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My Left Lip Does Not Go Up when I Smile. You Cannont See my Teeth. What Do I Do?!

asked 1 year ago by Ashlyn from PA in Berwyn, PA
Latest answer by Joseph A. Eviatar, MD
Question viewed 667 times
Tags: age 17 or under, smile, asymmetry, options, small

I am 15 years old and I have a very small mouth and I want full lips with a pretty smile. When I smile, you cannot see my teeth. My left lip does not go up when I smile. I know im young but i am not happy with my smile. I get made fun of and cry a lot. I really want a "new smile" and i dont know where to go from here. My lips are not symetrical and I want them to be. I want a gorgeous smile but I dont know what to do! :(

8 answers to My Left Lip Does Not Go Up when I Smile. You Cannont See my Teeth. What Do I Do?!

Lip won't go up when I smile

Please have your parent(s) read this answer with you. From your picture, it appears that you may have a weakness of the facial nerve brabnch that innervates the upper lip on the left side. This would explain why the right upper lip raises, when you smile, and the left does not. You and your parents should see a neurologist to test for this nerve weakness and rule out any medical causes.

Francis R. Palmer, III, MD
Beverly Hills Facial Plastic Surgeon

Asymmetric Smile, San Diego, CA

This is indeed an interesting problem, and demands study by a skilled and experienced plastic surgeon, and a circumspect approach. Your seventh (facial) nerve function should be carefully examined. If intact, I would consider a unilateral (left sided only) lip lift... although this is certainly NOT a perfect solution. The lip lift is a static procedure, and will lift the left side in repose, but may not change your smile sufficiently for you. An internal (mucosal)... more

Steve Laverson, MD
San Diego Plastic Surgeon

Weakness and Asymmetry of the Upper Lip

Thank you for the photos and I can appreciate your concerns. To answer you question regarding fuller lips, yes the lips can definitely be augmented with a procedures to allow more fullness. This can be done with fillers, fat grafting, as well as implants. My main concern is the weakness which you display at the left upper lip. There seems to be weakness of the facial nerve in this area which is causing the lack of lip elevation on the left. I would suggest to... more

Anthony Corrado, DO
Philadelphia Facial Plastic Surgeon

Asymmetry of smile

The fact that your left upper lip will not move up when you smile means that, for some reason, the facial nerve does not work properly. This can occur through a variety of different mechanisms including trauma, previous surgery, previous treatment of other disease (eg, for cancer), or it can just be something that you were born with. There are a variety of techniques that can be used to improve the symmetry of your smile. You should discuss this with a physician with... more

P. Daniel Ward, MD
Salt Lake City Facial Plastic Surgeon

BOTOX can sometimes turn up the corner of the lip

Botulinum toxin such as BOTOX can sometimes turn up the corner of the lip and slightly reduce the flatness of the smile. In addition, fillers such as Juvederm or Restylane can help to give a more symmetric and full smile. This condition may be improved somewhat with fillers and BOTOX, but you should be realistic and not expect a perfect symmetry with smiles because that is not always possible to achieve. see video

Joseph A. Eviatar, MD
Bronx Oculoplastic Surgeon

Lip function problem

As Dr. Aldea said, you need to get seen by a pediatric neurologist to diagnose why the function is not normal. This should be done before any treatment. Please avoid all surgery because it may well make things worse.

Richard P. Rand, MD, FACS
Seattle Plastic Surgeon

Lip symmetry

I would suggest a trial of Botox therapy to the elevator muscles of the right side of the upper lip. This could give a better balance of your expression. Of course, it will require periodic treatment to maintain a successfull result.

Sheldon S. Kabaker, MD
Oakland Facial Plastic Surgeon