Will my philtrum look shorter as the swelling goes down after LeFort 1 osteotomy? (photo)

Question

My surgeon moved my upper jaw down 4 mm to increase incisoral show. I can understand that my philtrum may lengthen as a result but do you think swelling is exacerbating the issue? The tip of my nose down to my upper lip is currently numb, though I have more mobility at the center of my lips than the sides. One side of my face is also more swollen than the other because bone was taken for grafting. I know the overall area will look better with time but I'm concerned specifically about my philtrum.

Hardeep Dhaliwal, MD, DMD · Answer

In general after a lefort 1 osteotomy the muscles and structures of the lip are disrupted and can lead to post op shorting of the philtrum. To prevent this in some cases, a special type of closure is perofrmed. This closure is called a V-to-Y closure. This help maintain philtrum length. Typically this results a longer than normal philtrum in the early post operative period, but typically resolved later in recovery (9-12 months). If it were to ever remain longer then you would like a lip lift procedure can be performed to shorten the philtrum. Ultimately it is best to consult with your surgeon.

Will my philtrum look shorter as the swelling goes down after LeFort 1 osteotomy? (photo)

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