Is it possible to horizontally widen lips without significant scarring? (Photo)

Question

My lips are quite short and barely wider than my nose. Would getting a corner lip lift help widen the apperance of my lips? I’m considering getting a nose job to make the base of my nose smaller, so that my lips look wider comparatively. However, my nose is not that big (same width as the inner corners of my eyes) so I’m afraid my nose will look too small/uncanny. Is getting a lip lift the best solution? I think my lips is already quite plump so I wouldn’t want to get lip fillers.

Gary M. Horndeski, MD · Answer

The lateral lip lift will not widen the lips. You would benefit from an eccentric lip lift, not a bullhorn or lateral lip lift. This 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. You would also benefit from a rhinoplasty. You have a bulbous tip and a wide base. These can be done at the same time.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Anna Chacon, MD, FAAD · Answer

I understand exactly what you’re seeing—when the mouth width is close to the nasal base, the lips can look “short,” even if they’re already full. And you’re right to think carefully here, because horizontal widening is one of the harder things to change in a natural-looking way.

Corner lip lift (commissuroplasty)

This procedure can slightly extend the corners of the mouth and give the illusion of a wider smile. But I want to be very honest about it:

The amount of true horizontal widening is subtle
It’s more effective for lifting downturned corners than for making the mouth significantly wider
There will be small scars at the corners, and while they usually heal well, they’re not completely invisible—especially in certain lighting or if you’re prone to noticeable scarring

So yes, it can help—but it’s not a dramatic “widening” solution.

About making the nose smaller

You’re thinking about proportions correctly, but there’s a limit to how much changing one feature improves another.

If your nose is already proportionate (and what you described sounds proportionate), making it smaller just to make the lips appear wider can sometimes:

Throw off overall facial balance
Make the center of the face look a bit “tight” or unnatural

I’d be cautious about using rhinoplasty for this specific goal alone.

What actually creates the look of wider lips

True horizontal width is mostly determined by anatomy, but you can enhance the appearance of width by:

Subtle definition at the corners (very conservative, even without adding volume)
Avoiding overemphasis of the center of the lips
Enhancing how the lips transition into the surrounding skin

Even without traditional “lip filler,” very small, strategic adjustments can change how wide the lips read.

My honest take

If your lips are already plump, you don’t need more volume—and you’re right to avoid that.

A corner lip lift can help a bit, but expectations should be realistic:

Refinement, not transformation
Small change in width, more change in expression

And I would be cautious about altering your nose just to compensate for lip proportions, especially if it’s already balanced.

Sometimes the goal isn’t to make features bigger or smaller—it’s to make everything work together more harmoniously.

Is it possible to horizontally widen lips without significant scarring? (Photo)

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