Am I A Better Candidate for a Subnasal Lip Lift or a Vermilion Advancement?

Q: Dr. Eppley, What are your thoughts on Vermillion Advancement and why is this better or worse than the bullhorn/gullwing? I have very thin upper lift and downturned mouth. 

Thank you!!

A: FYI bullhorn = subnasal lip lift, gullwing = vermilion advancement

While you can have a subnasal lip lift you should not have it by itself as this will result in an A frame deformity. With the sides of your upper lip absent/folded in and the mouth corners turned down the subnasal lip lift by itself will make the upper lip look even more disproportionate. The subnasal lip lift only changes the central upper lip and not the sides. Thus a subnasal lip lift in you must be combined with a lateral vermilion advancement/corner of mouth lift to look right.

You could also have a total vermilion advancement but with some cupid’s bow presence and a long upper lip I would go with the former which will produce a greater upper lip shortening effect.

Dr. Barry Eppley

Indianapolis, Indiana