

This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult a qualified doctor about your individual situation.