Philtrum 1.4 cm, female, 20 - Am I a candidate for a lip lift? (Photos)

Question

I have a 1.4cm philtrum and i feel like its long and doesnt look harmonious. I’m a woman, im 20 and when i open my mouth i have a lot of my teeth showing

Gary M. Horndeski, MD · Answer

You appear to be a poor candidate for a lip lift. However, you do appear to be a great candidate for a chin implant. This is done through an intra-oral approach so there are no external scars, takes about 1 hour to perform under general anesthesia and costs $4,000.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Anna Chacon, MD, FAAD · Answer

I understand why this is something you’re noticing, especially when facial proportions feel “off” to you. The philtrum—the distance between the base of the nose and the upper lip—does play an important role in overall facial harmony, but it also has a wide range of what’s considered naturally normal.

A measurement of 1.4 cm in a young female actually falls within a common and generally acceptable range, so the decision to do anything surgically is less about a number alone and more about the overall facial balance, lip position at rest, tooth show, and smile dynamics.

From what you’re describing—especially with good upper tooth show when your mouth is open or at rest when speaking—that is actually an important detail. One of the key considerations before a lip lift is how much tooth exposure already exists at rest, because a lip lift will:

Shorten the philtrum
Increase upper lip show at rest
Potentially increase tooth visibility depending on anatomy

At 20 years old, I’m also very cautious, because the face is still subtly settling, and soft tissue proportions can continue to mature into the mid-20s.

A lip lift can be a beautiful procedure in the right patient, but the best candidates usually have:

A genuinely elongated philtrum relative to facial proportions
Limited upper tooth show at rest
A thin or downturned upper lip that would benefit from increased exposure
Stable, fully matured facial proportions

In your case, with already noticeable tooth show and a philtrum within normal range, I would be very careful about recommending surgery too quickly. Sometimes what feels like disproportion is actually a combination of lip shape, smile dynamics, and facial angle perception rather than true excess length.

There are also non-surgical ways to subtly improve harmony—such as carefully placed lip filler to enhance upper lip shape and support, which can sometimes create a more balanced appearance without altering anatomy permanently.

A lip lift is irreversible and very visible, so I always take a conservative approach—especially in younger patients—making sure the change will truly enhance facial harmony long-term rather than simply shorten a measurement.

Zoran Potparic, MD · Answer

Based on this photo I do not see any indication for lip lift; your lip is full, prominent, it dominates your lower face. However, chin augmentation is something you should consider to achieve more balance. Good luck.

Philtrum 1.4 cm, female, 20 - Am I a candidate for a lip lift? (Photos)

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