Why Did my Upper Lip Get Longer After Rhinoplasty?

It is difficult to provide you with any defintiive answers without knowing the details of the procedure and the amount of time that has elapsed since your surgery. Interference with movement of the upper lip as well as swelling of the upper lip are quite common after rhinoplasty and tend to resolve with time.

Several things occur when a reduction rhinoplasty is performed on a caucasion patient..The over projected and tethered nasal tip is released and reduced. Cephalic rotation of the tip and release of the depressor nasali muscles allow the base of the nose to settle back closer to the face. All of these surgical activities give the appearance of a smaller upturned nose with longer upper lip.

Hi,

Sometimes the muscles of the upper lip that are attached to the base of the nose are released during rhinoplasty.  This is performed in patients with short upper lips, and in patients where the rhinoplasty surgeon wishes to remove the forces of the lip pulling down the tip of the nose during the healing process.  Usually the effects that you are experiencing are temporary until the muscles re-attach and function normally again.  It is best to speak with your rhinoplasty surgeon regarding your concerns.

Good luck and be well.

Dr. P

The most likely reason is the lip has the appearance of looking longer is because the nasal tip has been raised. There is some degree of contraction and healing forces that have lifted the nose upwards from the lip. The nasolabial angle can be changed a little bit, but it is going to be very difficult to put your lip/nose relationship back to its presurgery state.

Causes for the issue you describe are: Swelling, Cut labii superioris muscle or anterior nasalis muscle, Removal of anterior nasal spine, a combination of the previous scenarios. Go disscuss with the operative surgeon.

From MIAMI Dr. B