Fat above lip? What can be done about this? (Photo)

Question

Hi, I have what seems to be a fat pad above my lip. It’s making my lip a little droopy and causing a line. What can be done about this?

Semih Yildiz, MD, FEPOBRAS · Answer

From the photos, the area you circled looks more like a perioral/nasolabial fold and soft-tissue support issue than a simple fat pad. This area is usually not a good place for liposuction. Removing fat too aggressively around the upper lip can create irregularity, hollowness, worse shadowing, or more drooping. The line can come from several factors, including cheek support, skin quality, dental/lip support, muscle pull around the mouth, and natural fold anatomy.

The best option depends on an in-person exam. In many patients, conservative filler placed strategically in the cheek, nasolabial area, or lip support region can soften the fold without making the lip heavy. If the mouth corner is pulling down, a small amount of neuromodulator to the depressor muscles may help. Skin resurfacing or tightening can help texture, and surgical options are reserved for selected anatomy. I would avoid liposuction here unless an experienced facial surgeon examines you and feels there is a clear, localized, safely removable fat pocket.

Connie Hiers, MD, FACS · Answer

That is probably muscle and not fat. Please do not try liposuction in that area or you may damage your lip. Low dose of Botox might improve the area.

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

It’s highly unlikely that you have an abnormal fat distribution or some unique fat pad above your lip.
Facial contour is a combination of skeletal structure and how the soft tissues drape the skeletal structure including tension from muscles or facial expression.
I’m guessing you probably have an under sized mandible that is small in comparison to your maxilla and that is most likely the cause for your facial contour. individuals with an under sized mandible will typically have a dental overbite occlusion, premature double chin, lack of jawline definition, premature jowls, profile pictures will show the upper lip having more forward projection than the lower lip. It can also cause contour issues around the jowls and around the mouth.
Attempting to manage this with soft tissue manipulation will most likely not fix the problem and could definitely create a new problem.
Almost all issues related to facial aesthetics on young healthy people are related to bone structure.
Best,
Mats Hagstrom MD

Fat above lip? What can be done about this? (Photo)

Answers (3)

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