Uneven right lip. What kind of procedure could fix this issue? (Photo)

Question

My right lip is very uneven. In this photo I'm depressing/closing it on purpose but by default its kind of tilted upwards and is always open. This is likely from mouth breathing since childhood, I noticed whenever I'm congested I just keep right side of my mouth open and breathe. This is taking a toll on my mental health as I always look strange in photos.

Beauty Bar - Calhoun · Answer

Lip filler could help even out your upper lip and make your smile more symmetric. This is a very common issue with lips.

Mats Hagstrom, MD (license on probation) · Answer

In a nutshell, I don’t think there is an easy procedure to restore lip symmetry.
All people have substantial facial asymmetry.
It’s not just your lips that are a symmetrical but your whole faces.
This is true for all people.
During embryological development, the two sides of the face develop independently from each other, and eventually fuse in the midline.
Issues during this time of development can lead to certain disorders, like a cleft lip, cleft palette, or even a cleft face.
When a cleft lip develops It’s usually on the left or right side where the fusion line is. This is pretty close to where the lift or slight deformity is on your right upper lip.
My best guess is that there was a very small anomaly during that part of embryological development.
I don’t believe your lip has anything to do with mouth, breeding, sleeping habits, or anything else. I think you were born this way and I think attempting to correct it is going to be inherently difficult. Some surgeons may be more optimistic, and potentially a VY advancement flap on the inside of your lip, could advance the area and improve the contour slightly.
If you really want to have surgery and I suggest finding plastic surgeons in your community who involved with cleft lip and Palay reconstruction surgery.
This type of surgery is often done as part of multispecialty medical groups at academic medical centers.
I think your best shot at surgical improvement would come from somebody who has a lot of cleft lip repair experience. this is true whether your lip is related to Embryological development or not.
It is not a volume deficit so fillers are not going to do the job.
What I will tell you is that we all see people with significant asymmetry, as being totally normal.
When you look at your friends and family members, you don’t see a symmetry.
If you look at their faces critically, you will see that they’re all highly asymmetrical.
The human brain is accustomed to seeing a symmetry as being normal so we don’t recognize it.
 People can have substantial asymmetry, and other people will not see it as being abnormal.
In reality, there are no people with facial symmetry.
If you see a computer generated perfectly symmetrical face, you may notice that it has an odd and unfamiliar appearance.
It is most likely because we’ve never seen a face with symmetry.
 Likewise the body is highly asymmetrical on most people.
One thigh will be bigger or longer than the other side. The spine is really in the midline and all internal organs are placed asymmetrically.
People are right handed or left-handed.
My best suggestion to you is to , focus more on why this is causing mental distress rather than trying to fix the problem.
I don’t think other people see it is a major issue but obviously you do.
Recognize that when we look at ourselves we do so with the most amount of bias.
We typically do not see ourselves the way the rest of the world does.
Marketing companies use this to their advantage to sell people on all kinds of products and treatments.
You have a good looking face and I think maybe focus and have gratitude for that.
You have a strong mandible with a good masculine appearance.
I think I would trade being attractive over having a slight lip defect anytime of the day.
I’ve no idea if this response is helpful or not.
My best suggestion is to try to ignore it and recognize that a symmetry is normal and we all have little things that are not exactly right with our bodies.
Of all the defects you could’ve been born with this one is pretty minor.
Best,
Mats Hagstrom, MD

Uneven right lip. What kind of procedure could fix this issue? (Photo)

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Uneven right lip. What kind of procedure could fix this issue? (Photo)

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