Philtrum that's about 18mm long, and my upper teeth are covered at rest - would a lip lift help upper teeth show? (Photo)

Hi, thank you for sharing your concerns and photo—it really helps to understand your goals. From what you’ve described, your philtrum is around 18mm, which is slightly longer than average, and your upper teeth are mostly hidden at rest even with veneers. This combination often contributes to the “covered teeth” appearance and makes the upper lip look less prominent.

A lip lift could be very effective in your situation. Here’s why:

Philtrum shortening: A lip lift surgically shortens the distance between the base of the nose and the upper lip, which naturally exposes more of the teeth when your mouth is relaxed.

Vermillion show: By lifting the lip, the red part of the lip (vermilion) becomes more visible, giving a fuller and more youthful appearance. This can help balance the lip with your facial proportions, even if your teeth are already lengthened with veneers.

Smile dynamics: Since your teeth are already well-aligned and lengthened, lifting the upper lip can enhance the smile without needing additional dental work. It can make your smile appear more open and harmonious at rest and with a smile.

Candidate factors: Being a candidate mainly depends on skin elasticity, overall facial proportions, and your goals for lip and smile appearance. From what you’ve described, you likely could benefit from a lip lift, especially if your main goals are more tooth show and vermillion exposure.

In short, a lip lift could help achieve the natural tooth and lip visibility you’re looking for while giving your upper lip a more balanced and youthful proportion.

The ideal distance between the base of the nose and the upper lip vermilion is 11-13 mm. Based on your length, you would be a candidate. There would be more tooth exposure with this procedure. Dentists like to show 3-4mm of tooth exposure in repose.