Is my philtrum long? Is there anything I can do about this? (Photo)

Hello and thank you for your question. A lip lift can be designed to shorten an elongated philtrum.  Based on your photographs, you may also benefit from a tip refining rhinoplasty and a dorsal hump reduction.  Make sure you specifically look at before and after pictures of real patients who have had this surgery performed by your surgeon and not just a computer animation system.  You should be able to view numerous pictures of actual patients with noses similar to yours performed by your surgeon.  If you cannot find enough real before and after pictures, then consider continuing your search for a surgeon. Best wishes and good luck.


Richard G. Reish, M.D. FACS

Harvard-trained plastic surgeon
 

The upper lip appears relatively long . . . distance between
the columella and Cupid's bow of the lip. This can be shortened with an ellipse
of skin at the base of the nose just below the nostrils. The scar heals well .
. . but these will be a fine line scar. It has to be worth the trade-off to
gain the aesthetic result that you want. It will often positively improve your
Cupid's bow!  Good luck!

I suggest that you frame your questions differently. I start from the assumption that you dislike something about your appearance in the area of the nose and upper lip. However, in cosmetic interventions, the absence of the perceived problem is not always the solution. It can be just a different type of problem.
I suggest that you approach it from the perspective of what you would like to achieve as overall balance of your features. If you seek to produce a softer look, a rhinoplasty procedure with reduction of the bridge and slightly tucked in base of columella could help. Discuss this with more than one surgeon though, including the subject of the upper lip and visibility of the scars.  
Appreciate also that it is easier to describe what we don't like than what we would like when it comes to shapes. Computer simulations can help, and you need to consider your options carefully. Good luck.

Thank you for your question and for your photos. Based on your photos provided, your philtrum is not long and you are an ideal candidate for tip refining rhinoplasty. I would advise you to schedule a consultation with a board certified plastic surgeon for a detailed examination to discuss all possible treatment options and what your expectations are. 

Surgical lifting the upper lip is a procedure that can leave a permanent and quite noticeable scar on your face. For you, I instead recommend having a refining rhinoplasty where you can get a better definition of the columellar area beneath the nasal tip. That procedure will give you a better balance between the nasal tip and the lip. Get a consultation with a board-certified plastic surgeon so you can have more accurate information on what you need depending on your concerns.

 No, your philtrum is normal. In our practice we do not recommend lip lift procedures due to the fact that the scar itself never heals very well. It is very noticeable. The hanging columella can be reduced with your rhinoplasty procedure.

interesting question....surgical shortening the upper lip can be challenging. unfortunately surgical shortening this area will always result  in a very visible scar beneath the nostrils. i therefore do not recommend this procedure .you may improve this area by recontouring the columellar area beneath the nasal tip to get a better balance between the nasal tip and the lip, especially when you smile