Can the Nasal Sill Be Restored After an Endonasal Lip Lift?

Q: Dr. Eppley, Basically, I did an endonasal lip lift 4 months ago that, despite giving me a really good upper lip, changed my nasal sill’s shape (it cut the nasal sill’s skin in between the transition from nose and philtrum). I spoke about it to my surgeon, but he said he does not know how to fix it. Then I went to a couple other surgeons, they mentioned about cartilages or retail (however retail would give me a huge scar on my nasolabial folds, which I dont want), but they did not want to operate me, because it would be their first time at a case like that maybe cartilages or even fillers could help me? I don’t know, I really want Dr. Eppley’s opinion

A:What you are referring to is loss of the nasal sill from this type of lip lift. That is unrepairable problem Once it has been obliterated it cannot be restored. This is the expected trade-off for not having the scar line along the base of the nose. One can have a debate about which problem is more significant, a scar line along the base of the nose with the standard technique or loss of the nasal sill with the endonasal technique, but that is in a relevant issue now. The endonasal lip lift  has its merits but you have to select patients for it very carefully. Those patients that had a prominent nasal sill preoperatively, like you, are going to be more aware of the loss of the sill than in those in which it is less prominent.

Dr. Barry Eppley

World-Renowned Plastic Surgeon