Injections Above Upper Lip (Philtrum)

Question

I went to a plastic surgeon because my upper lip is very thin! He told me my case is difficult for various reasons and that my philtrum is a bit long and that it would not work just to put filler in my top lip. Then he said that I would benefit from him injecting filler into my philtrum, which would then lift my top lip, making lip bigger and reducing the length of the philtrum. Is this right? Or would I need a lip lift? Would lip lift look good? Cant find anything on filler in philtrum!

Raffy Karamanoukian, MD, FACS · Answer

The philtral columns can sometimes benefit from volume enhancement and this would have to be determined in examination. This is a common practice in most circles. Raffy Karamanoukian MD FACSLos Angeles

Gary Linkov, MD · Answer

There are surgical and non-surgical approaches to lip augmentation. Non-surgical approaches include botox (slight lift, reducing gum show) and filler (volume restoration). Surgically, you can have two separate incisions under the nose (italian), one incision under the nose (bull horn), one incision at the red/white upper lip junction (gull wing) or two separate incision at the corners, or a combination, depending on your desired look and anatomy.
Filler can be used for your upper lip, but I would not place it in the philtrum. Placing it in the philtrum will not shorten the philtrum, if anything it will add weight and a heaviness to your upper white lip and result in an unnatural appearance. I would consider putting filler in your upper red lip, or a lip lift is something to consider.
Best of luck.
Gary Linkov, MD

James M. Pearson, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for your question. The Lip Lift procedure is performed to accentuate the size and/or shape of the upper lip by removing skin from the region 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. In most cases, injectable volumizing fillers do not enable a significant 'lift' at all. Most patients seeking shortening of this area find non-surgical options insufficient to achieve their aesthetic goals in this regard.

Jed H. Horowitz, MD, FACS · Answer

Whether you’ve noticed
your lips thinning over time, or simply want fuller lips, JUVÉDERM® Ultra XC or
RESTYLANE SILK  can give you natural-looking results that lasts more than
9 months.   In fact, 78% of people treated experienced improvement in
satisfaction with the look and feel of their lips 1 year later!
The cost
of a single 1ml syringe will vary within $50-$100 between competitive
practices. We suggest finding a reputable practice with expert injectors for
the blend of science and artistry!
#lipenhancement    #JuvedermUltra
 #RestylaneSilk

Larry S. Nichter, MD, MS, FACS · Answer

Whether you’ve noticed
your lips thinning over time, or simply want fuller lips, JUVÉDERM® Ultra XC or
RESTYLANE SILK  can give you natural-looking results that lasts more than
9 months.   In fact, 78% of people treated experienced improvement in
satisfaction with the look and feel of their lips 1 year later!We suggest finding a reputable practice with expert injectors for
the blend of science and artistry!
#lipenhancement    #JuvedermUltra
 #RestylaneSilk

Young R. Cho, MD, PhD · Answer

Thank you for your question and sharing your photo.  Lip lifts can be an
 extremely rewarding procedure that can increase the fullness of the 
upper lip, give you a little more lip show.  The amount of lift does 
depend on the starting length of the upper lip skin and the desired look
 afterwards.  The incision is hidden at the border of the upper lip skin
 and base of the nose and spans the width of the nose.  I perform these 
procedures under local anesthesia, but it can also be done with sedation
 or general anesthesia.  As for fillers in the philtrum column, you can get a modest lip lift using this technique.  I usually prefer using a stiffer filler product such as Voluma or Restylane Lyft (formally known as Perlane) and perform this technique quite routinely when lip augmentation using dermal fillers is part of my facial rejuvenation plan.

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Injections Above Upper Lip (Philtrum)

Answers (10)

Answer: Lip Injections for Enhancements

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Answer: Enhancing Smiles with Fillers

Answer: Enhancing Smiles with Fillers

Answer: Lip lift vs filler in the philtrum

Answer: Lip lift vs filler in the philtrum

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