LAM FACIAL PLASTICS

Hello Dr. Lam,

What options do I have for correcting my sagging lower lip? It started with the bottom lip and has affected the upper lip too. My lips used to be about half the size, but have doubled over the last 10 years. Here is a recent photo:



I have asked on another website about this.

What do you think about the suggested tightening of the muscle sphincters and lower lip?

i removed the link, as i do not like external links except to one's own photographs. in general, what you have is not easy to fix. i am not a fan of surgical correction especially for someone young like you. i think it is not easy to fix. the way that i manage this condition is a combination of Botox to weaken the depressor anguli oris (DAO) that over time will become less and less strong to turn the corners up. also, i use fillers to manage the corners of the mouth. unfortunately, both interventions are both temporary (which is what i would recommend for someone young so that it ages well for you and naturally) and also incomplete. unfortunately, there is no easy answer to manage your situation with full satisfaction and that is also safe for the long haul.

Thanks for the quick reply, Dr. Lam. Can you describe the riskier approaches? I am considering all options. Can the lower lip be molded into a desired shape and then made stiffer to "hold" the shape, like with an injection? Also, what about the tightening of the lower lip that was suggested?

The way my bottom lip is shaped right now, I have to keep my mouth closed to avoid drooling. This makes it particularly difficult to fall asleep at night because I am worrying about the drooling, so can't keep my lips in a relaxed state.

you can transect (cut) the DAO muscle to turn the mouth up. i think the risk of cutting this nerve (more drooling, funny smile, problems with asymmetry) are simply not worth it, and i won't do it.
s.