V-Y or bullhorn lip lift? (Photo)

Question

I don't understand the difference but I'm looking to visibly see my top teeth when my lips are parted. I also want more fullness in my upper lip. I don't know which one I should be considering. I've shown a couple photos of my face normally and then another one that looks kind of silly with me holding it how I want it to sort of look. Thank you!

Steven J. Pearlman, MD, FACS · Answer

Less and less surgeons do a V-Y plasty since the result is unpredictable. A modified lip lift is an excellent procedure to shorten the skin part of the upper lip, evert the lip like you are showing in the photo and increase dental show. When you have a long lip, fillers often don't do the trick and may even make you look worse

Gary M. Horndeski, MD · Answer

You are an excellent candidate for a lip lift. A lip lift does 4 things: shortens the distance between your nose and upper lip, increases the mucosa of the upper lip, increases the incisor show and pulls up the corners.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Vincent McGinniss, DO, FACS, FAOCO · Answer

Hi! The bullhorn incision is named that way because the shape of the incision we make just below your nose resembles, well... a bullhorn. The skin in this shape is removed and the pink lip is lifted after we suture it back together. This is a nice surgical technique to evenly lift the central and lateral (outside parts) of the upper lip. There are also “corner lip lifts” that remove skin in a way that only lifts the corners ( lateral/outside part of lip) but not the middle. When you hold your lip up with your finger, you are demonstrating the bullhorn for you have lifted the middle and outside parts of your lip and shortened(removed) the white part of your upper lip below your nose. A V-Y incision does just that. Changes a V shape incision into a Y shape. This is a great way to advance tissue into a defect and I mostly use it when someone has a hole from skin cancer removal and I need to close it. I think you have great lips and filler can help too for increased volume, but if you desire a shorter distance form under the nose to the lip border, the bullhorn incision could be considered. All my best!

V-Y or bullhorn lip lift? (Photo)

Answers (3)

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