The space between my nose and mouth is too far. Do I need bigger lips, or a longer nose? (photos)

The answer is a lip lift. The scar is at the base of the nose.  Usually heals well and can be hidden in the creases around  the nose.  This can be done in the office under local anesthesia.  

I recommend a lip lift.  This will shorten the distance between your nose and upper lip, increase the mucosa fullness of the upper lip, increase your incisor show and pull up the corners.  This is done under local anesthesia, takes less than 1 hour to perform and costs $3,000.Best Wishes,Gary Horndeski, M.D.

Great question!  Your best result will come from an upper lip lift which will shorten the distance between the nose and lips.  Augmenting the lips with filler may help slightly with improving the space but is only temporary.Best of luck and hope this information helps!- Dr. Roger Tsai  @DrRogerTsaiBoard Certified Plastic Surgeon

Hi Conder,
 You have identified the distance from your nose to the colored part of your lips as being too long. Aesthetically, this proportion is commonly pleasing when the length of the base of the nose to the top of the red portion of the lip is about one half of the length of the distance from the border of the lower lip to the bottom of the chin. Additionally, the lip vermillion (red portions) are pleasing in a proportion of at least 1/3 upper lip to 2/3 lower lip or at least half as full as the lower lip. Although lip proportions are genetic, the aging process tends to cause lengthening of the upper lip distance and thinning of the vermillion show as it rolls inward. 
Because the vermillion show of your upper lip is  relatively thin, a lip lift would not only shorten the height of lip to nose, but allow more vermillion to show.  You may still benefit from some filler to add volume into the lip though. You could try conservatively adding some volume to the upper lip first, to see if like the improvement in lip proportions before committing to a more permanent surgical change that actually shortens the lip to nose distance.  If you are contemplating rhinoplasty for other changes to the nose, adjustments can also be made to the base of the nose at the columella. 

Greetings,It does seem in your pictures that your upper lip may be slightly longer than is ideal.  Rather than change your nose or augment your lips, you might consider a lip lift as has been mentioned.  A recommended physician with experience with this procedure in Palo Alto is Dr. David Liberman.  See the link for more information.  Good luck

Hello. This is listed as a nasal question. However, if you go to the link I provided below, you will see many examples of patients that had a relatively large distance between the base of the nose and upper lip. Some chose to have their upper lip just augmented and others chose to have the distance from the base of the nose made shorter. You can also go to the rhinoplasty section where the main focus is on noses. Most of these questions would be addressed at the time of your consultation with your surgeon.Hope this helps,Michael Kulick MD, San Francisco, Ca.
   Board Certified Plastic Surgeon

   Member of ASPS, ASAPS

   Clinical Editor of the Aesthetic Surgery Journal

   Recipient of the Klingbeil Award – Teaching Safe Techniques and Advanced Technologies

In agreement with other responders, lip lift is an office procedure performed under local anesthesia that would likely produce a gratifying change for you.  Some examples in our "lips" gallery and as in the attached video.

The distance between the nose and the lips can be reduced with a lip lift surgery. This also can provide a nice enhancement for the upper lip. It would be best to consult a board certified plastic surgeon with specialization in facial aesthetics and discuss your options in person after a physical examination.Hope this helps,Ali Rıza Öreroğlu, MD FEBOPRASEuropean and Turkish Board Certified Aesthetic, Plastic and Reconstructive SurgeonIstanbul, Turkey

Dear conder,
Thank you for your question. It is difficult to make an accurate assessment and recommendations based on photographs alone. I recommend you seek an in-person consultation with a facial plastic surgeon or plastic surgeon who is a rhinoplasty specialist who can perform a thorough evaluation and discuss with you the best surgical plan to meet your goals. Because you are concerned about a long upper lip, which often occurs with aging, you may be more suited for a lip lift procedure that shortens the upper lip. Filler injections are a non-surgical alternative that can also help improve the upper lip and lips in general. 

The best procedure to address your concerns is a lip lift. If done properly, the scar is hidden and the upper lip appearance will be much improved. Consult a lip lift surgeon to go over the details.