Philtrum Reduction Surgery: Does Simply Shortening It Make You Prettier?

Hello.

I am Song Sang-hoon, the head director of Gangnam Goldendiamant Plastic Surgery.

When consulting about philtrum reduction surgery, there is a common phrase I often hear:

‘I think my philtrum is long.’‘How many millimeters should I reduce it to look pretty?’‘Will my face look much younger if only my philtrum is shortened?’

Of course, if the philtrum is long,

reducing the distance between the nose and the upper lip

can make the vertical length of the face appear shorter and create a more youthful impression.

Especially for those with thin upper lips that appear to be rolled inward,reducing the philtrum can give the feeling of revitalizing the upper lip line.

However, philtrum reduction surgery is not simply a procedure to shorten the length.

The philtrum is an area connected to the nose, lips, corners of the mouth, and jawline.

Therefore, if you only look at the philtrum and decide to ‘reduce it by a few millimeters,’

the result might be more awkward than expected.

Cases where philtrum reduction surgery is a good fit

Those who are highly satisfied with philtrum reduction surgery generally have common characteristics.

Firstly, it is for cases where the distance from the base of the nose to the upper lip is long, making the central part of the face appear elongated.

In such cases, a long philtrum can make one look older than their actual age or make the face appear long overall.

Additionally, if the upper lip is thin and rolled inward,

and the lips lack presence, philtrum reduction surgery can also be helpful.

This is because during the process of reducing the philtrum, the upper lip everts to some extent,

which can make the lip line a bit more defined.

However, the important point here is that reducing it excessively does not necessarily mean it is a good surgery.

If the philtrum is reduced excessively, there can be a lot of tension on the suture site,

and scars may become noticeable, or the shape of the nose base and lips may become unnatural.

Therefore, before surgery, it is necessary to check not only the current philtrum length but also

lip thickness, tooth exposure, presence of protruding mouth, and chin length.

The corners of the mouth may look different after philtrum reduction.

Many people overlook the corners of the mouth.

Philtrum reduction surgery can lift the upper lip, making the central part of the lip more defined.

However, if the inclination of the outer line of the upper lip changes during this process,

the corners of the mouth may relatively appear to be lower than before.

Simply put, if the philtrum is shortened but the corners of the mouth do not follow suit and rise,

the overall mouth shape may not look as bright as expected.

Therefore, if the corners of the mouth are already drooping before surgery,

or if the mouth appears sullen with a neutral expression, it is advisable to assess whether philtrum reduction alone is sufficient,

or if supplementary procedures such as lip corner lift surgery or lip corner Botox/filler are needed.

Although philtrum reduction and lip corner lift surgery may seem like separate procedures,they often need to be considered together within the overall balance of the mouth.

More important than average length is the proportion of your face.

Many people are curious about the average length of the philtrum.

It is often said that for Korean women, it is around 15-18mm,

but this number is not necessarily the correct answer.

Some individuals may have a philtrum slightly longer than average but still look natural in terms of overall facial proportions,

while others may be within the average range but feel their philtrum looks longer if their lips are thin or their chin appears long.

In other words, philtrum reduction surgery is not a procedure decided solely by numbers; it requires considering the role of the philtrum within the entire face.

Especially for those with a protruding mouth or significant tooth exposure before surgery, reducing the philtrum

can make the upper lip appear more lifted or the mouth appear more protruded.

For those with a long chin, reducing only the philtrum may have a limited effect on shortening the entire mid-lower face.

In such cases, rather than trying to solve the problem with philtrum reduction surgery alone,

it is necessary to analyze the lip line, mouth corners, chin tip, and lower facial proportions together.

Things to check before surgery.

If you are considering philtrum reduction surgery, I always check three things:

First, whether philtrum reduction is truly necessary for your face.

Second, how the lips and mouth corners will change when shortened.

Third, whether a natural change can be achieved within a non-excessive range.

Philtrum reduction surgery is an excellent procedure for suitable candidates, as it can improve both facial length and lip line.

However, it is not a surgery that can be applied in the same way to everyone.

More important than shortening is naturalness.

And for natural results, pre-surgical analysis is paramount.

At Goldendiamant Plastic Surgery, we don't just shorten the philtrum length;

we consider the line from the base of the nose, the thickness of the upper lip, the direction of the mouth corners, tooth exposure, and chin tension

together when planning the surgery.

If you are considering philtrum reduction surgery,

I hope you will think about ‘how to shorten it naturally for my face’

rather than ‘how many millimeters can I reduce it by’.

Thank you.

#GoldendiamantPlasticSurgery #DirectorSongSangHoon #PhiltrumReductionSurgery #SubnasalLipLift #LipCornerLiftSurgery #MouthShapeSurgery #YouthfulSurgery #LipSurgery #CheongdamPlasticSurgery