Would a lip lift help me achieve a more attractive lower face? (photo)

Question

I've never liked my lower face, but can't pinpoint what exactly I dislike about it. Would shortening my philtrum make a difference?

Gary M. Horndeski, MD · Answer

You are an excellent candidate for a lip lift. A lip lift does 4 things: shortens the distance between your nose and upper lip, increases the mucosa of the upper lip, increases the incisor show and pulls up the corners.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Best Wishes,

Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Anna Chacon, MD, FAAD · Answer

I hear this kind of concern more often than you might think—feeling like something is “off” in the lower face, but not being able to clearly define what it is. That usually tells me it’s not just one feature, but how several features are working together.

The philtrum (the space between the nose and upper lip) does play a role in facial balance, but it’s only one part of a bigger picture that includes:

Lip volume and shape
Chin projection
Jawline definition
Tooth show at rest and when speaking
Overall vertical proportions of the face

So while shortening the philtrum can make a difference in the right patient, it’s not always the main issue—and in some cases, it’s not the issue at all.

A lip lift (which shortens the philtrum) is best suited for patients who have:

A clearly elongated upper lip relative to their facial proportions
Minimal upper tooth show at rest
A flatter or longer-appearing upper lip

If those features aren’t present, shortening the philtrum can sometimes make the lower face feel more imbalanced rather than more harmonious.

What I often find in patients who feel this way is that the concern is actually coming from:

Subtle lack of support in the chin or jawline
Lip shape or proportion (not necessarily length)
Or even how the lips move and rest dynamically

These are things that can sometimes be improved without surgery, or at least clarified before considering something permanent like a lip lift.

If you were in front of me, I wouldn’t jump straight to the philtrum as the answer. I would look at your face as a whole—how everything sits at rest and in motion—and figure out where the imbalance is actually coming from.

Sometimes the change that makes the biggest difference is not the one you initially thought.

Daniel P. Markmann, MD · Answer

I'm not sure what it is that you don't like about your lower face either.   I do however, think that a lip lift would look nice, giving you more "Pink Show" of your upper lip.

Would a lip lift help me achieve a more attractive lower face? (photo)

Answers (3)

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