Am I a good candidate for a lip lift (16mm philtrum)? (Photo)

Thank you for sharing your photos and detailed concerns. Based on what you’ve described, being in your late 20s with a relatively small upper lip and a longer philtrum, you could be considered a reasonable candidate for a lip lift. This procedure is often recommended when the philtrum (the space between the upper lip and the base of the nose) measures longer, as reducing it can help balance facial proportions, increase upper lip show, and subtly enhance tooth show.

That said, candidacy depends on several factors, including your skin quality, healing tendencies, and your personal goals with respect to how much lift and definition you’d like to achieve. A lip lift can create a more youthful, balanced appearance, but it’s also important to consider the tradeoff of having a fine-line scar at the base of the nose (which usually heals well but is still something to keep in mind).

A personalized, in-person consultation would help confirm whether this procedure is the right choice for you, but from your description and images, you appear to have features that make you a potential candidate.

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.

It is likely that you are a good candidate. We do these in our office in about 30 minutes. However, the proper photo is mouth open slightly with your lips at rest. Seeing the amount of tooth show is key.

If you wish to avoid the expense, post-operative downtime, and risks of permanent visible scars (right under the nose) from a surgical lip lift, you may wish to consider a nonsurgical lip lift. This would consist of an HA filler lip augmentation for the upper lip to increase volume and projection and create greater harmony with the projections of the chin and nose in profile--as well as diminishing the apparent length of the philtrum.. Additionally, an HA filler threaded along upper vermilion border--accompanied by a couple of microdroplets of Botox distributed along the vermilion--would both better define this region, as well as further diminish the apparent length of the philtrum. All three of the foregoing treatments, in the hands of an experienced board certified cosmetic dermatologist injector, would take no more than about twenty minutes--with the results of the filler interventions seen immediately and that of Botox seen with one to seven days following the treatment sessions.
Hope this helps and best of luck.

Hello; Liplift surgery is generally performed on people; over the age of 40 with extended lip space; it is a surgery. In your youth, the distance between the columella and the upper lip mucosa; usually, it is short. However, with age; this distance; the upper lip begins to lengthen; it becomes thinner and turns inward. Extension of the upper lip distance and inward turning of the mucosa; visually, it disturbs many people. This situation is the same for you. It can also be seen at much younger ages. With liplift surgery; upper lip is pulled upward; the length of the upper lip is shortened. In addition, the upper lip mucosa is rotated outward. Nevertheless, the amount of skin which is removed and the location of the scar that will remain; these are important details.