Beverly Hills CUPID LIFT® Corner Lift

A corner lip lift elevates the outer corners of the mouth to reveal more of the lateral lip and soften the downturned, tired expression that develops with age. Performed on its own or alongside a Cupid Lift™, it is one of the most powerful ways to refresh the mouth with minimal healing and downtime.

The technique is a refinement developed by Dr. Ben Talei, a dual board-certified facial plastic surgeon who pioneered the deep plane upper lip lift and published the lip design that defines when a corner lift is needed. He completed his residency at Columbia and Cornell, served as chief resident under Dr. Steven Pearlman, and now teaches these techniques to surgeons internationally. You can read more about Dr. Talei and his published research.

“The corners of the mouth carry expression. When they turn down, the whole face can read as tired or unhappy. Lifting them, even slightly, changes how a person comes across.” — Dr. Ben Talei

A Technique Defined by Design

In Dr. Talei’s published lip design, a Diagonal marking line distinguishes the subnasal lip from the subfacial lip — the part of the lip that does not respond well to a standard subnasal lip lift or to filler. Identifying the subfacial lip is what tells the surgeon when a corner lift will meaningfully improve the result. This is why the corner lift is not an afterthought but a deliberate part of complete lip design.

What Is a Corner Lip Lift?

A corner lip lift raises the corners of the mouth through small, well-concealed incisions. It exposes more of the lateral vermillion — the outer pink of the lip that often hides as we age — and can neutralize the depressions and downward angulation that make the mouth look downturned. Because it targets a focused area, it is typically a quick procedure with minimal downtime, often performed under local anesthesia.

Type 1 and Type 2 Corner Lifts

Dr. Talei developed two simplified deep plane corner techniques, selected based on each patient’s anatomy and goals:

Type 1 Corner Lift: Reveals more of the lateral vermillion, restoring fullness and visibility to the outer lip.
Type 2 Corner Lift: Lengthens the vermillion and addresses angular depression around the corners of the mouth, for patients with a more pronounced downturn.

Who Is a Candidate for a Corner Lip Lift?

A corner lip lift may be right for you if you have:

Corners of the mouth that turn downward, creating a tired or unhappy expression
A lateral lip that has narrowed or seems to disappear at the sides
Depressions or shadows around the corners of the mouth
A subfacial lip that filler or a subnasal lip lift does not adequately address
A desire to complement a Cupid Lift™ for a fully balanced result

What to Expect From Your Corner Lip Lift

Care begins with a consultation in which Dr. Talei evaluates your lip and mouth corners, determines whether a Type 1 or Type 2 approach is appropriate, and confirms whether the corner lift is best performed alone or with a Cupid Lift™. The procedure is typically performed under local anesthesia with incisions placed discreetly at the corners of the mouth.

Healing is generally quick, with most patients returning to daily life promptly. Swelling settles over the following weeks, gradually revealing a softer, more uplifted mouth.

Frequently Asked Questions About the Corner Lip Lift

What does a corner lip lift do? It raises the outer corners of the mouth to reveal more of the lateral lip and soften a downturned, aged appearance.
How is it different from a regular lip lift? A subnasal lip lift addresses the lip beneath the nose, while a corner lift specifically targets the sides and corners of the mouth, which often need separate treatment.
What is the difference between a Type 1 and Type 2 corner lift? A Type 1 reveals more lateral vermillion, while a Type 2 also lengthens the vermillion and treats angular depression around a more downturned mouth.
Will the scars be visible? Incisions are small and placed discreetly at the corners of the mouth, where they are designed to heal inconspicuously.
Can it be combined with a Cupid Lift™? Yes. A corner lift is frequently performed with a Cupid Lift™ to balance the entire upper lip and mouth.
How long is recovery? Recovery is generally quick with minimal downtime, and residual swelling refines over the following weeks.

Why Patients Choose Dr. Talei for Corner Lip Lifts

A Published Authority: The corner lift is part of Dr. Talei’s peer-reviewed lip design, taught to surgeons worldwide.
Two Tailored Techniques: Type 1 and Type 2 options match the procedure to each patient’s anatomy.
Complete Lip Design: Corner lifting is integrated with the Cupid Lift™ for harmonious, natural results.
Minimal Downtime: A focused procedure, often under local anesthesia, with quick healing.
Natural Expression: The goal is a softer, more uplifted mouth that never looks overdone.

“A corner lift is small in scope but large in effect. Done correctly, it simply makes the mouth look rested again.” — Dr. Ben Talei

Schedule Your Corner Lip Lift Consultation in Beverly Hills

The corners of the mouth require a careful, anatomically guided approach, which rewards the experience of the surgeon who defined the technique. At the Beverly Hills Center for Plastic & Laser Surgery, patients throughout Los Angeles work directly with Dr. Ben Talei to determine whether a corner lip lift is right for them. To take the first step, request a consultation with Dr. Talei.