This 64-year-old woman felt that the appearance of her central face was too long, particularly around the mouth and upper lip. She was bothered by the fact that her upper lip covered her central incisors, even when smiling — a common sign of lip elongation that can contribute to a tired or aged appearance.
In facial aesthetics, upper lip length and incisor show are critical for balance and youthfulness. Ideally, a few millimeters of the central teeth should be visible at rest. When the upper lip is too long, it can mask the teeth and make the face appear disproportionately long or heavy.
Dr. Salvatore Pacella performed a subtle, refined lip lift, carefully shortening the upper lip to restore ideal proportion and allow for natural central incisor tooth show. The goal was to enhance the facial harmony and femininity of her central face without creating an exaggerated or “overdone” appearance.
At 12 months post-op, the results are strikingly natural:
Many patients seek out Dr. Pacella for his advanced techniques in lip lift surgery that respect facial anatomy and avoid the over-plumped look commonly seen with filler. This case beautifully demonstrates the power of subtle change in creating overall facial harmony.
