A New Approach to Philtrum Reduction Surgery: Litting Philtrum Reduction Designed Harmoniously for Your Own Youthful Proportions

Hello.

I am Director Lee Seong-joon of the Seoul branch of Liting Plastic Surgery.

What time leaves on the face

is not just wrinkles.

Rather than visible changes,

subtle differences in facial proportions can first

change the impression.

The slight changes in the distance

between the nose and lips, and extending to the chin,

can make the overall balance of the face

look different.

That is why, as the year comes to an end,

a natural trend sometimes emerges toward

reorganizing the “center of the face.”

In particular, because the central area of the face

can look significantly different even with small changes,

it naturally draws attention.

Rather than changing something,

it can be seen as an attempt to refine the original image

into a more polished form.

Recently, rather than excessive change,

a trend of “self-care-oriented cosmetic surgery”

focused on creating a natural impression

has taken hold.

In this process, one field that has continued to

draw attention along with lifting is philtrum reduction surgery.

When the philtrum becomes longer, the face may look longer

or the lips may appear less three-dimensional.

Because these changes appear gradually over time,

there is a growing number of people who want to

restore their proportions.

Liting philtrum reduction surgery is not simply a method

for adjusting length,

but an approach that reorganizes the flow of the structure

connecting the center of the face

(nose - philtrum - lips - chin).

In other words, it can be understood as a process

of arranging the facial center line based on

proportional harmony.

Today, let’s take a closer look at this

philtrum reduction surgery.

Table of Contents🖊️
​1. The philtrum as a section: the central structure of facial impression​2. The principles behind philtrum reduction surgery​3. Liting philtrum reduction surgery: micro-incision design​4. Recovery and care after surgery​5. The naturalness pursued by philtrum reduction surgery​

1. The philtrum as a section: the central structure of facial impression

The philtrum is the distance

from under the nose

to the upper lip.

This section is small, but it is a key factor

that influences facial impression.

If this distance becomes longer,

the face may look flatter

or give the impression of being saggy,

and conversely, if it is too short,

it can create the impression that the lips are protruding.

Therefore, the philtrum is not simply a matter of “length,”

but an important structural element that determines

facial proportion, three-dimensionality,

and the naturalness of expression.

When I design philtrum reduction surgery,

I look at the following four elements together.

1️⃣ The position and tilt of the nose tip

2️⃣ The length and curve of the philtrum

3️⃣ The thickness and shape of the lips

4️⃣ The length and angle of the chin tip

When these four elements are harmoniously

connected, the center of the face gains a sense of stability.

In other words, philtrum reduction surgery can be understood

as a process of “proportionally rearranging”

the central structure of the face.

Understanding the structural meaning of the philtrum

is important for deciding how to approach it surgically.

2. The principles behind philtrum reduction surgery

※ The patients above are clients who had surgery at Liting, and we inform you that the photos are used with consent.

※ The results in the above cases may differ depending on each individual’s condition,

and the recovery process and degree of change may vary from person to person.

Philtrum reduction surgery is an operation that redefines

the midface proportion by reducing the distance

between the nose and the upper lip.

The core of the surgery is not simple excision,

but precise micro-design that takes facial proportion

and three-dimensionality into account.

| Main surgical principles |

📌 The incision line is designed along the line

under the nose and below the columella to reduce visibility.

📌 While pulling the philtrum upward,

the upper line of the lip is also lifted

to enhance three-dimensionality.

📌 The continuous proportions of the nose - lips - chin

are aligned to organize the flow of the center of the face.

The important point in this process is not

“how much the philtrum is shortened,”

but “what amount is a natural proportion.”

Therefore, before surgery, the frontal facial proportion,

the position of the bridge of the nose and jawline,

and the shape of the lips must all be considered

in a comprehensive design.

Based on these basic principles, the actual surgery

leads into a detailed incision and design process.

3. Liting philtrum reduction surgery: micro-incision design

Liting philtrum reduction surgery is an operation

based on the precision of incision placement and design.

The incision line of this surgery is made in a curved shape

along the underside of the columella,

and the range of the incision varies depending on

each individual’s philtrum length, nose shape,

and skin thickness.

Philtrum reduction surgery method

| Surgical stage structure |

Category	Incision range	Main adjustment area	Description
Stage 1 Liting philtrum reduction	Incision under the columella	Shortening the philtrum length, with upper lip lifting performed at the same time	Focused on basic proportion redesign
Stage 2 Liting philtrum reduction	Incision under the columella + lateral alar incision	Adjustment of the philtrum and alar width	Aimed at enhancing the three-dimensionality of the midface

This method places the incision site

along the natural shadow line of the columella,

so it is designed to reduce the burden of scar visibility

even in daily conversation or under lighting.

The incision area is adjusted according to

each person’s facial structure,

and the incision depth is also set differently

depending on skin thickness and muscle-layer structure.

The key point of this surgery is to control the tension

of both the muscle layer and the skin layer

at the same time in order to maintain natural expression.

Rather than an unconditional pull,

it is more important to preserve the natural flow

of the muscles when the lips move.

Once the surgery is structurally completed,

time is needed for the tissue to stabilize during recovery.

4. Recovery and care after surgery

After surgery, the recovery process may vary

depending on each person’s skin regeneration ability.

In the early stage, swelling or a feeling of tightness

may occur,

and this will gradually ease over time.

The incision area should be kept clean,

sun exposure should be avoided, and moisturizer should be used consistently.

Scar care products such as regenerative ointment

or silicone patches may be helpful,

but their use should follow the guidance of medical staff.

The process by which the tissue stabilizes and settles

as the surgical area recovers differs from person to person,

and overall recovery speed may vary

depending on skin thickness, blood flow,

lifestyle habits, and other factors.

After the recovery process passes,

the natural balance of proportion that

philtrum reduction surgery aims for becomes

more clearly noticeable.

5. The naturalness pursued by philtrum reduction surgery

In the end, philtrum reduction surgery can be seen as

a process of anatomically refining the many elements

that make up the facial impression,

in order to restore the original naturalness.

What matters more than a noticeable change is

comfortably restoring the “impression of me”

that has gradually changed over time.

Naturalness does not simply mean that the philtrum

looks shorter.

When the flow of the center line running through the

nose - philtrum - lips - chin,

the thickness and movement of the lips,

and the connection to the jawline are balanced together,

stability is finally created.

Therefore, when considering philtrum reduction surgery,

it is important to look at the overall composition of the

center of the face, not just the length.

Because each person has different structural features,

a design that respects the original proportions

leads to natural results.

Ultimately, naturalness does not come from the size of the surgery,

but from how precisely one designs the face’s unique proportions.

From this perspective, philtrum reduction surgery is not

a procedure to imitate someone else,

but a process of finding a face that looks like me.

I hope you become more naturally youthful

tomorrow than today,

and today more than yesterday.

This was Director Lee Seong-joon

of Seoul Liting Plastic Surgery.

This article is content intended to provide general information

about philtrum reduction surgery.

Whether to undergo the actual procedure should be decided

according to your individual health condition and purpose,

and please make your decision through consultation

with a medical professional.

If you would like more detailed information,

please check the YouTube link below

for more details.

https://youtube.com/shorts/MME3Pv-zsAw?si=FhlW4y7TOWM8nAE4