Results settle within three months.
Subnasal bullhorn lip lifting is a procedure that requires careful planning to biologically settle the lifted feature. The mid-face, for example, is the main area that first goes through a marked period of inflammatory response after a subnasal bullhorn lip lift, as the movement and manipulation have been done to the orbicularis oris muscle and the dermal layers of the philtrum. So the first impression is usually one that shows an “over-correction” to some extent. The “stiff” or slightly “duck-like” appearance is a normal biometric reaction which results from the tension inflicted on the tissues and also from post-operative edema. The settling process includes muscle relaxation and scar maturation in the subnasal area. Most of the swelling comes down within two weeks. However, the real “settling” time, when the lip finally takes its permanent and natural-looking position, is usually from six to twelve months.
A high-definition outcome at the top level will only be possible with “professional rigor” at the most thorough level so that the directions of lift are matched almost perfectly to the patient’s dental show and facial biometrics deep down, thus facilitating the change of a surgically lifted state to a refined, settled profile in Turkey.
The Six-Week Transformation: Softening the Philtral Columns
After the first six weeks post-operation, that is when the most active phase of visual changes occurs. The previously over-inflated upper lip can now slowly get back to its more natural position thanks to the reduction of the acute swelling. Patients may feel the return of the “tactile reset” at the same time when the firmness of the philtral area will start to disappear. Still, the scar at the base of the nose might be a bit pink and raised as the healing process is not yet fully completed. This time period is crucial in preserving the balance of the mid-face features as the tissues remain very vulnerable to mechanical forces or exaggerated facial expressions.
Lin Health Europe Clinic understands that this six-week period is very important from the point of view of securing a successful final result. Our experts in Turkey offer internationally visiting patients a range of specialized scar-management techniques aimed at hastening this softening effect while preserving the high-definition incisions intact. Continuous monitoring of the vertical and horizontal tension of the lip for symmetrical settling is carried out with the utmost professional rigor during our post-operative follow-ups in Istanbul.
The Role of Neocollagenesis in Long-Term Stabilization
Long-term satisfaction and stabilization of a lip lift are tied inextricably to one’s biological healing process, specifically neocollagenesis. After skin removal and lip elevation, a cellular repair mechanism is triggered that returns the tissues to a new and stable position. Neocollagenesis is the process through which new, high-quality collagen fibers are deposited in a highly organized fashion along the surgical planes under the nose. Collagen fibers form a network that continuously supports the subnasal area without the need for external support and that prevents the reversion of the lip to its original length by “welding” the lifted lip to the underlying fascia. This biological integration is precisely what enables the correction to remain fresh and stable for a long time in Turkey.
At Lin Health Europe Clinic in Istanbul, the medical team is dedicated to assisting each patient by providing the best possible environment for neocollagenesis to take place. We are conscious of the fact that the success of the quality of the neocollagenesis phase marks the level of scar softness and the uplift longevity. Surgeons from Turkey at our clinic make use of advanced deep-plane suturing techniques that produce the required tension for collagen to form into a strong and well-organized network without causing skin distortion.
Managing Scar Maturation and Tactile Softening
Once the three-month stage passes, “settling” is mainly focused on scar maturation and tactile softening, rather than volume reduction. Remodeling of the subnasal scar that could have been tough or somewhat red in the earlier stages is initiated at this point. The body disintegrates the poorly structured collagen that has been produced initially and substitutes it with a sequence of finely textured and more supple matter. It is during this time frame that upper lip numbness or sensation alterations that arise soon after surgery disappear, as the sensory nerves reconnect structurally with the new nasal-lip appearance. This is the final step before the lip lift quite literally “fades away” into the usual face wrinkles, becoming undetectable even under a microscope.
Ideally, a lip lift results in a natural, age-appropriate feature over time. Between 6 and 12 months at QC hospital, the final degree of “settling” is experienced, and the lip reaches maximum suppleness and mobility. Thanks to the renewed internal tissues, the smile will be better, freer, and more expressive. UV protection of the subnasal area should be maintained throughout the whole year since sun exposure could cause a permanent discoloration of the maturing scar and disrupt the last stages of neocollagenesis.
Lip Lift in Turkey
Lin Health Europe Clinic is recognized as the world headquarters of the facial artistry elite who, besides enjoying top-level surgical results, also indulge in luxury at its highest level. We have the latest innovations in medical technology together with high-quality standards of safety, as recognized by JCI, at our facility in Turkey. To opt for our clinic is to entrust your safety and well-being to the most highly skilled and careful surgeons in Istanbul, where every subnasal restoration is treated as a work of structural integrity and beauty. We have become the leading choice for international patients who not only want to achieve the most beautiful results but also desire a safe and luxurious surgical experience that manages every dimension of their systemic vitality and recovery.
FAQ:
After the swelling subsides in 2 weeks, the lips should start looking natural but it can take 3 to 6 months for the lift to look totally natural. At 1 year, is when the final settling will be achieved.
No, the duck lip is just a swelling and muscle tension effect. They will go away as the tissues settle and after neocollagenesis.
You can see the final results after the scar has matured, which is after 6 to 12 months. At this time the lip is in its permanent and final position.
The scar directly under the nose starts as a thin red line and slowly fades to a faint white line over a period of twelve months. If you follow the proper scar management protocol, it will become almost invisible.
A lip lift permanently reveals more of your upper teeth area when you smile. After the procedure, once it is settled, you will find that your smile is more natural and has more expression than before.
Spiegel, J. H. (2010). The upper lip lift: Advanced techniques in facial rejuvenation. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
Saman, M., et al. (2011). Biometrics and the aging upper lip: The role of the subnasal lift. Aesthetic Surgery Journal.
Tonnard, P., et al. (2013). The subnasal bullhorn lip lift with deep plane stabilization. Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery.
Austin, G. K., et al. (2017). Managing the philtral columns and $neocollagenesis$ in lip lift procedures. Facial Plastic Surgery Clinics.
