Will lip filler make a long philtrum worse? (Photos)

Question

I'm a 55 year old female with a long philtrum and a gummy smile and very thin lips. I have been getting Botox to help with the gummy smile but as I've aged, it's making my long philtum look more pronounced. I'd like to get filler in my lips to improve the thinness, but will this make my long philtrum look even worse? I don't feel that I'm a good candidate for a lip lift due to the gummy smile.

Nelson Lee Novick, MD · Answer

At least from the photos provided, there appears to be signficant lip volume deficit, particularly in the upper lip, which in itself would result in a longer appearing philtrum. Therefore, the use of a medium viscosity HA filler properly injected into the body of the lips can restore lip volume, and in the case of the upper lip, would in itself lend to an apparent shortening of the philtrum. Additionally, a low viscosity, cohesive, malleable HA filler can be threaded along the border of the upper lip vermilion to create a nonsurgical lip lift, which can further improve the appearance of the philtrum. If necessary, a couple of microdroplets of Botox placed on each side of the vermilion of the upper lip can further enhance the lip lift effect. All of the foregoing, in the hands of an experienced, board certified cosmetic dermatologist injection expert can be peformed in about a fifteen minute treatment session with immediate results and little to no significant downtime. Hope this helps and best of luck.

Gary M. Horndeski, MD · Answer

Lip filler can add additional weight and may make the lip larger and decrease the gummy smile.  However, you are an excellent candidate for an eccentric lip lift.  This does 4 things: shortens the distance between the nose and the upper lip, increases the mucosa of the upper lip, increases the incisor show and pulls up the corners.  This takes 1 hour to perform under local anesthesia and costs $4,000.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Lexie Wang, MD · Answer

You are definitely a candidate for a lip lift based on your photos. However, to answer your question: lip filler CAN worsen teh philtral height bc it adds weight to your lip that will "drag it down", thus elongating the philtrum.

Leonard Grossman, MD · Answer

You are absolutely that you should not have a lip lift with your gummy smile.  you can have your lip augmented with a filler and it will add volume to the lips and make your filtro shorter at the same time. Make sure you go to someone who knows how to use the Russian technique in lip augmentation. I hope this helps and good luck from Leonard Grossman, MD, organic Plastic Surgery, New York City.

Will lip filler make a long philtrum worse? (Photos)

Answers (4)

Answer: Your personal case of a long vertical lip

Answer: Your personal case of a long vertical lip

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Will lip filler make a long philtrum worse? (Photos)

Answers (4)

Answer: Your personal case of a long vertical lip

Answer: Your personal case of a long vertical lip

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Recommended reading

Everything you need to know about Lip Fillers

Our mission is to create a world where every investment in modern beauty is Worth It.