Will a lip lift give me a gummy smile? Is there a procedure to reposition the lip upward without exposing teeth? (photos)

Question

I am a 25 year old Indian female. I used to have a slightly gummy smile that braces corrected. I'm happy with my smile. However, my philtrum is somewhat long and my lip corners droop slightly. I want to reduce my philtrum without exposing too much of my teeth. I also have sufficient volume in my lips, so I dont want any further volume.

David K. Isaacs, MD, FACS · Answer

I think you have beautiful lips. You have beautiful shape, volume, and a really nice Cupid's bow. I think your lips are regal and elegant.

I wouldn't do anything. Especially since a Lip Lift will indeed give the "appearance" of a fuller upper lip, which is not what you want.

By the way - some doctors may comment that you should do fillers in your lower lip because the proportion of your upper to your lower is not within the proper "lip ratio."

I don't subscribe to that. See my video (added here) on my proposal for a paradigm shift. You'll see another patient with beautiful lips just like yours. No need for filler in the lowers.

Vasileios Vasilakis, MD, FACS · Answer

Thank you for the question. You have beautiful and youthful features and smile, and you are not candidate for surgical lip lift, which will permanently alter your appearance. I wish you the best of luck. Vasileios Vasilakis, MD. Double board-certified, fellowship-trained plastic surgeon, Houston. TX.

Will a lip lift give me a gummy smile? Is there a procedure to reposition the lip upward without exposing teeth? (photos)

Answers (2)