Lateral Philtrum Reduction: How Is It Different from Regular Philtrum Reduction?

Lateral philtrum reduction,

How is it different from regular philtrum reduction?

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Lateral philtrum reduction

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When considering philtrum surgery,

you may come across the unfamiliar term “lateral philtrum reduction.”

At this point, many people wonder,

“What exactly is different from the existing philtrum reduction surgery?”

In fact, although the two procedures have similar names,

the areas they improve and their purposes are clearly different.

In some cases, only the length of the philtrum needs to be shortened,

while in others, if the concern is a philtrum that appears wide to the sides or the overall impression below the nose,

the approach itself has to be different.

If you decide on surgery without recognizing this difference accurately,

the result you expected and the actual outcome may differ.

Today, I will explain what lateral philtrum reduction is,

and summarize two key scar-related points you should know before surgery.

If you read to the end, it will help you determine the direction that is right for you.

What kind of surgery is lateral philtrum reduction?

Lateral philtrum reduction

Many people first encounter the term lateral philtrum reduction while looking into philtrum reduction.

In consultations as well, quite a few people ask, “Is this the surgery I was looking for?”

In fact, there are more cases than expected where people come in without knowing the difference between the two procedures,

which is why we make sure to point it out early in the consultation.

Regular philtrum reduction is a surgery that shortens the vertical distance between the area below the nose and the upper lip.

It is suitable for people whose philtrum looks long or whose nose-to-mouth distance appears large.

By contrast, lateral philtrum reduction shortens the “lateral philtrum,”

that is, the length extending from the sides of the alar base to the corners of the mouth,

rather than the vertical length of the philtrum.

It works by removing skin and soft tissue along the boundary between the alar base and the cheek,

narrowing the overall width beneath the nose.

This surgery is more suitable for people whose philtrum length itself is fine,

but who feel that the area below the nose looks spread out or wide.

There is one more point I would like to mention here.

There are two major causes of a philtrum that appears wide.

One is when the columella itself is wide, and the other is when the soft tissue beside the alar base is thick or sagging,

making the edges of the philtrum look spread out.

The direct target of lateral philtrum reduction is the latter case.

If the width of the columella itself is the cause,

you may also need to consider alar reduction or columella correction.

Even if the concerns look similar at first glance,

the surgical method changes depending on the cause,

so checking this first has a direct impact on the result.

If you are worried about scars from lateral philtrum reduction

Lateral philtrum reduction

Now, let’s talk about scars.

During consultations, some people say,

“The area below the nose is very noticeable, so I’m worried about what happens if a scar forms.”

We fully understand that concern.

That is why we want to be candid about it.

How noticeable a scar is depends to a large extent not so much on the surgery itself as on where and how the incision line is designed.

Lateral philtrum reduction is performed by making an incision along the boundary line beside the alar base.

This boundary is a natural shadow area where the nose and skin meet.

If the incision line is placed precisely within this boundary,

the scar tends to blend naturally into the line over time.

On the other hand, if it even slightly goes outside this boundary,

a scar may remain visible even with the same surgery.

This is exactly why we pay special attention to designing the incision position before surgery.

Suturing is also important.

The philtrum area moves a lot when you smile or speak, so if only the surface is stitched,

tension is repeatedly placed on the suture line, which can make the scar wider or more prominent.

To reduce this problem, the subcutaneous tissue must be secured step by step before carefully finishing the surface.

Even if it takes a little more time,

our principle is not to skip this process.

We are not saying this to tell you to come to our clinic specifically.

However, we recommend first checking whether the clinic gives a detailed explanation of the incision position and suturing method during consultation.

Lateral philtrum reduction is a surgery that should begin with accurately identifying the cause,

and then proceed carefully through incision design and suturing.

Before deciding, we recommend first receiving a thorough explanation.

If you have any questions,

please feel free to contact Globi Plastic Surgery Clinic.

We will provide guidance that is genuinely helpful.

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located 1 minute on foot from Exit 4 of Apgujeong Station on Subway Line 3,

on the 5th and 6th floors of EGI Building, 843 Nonhyeon-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul.

Consultation reservations are available on both weekdays and weekends.

All consultations are conducted privately, one-on-one.

For detailed inquiries and reservations, please leave a message through the channel below.

Lateral philtrum reduction