Thin, Curled Upper Lip: Is Filler Enough? | Real Case Review of Lip Enlargement Surgery

Hello, this is Dr. Song Sang-hun of Golden Diamant Plastic Surgery Clinic.

Not every case of thin-looking lips is improved with the same approach.

In some cases, the lips simply lack volume. In others, the lip tissue curls inward, so the upper lip appears narrow in vertical height when viewed from the front.

Today, we will look at what kind of change this surgery aims to achieve, based on before-and-after photos of an actual patient who underwent lip enlargement surgery.

Golden Diamant Plastic Surgery Clinic · Real Patient Case Review

Thin, Curled Upper Lip: Is Filler Enough? | Real Case Review of Lip Enlargement Surgery — Lip augmentation before (left) and after (right), shown with real photos of the same patient only.

These are real before-and-after photos of the same patient. The patient's face and results were not recreated using AI.

CASE 01

First, let's look at the features visible in the lips before surgery.

In the pre-surgery photo, the vertical exposure of the upper lip is relatively small compared to the lower lip, and part of the upper lip appears to curl inward.

Although the cupid's bow is present, its central contour is relatively soft and recessed,

giving an overall impression of an upper lip with a weak presence.

In cases like this, rather than simply saying “the lips are thin,”

it is important to look at how much lip area is actually visible and how the center and sides are curled.

Thin, Curled Upper Lip: Is Filler Enough? | Real Case Review of Lip Enlargement Surgery 사진 2 — Pre-op points: little vertical show of the upper lip, an upper lip that looks rolled inward, and a soft central Cupid's bow outline.

Only the key observation points are marked on the actual pre-surgery photo.

CASE 02

Points you may miss if you only see the lips as “thicker” after surgery

After surgery, more of the upper lip is visible from the front than before, and the central cupid's bow and upper lip line appear slightly more defined. What matters here is not simply making the lips bigger, but naturally increasing the exposure of the upper lip that previously appeared curled inward.

Thin, Curled Upper Lip: Is Filler Enough? | Real Case Review of Lip Enlargement Surgery 사진 3 — What changed after surgery: more upper lip show, the Cupid's bow and central line, and the proportion with the lower lip.

This is an actual post-surgery photo, with guidelines realigned based on the central axis of the lips.

Rather than the upper lip alone looking bigger, the difference in thickness between the upper and lower lips can narrow, and the proportions of the mouth seen from the front can change, which may make the overall impression slightly clearer.

Thin, Curled Upper Lip: Is Filler Enough? | Real Case Review of Lip Enlargement Surgery 사진 4 — Close-up of the lips before and after, cropped from the same photos without changing the angle.

A close-up comparison of only the lip area, taken from the before-and-after photos of the same patient.

Key Points of Lip Enlargement Surgery

Rather than asking “how big should it be?”, what matters most is determining which area of the current lips lacks exposure, and in which direction and by how much the visible lip tissue needs to be extended to look natural.

SURGERY 01

What kind of surgery is lip enlargement?

At Golden Diamant, lip enlargement procedures are broadly divided into lip line enlargement and mucosal advancement, depending on the condition of the lips. Even for the same “thin lips,” the underlying structure being addressed is different.

Thin, Curled Upper Lip: Is Filler Enough? | Real Case Review of Lip Enlargement Surgery 사진 5 — Method depends on what is widened: lip line augmentation trims above the upper lip; mucosal advancement brings inner mucosa forward.

The left image shows an actual patient photo with explanatory callouts added, and the right image is a simple diagram to help explain the surgical principle.

Lip Line Enlargement

This method involves excising the necessary area along the upper lip line and then suturing it closed. It increases the vertical exposure of thin lips while also refining the lip line.

Mucosal Advancement

This method moves the inner lip mucosa forward, allowing the curled-in lip to show more outwardly and supplementing both exposure and volume. However, the upper lip has its own distinctive shape, which makes it less suitable for mucosal advancement, so this technique is mainly used for lower lip enlargement.

SURGERY 02

Filler and lip enlargement surgery address different problems

If the lips are a reasonable size but simply lack volume, a method like filler, which fills in the missing volume, may be a good fit. Conversely, if the lips themselves are narrow vertically, or the tissue curls inward so that the visible area is small, adding volume alone may not produce the desired shape.

Thin, Curled Upper Lip: Is Filler Enough? | Real Case Review of Lip Enlargement Surgery 사진 6 — Filler focuses on volume for lips of adequate size; lip augmentation changes the visible area and line of thin or inward-rolled lips.

No AI-generated before-and-after images resembling patient results were used. Comparisons were made only with real photos and conceptual diagrams.

In short, filler mainly supplements volume, while lip enlargement surgery, depending on the case, adjusts exposure, shape, and lines. Rather than one being better than the other, it is important to first identify what problem needs to be solved in your current lips.

CASE 03

The key point of this case is “the presence of the upper lip”

In this patient, the upper lip itself appeared thin before surgery, and less of it was visible from the front compared to the lower lip. After surgery, the exposure of the upper lip increased and the central line became slightly more defined, changing the apparent ratio between the upper and lower lips.

Thin, Curled Upper Lip: Is Filler Enough? | Real Case Review of Lip Enlargement Surgery 사진 7 — This case centers on the upper lip's presence: before and after, with close-ups of upper lip show, central line and upper–lower balance.

This image breaks down the key points of change using only real before-and-after photos.

Whether the upper lip appears thin and curled inward

The degree of thickness difference between the central and lateral parts of the lips

How distinctly the cupid's bow should be defined

Whether the ratio with the lower lip is not excessive

Whether the philtrum length and lip position harmonize with the overall facial proportions

RECOVERY

The shape immediately after surgery is not the final result

Because the lips are a highly mobile area, you may experience swelling, tightness, and a firm feeling right after surgery. If the lip line was incised, the incision may look red or feel firm for a while, and it gradually fades and softens over time.

Thin, Curled Upper Lip: Is Filler Enough? | Real Case Review of Lip Enlargement Surgery 사진 8 — Not the final look: 1–2 hr surgery, stitches out around day 4–5, early swelling and redness, avoid opening wide; side effects possible.

Only recovery guidance is presented against an actual post-surgery photo. The patient's facial shape has not been altered.

According to Golden Diamant's internal guidelines, lip enlargement surgery can be performed under sedation anesthesia or local anesthesia, and the procedure takes about 1 to 2 hours. Sutures are typically removed around 4 to 5 days after surgery, after which progress is checked and scar care continues.

CHECK

In cases like these, lip enlargement surgery is considered during consultation

Not every thin pair of lips is a candidate for surgery. First, it is important to determine whether what's lacking in your current lips is volume or exposure, and how the lips proportion within the overall face.

Thin, Curled Upper Lip: Is Filler Enough? | Real Case Review of Lip Enlargement Surgery 사진 9 — Lip augmentation is also considered for: a thin upper lip, inward-rolled lips, filler lacking height or line, Cupid's bow refinement, lip ratio.

Based on actual pre-surgery photos, these are the items to review during consultation.

When the upper lip itself is thin, making the lips appear to lack presence

When the lips curl inward, leaving only a small visible area from the front

When it is difficult to achieve the desired vertical height or lip line with filler alone

When you also want to refine the shape of the cupid's bow or the lip border

When you want to structurally adjust the ratio between the upper and lower lips

SUMMARY

Though the lips are a small area, the change is visible across the entire mouth

Lip enlargement surgery is less about simply making the lips bigger and more about analyzing the lacking exposure and lines of the current lips to adjust how the lips appear within the face.

Thin, Curled Upper Lip: Is Filler Enough? | Real Case Review of Lip Enlargement Surgery 사진 10 — Lips are small, but change shows across the mouth area: the center, sides, Cupid's bow and lower-lip ratio are adjusted only as needed.

This closing shot uses an actual post-surgery photo as is.

Even for thin lips, the approach may differ depending on whether the center is lacking, whether the sides are curled, the shape of the cupid's bow, and the ratio between the philtrum and lower lip. As in this case, where the upper lip has little exposure and the difference in ratio between the upper and lower lips is noticeable, it is best to first determine whether simple volume addition or surgical enlargement is the more suitable approach.

Golden Diamant Mouth Contouring Consultation Points

Rather than looking only at lip thickness, we plan the procedure by also reviewing the philtrum, cupid's bow, mouth corners, and the proportion to the lower lip.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Will my lips definitely become much thicker after lip enlargement surgery?

A. It depends on the amount of tissue removed and the design. It is important to determine the appropriate extent based on your current lip thickness and facial proportions.

Q. Can someone who has had filler still undergo surgery?

A. The surgical plan may vary depending on the type and amount of previous filler and how much remains, so your past treatment history should be reviewed during consultation.

Q. Will the scar go away?

A. Because this surgery involves incisions, we cannot say that no scarring will occur at all. How visible a scar is can vary depending on the location, suturing technique, and individual healing characteristics, so post-operative care is planned as part of the overall treatment.

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This content is provided for medical information purposes only. It is a case review featuring real before-and-after photos of patients, and only the actual photos provided were used for images showing patient results. Surgical outcomes and recovery may vary depending on individual tissue condition, design, surgical technique, and other factors. Surgery carries risks such as bleeding, swelling, and scarring, so decisions should be made only after thorough consultation.