Q&A

At Golden Diamant, we consider facial balance to be natural and the facial features to stand out when the ratio of philtrum length to chin length is 1:2, and we use this ratio as a guideline. However, 1:2 is merely a guideline, and it may be adjusted slightly depending on each individual's facial balance and lip shape. Whether the philtrum appears long cannot be determined by measurements alone; the height of the columella, the angle of the columella, the thickness of the upper lip, the degree of tooth show, and usual facial expression habits must also be evaluated together. Therefore, rather than simply shortening it unconditionally, we first examine the balance of the entire face.

Golden Diamant Philtrum Reduction is suitable for individuals without maxillary protrusion or mandibular retrusion, whose philtrum skin is longer than the length of the maxilla (cases where the philtrum skin appears to cover the upper teeth). It is well-suited for those with moderate lip thickness and no drooping mouth corners, and it is a method designed for those concerned about a long philtrum of 20mm or more. Conversely, if you have severely oily skin or a keloidal skin constitution, you should make the decision to undergo surgery after careful consideration.

Even if the philtrum appears long at rest, there are individuals whose upper lip lifts significantly when smiling, fully revealing the teeth and gums. Because philtrum reduction alters the position of the upper lip and can expose more of the upper front teeth, we evaluate the lips in a relaxed state, a gentle smiling state, and a wide smiling state together. We do not plan a substantial philtrum reduction solely because the lips normally appear thin. If you are preparing for a consultation, it is also helpful to bring unedited frontal photos along with photos of your natural smile.

Golden Diamant Philtrum Reduction completely separates the nasal tissue and philtrum tissue, which have different thicknesses and tissue characteristics, and then fixes and sutures using the philtrum tissue as an anchor point. Next, the muscle is shortened and sutured, and the tissue at the incision site is reinforced to prevent indentation, aiming to reduce post-operative scarring and nasal deformities such as alar flaring. A lateral upper lip lift is performed concurrently to minimize the effect of only the center of the lip being lifted, and the surgical plan is designed so that a natural philtral dimple (column) is formed in the process.

Lip-Line Philtrum Reduction is a method that excises the upper border of the upper lip in a seagull-wing shape to address both a long philtrum and a thin upper lip simultaneously, serving also as an upper Lip Augmentation. It can be performed for individuals with thin lips where the outer lip curls inward, cases where the central lip is lifted, those who are prone to scarring or sensitive to scars, or cases where nasal deformation is anticipated from a subnasal incision. Usually, because the center of the upper lip is thicker than the lateral sides, a larger excision amount is allocated to the outer sides to balance the lips.

When reducing the philtrum through a lip-line incision, if the central area is reduced significantly, the lip will enlarge by that corresponding amount, which may disrupt facial proportions. In addition, an angle may form along a previously gentle lip line, making the lip corners appear downturned, and the process of excising skin at the lip line and everting it outward can shift the inner mucosa, causing the lower lateral lip line to thicken. For this reason, the design is tailored to each individual's condition, and depending on the lip line and the desired extent of philtrum reduction, a Lip Corner Lift or lateral upper lip reduction (curtain-line reduction) may be performed concurrently or added. Results and recovery periods may vary depending on the individual.

Subnasal Philtrum Reduction is a method that reduces the philtrum by making an incision at the central area beneath the nose and lifting the center of the lip. It is recommended for those whose outer upper lip is not heavily curled inward and whose lip thickness is not excessively thin; because the columella lowers during surgery, it is suitable for individuals with a retracted columella. Conversely, it is not recommended as a primary choice if the columella is already sufficiently low, if there is significant upper front tooth show, or if the upper lip is already noticeably lifted. As this surgery involves incising and suturing a small area, the surgeon's skill and experience are essential.

Hybrid Philtrum Reduction is an approach planned in stages by combining two surgical methods: a central subnasal incision and a lateral lip lift. In step 1, a tailored incision is made in the central area beneath the nose to lift the center of the lip, achieving the primary philtrum reduction. In step 2, a Lateral Lip Lift is performed to complement the philtrum reduction while improving lip volume and sagging lips. Rather than merely reducing philtrum length, it is a surgery that addresses philtrum reduction, lip volume, and sagging step by step.

It is an effective method if you have a long philtrum combined with an inward-curled outer upper lip, as it can improve both concerns together. It is also well-suited for cases where the columella is retracted, the outer lips are curled inward, and the lip corners appear slightly upturned. However, because the columella may appear to descend, Golden Diamant philtrum reduction may be performed instead of a central subnasal incision when necessary. In addition, because a Lateral Lip Lift is included, the lip corners may relatively appear less upturned; in such cases, a Lip Corner Lift or non-surgical procedure may be combined, or vermilion border Lip Augmentation may be performed instead of a Lateral Lip Lift.

Tetra Scarless Philtrum Reduction is a method where, without cutting the external skin, an incision of approximately 5~7mm is made on the inner side of the columella inside both nostrils, and the philtrum tissue is secured from the inside to the periosteum. Conventional scarless philtrum reduction had limitations in that the visible change was relatively subtle and the fixation strength could weaken over time. To address this, Golden Diamant applies a technique that secures the tissue in a total of 4 layers. Because it holds the philtrum tissue across multiple layers, it is designed so that the fixation does not easily loosen even with repetitive lip movements when speaking or smiling. Patients can expect a change that makes the philtrum appear shorter while reducing the burden of external skin incisions. Additionally, depending on the individual, an effect where the central philtral groove appears slightly more defined may also be observed.

'Tetra Scarless' is the name of the surgical procedure. While the name alone might make it sound as though there are no visible scars at all, in reality, it is a method performed by making incisions inside both nostrils. By avoiding incisions on the external skin, it aims to reduce the burden of scarring, swelling, and aftercare. However, just as important as concealing scars is ensuring that the subnasal structure remains natural; therefore, we carefully monitor to ensure that the subnasal tissue does not flatten and that the nostrils do not appear larger. Side effects such as bleeding, swelling, and scarring may occur, and the occurrence of side effects and recovery timelines may vary depending on the individual.

Tetra Scarless Philtrum Reduction differs from incisional philtrum reduction in the extent of its effect and the resulting postoperative shape. Therefore, it is recommended for those who desire a slight change in philtrum length and a subtle lift of the upper lip; it is suitable if you want a natural reduction of about 2-3mm, and is not recommended if you wish to reduce it by 5mm or more. Although multi-layered composite suturing is used to reduce loosening caused by lip movement and thereby extend the duration of the results, during consultations we also inform patients that because it relies on thread fixation, it is not a procedure with permanent effects. Results and recovery time may vary depending on the individual.

It is difficult to say that either one is unconditionally better. A method designed to make scars less visible has the advantage of minimizing scar exposure, while a method involving a subnasal incision is well-suited for directly adjusting during surgery not only the philtrum length, but also upper lip lift, C-curl, tooth show, the angle of the mouth corners, and subnasal volume. Therefore, rather than focusing on the name of the surgical technique, we decide by first evaluating whether scar concealment or structural adjustment is what your face needs more.

The amount of reduction is not determined uniformly, but is decided according to facial proportions and the surgical technique. This is because excessively reducing the philtrum places heavy tension on the suture area, which can make scars more noticeable or cause the shape beneath the nose and the lips to look unnatural. Looking by surgical technique: Golden Diamant Philtrum Reduction is an approach for those concerned about a long philtrum of 20mm or more; Subnasal Philtrum Reduction is guided as a method capable of a reduction of up to 5~12mm; and Tetra Scarless Philtrum Reduction is recommended when a slight change in philtrum length is desired. Results and recovery time may vary depending on the individual.

They vary by surgical technique. The surgery time is 2 hours for Golden Diamant Philtrum Reduction, 1-2 hours each for Lip-Line Philtrum Reduction and Subnasal Philtrum Reduction, 2-3 hours for Hybrid Philtrum Reduction, and 30 minutes for Tetra Scarless Philtrum Reduction. For all five surgical techniques, anesthesia is administered as sleep anesthesia / local anesthesia. Which technique to apply is decided during the consultation based on your individual condition.

Based on Golden Diamant Philtrum Reduction (subnasal incision), swelling and pain may persist for at least several days up to about 1-2 weeks. It is important to apply cold compresses with an ice pack for a few days after surgery, switch to warm compresses after one week, minimize external irritation, and get plenty of rest. Drinking alcohol and smoking must be avoided for 2-3 weeks before and after surgery, and caution is also needed regarding secondhand smoke or nicotine patches. For 1-2 months after surgery, the surgical site may stretch and widen the scar, so please be careful with opening your mouth widely, laughing out loud, or engaging in strenuous strength training. Results and recovery periods may vary depending on the individual.

Because philtrum reduction involving an incision inevitably leaves a scar, the goal is to minimize scarring. The scar is not determined by the incision line position alone; it is influenced by how much the philtrum was reduced, where tension is applied, how much the surgical area pulls when moving the mouth, and whether tissue fixation is stable. Therefore, rather than focusing solely on the amount reduced, we place great importance on stably fixing the internal tissues so that the sutured area is not forcefully pulled, aiming to reduce scars through multi-layer suturing and periosteal fixation techniques. An individual's skin characteristics, post-operative care, and habits involving frequent movement also affect scarring. Results and recovery periods may vary depending on the individual.

After surgery, we provide a customized after-care kit for each surgical method and prescribe scar prevention medication and scar treatment gel. After the stitches are removed, medical-grade skin glue or taping is applied for one week to reduce tissue separation during the early regeneration phase, and antibiotic ointment or moisturizer is applied frequently to untaped areas to prevent drying. If deemed necessary by the medical staff, a scar management program including Fraxel laser is conducted up to 3 times starting from the 2nd week after surgery. If scarring persists afterward, we guide you through necessary options among more than 6 types of lasers, more than 4 types of medical treatments, and stem cell therapy.

Subnasal philtrum reduction is not a surgery that directly alters the nasal bones or nasal cartilages; however, because the incision and fixation are performed along the subnasal border and the soft tissue of the upper lip moves upward, the impression of the lower nose may appear different. Golden Diamant Philtrum Reduction aims to reduce alar flaring and nostril floor deformation by utilizing a surgical technique that prevents depression of the subnasal sill tissue. If you originally have wider alae or distinct asymmetry, even minor changes may feel more noticeable, and if you are planning rhinoplasty or have already had it, the surgical order and design must be determined individually. Results and recovery periods may vary depending on the individual.

When the philtrum is shortened, the center of the upper lip is elevated to some extent. However, if only the center is excessively lifted, the lip line can look sharply bent into an inverted 'V' shape, and the lips may appear unnaturally parted. In particular, lip shapes where the central portion of the lip is already elevated before surgery may experience more pronounced lifting like penguin lips after the procedure, so thorough consultation is required. At Golden Diamant, to prevent only the center from being lifted, we design the procedure so that the central 2/3 of the upper lip rises naturally, and we seek to reduce changes in lip slope by combining it with lateral upper lip lifting. Results and recovery periods may vary depending on the individual.

That can happen. When the philtrum is shortened, the center of the upper lip rises and tooth exposure increases, which changes the inclination of the upper lip line and can make the lip corners appear relatively drawn downward. Rather than indicating that the surgery went wrong, this is a structural change that can appear after philtrum reduction. Therefore, for those whose lip corners are already downturned before surgery or appear downturned with a neutral expression, we evaluate whether philtrum reduction alone is sufficient or whether auxiliary procedures such as a Lip Corner Lift, corner lip Botox, or fillers are necessary. Results and recovery periods may vary depending on the individual.

Yes, there are. Philtrum revision surgeries largely fall into two categories: cases where the philtrum length becomes similar to the pre-operative state over time, and cases where thin vertical scars or widened hypertrophic scars develop. The extent to which the philtrum lengthens again can vary depending on an individual's skin elasticity, soft tissue thickness, and the surgeon's technique. Revision surgery must take into account the extent of tissue damage, the size and type of the scar, and the condition and flexibility of the skin combined from the previous surgery, making a preservation-focused surgery that minimizes unnecessary muscle damage essential.

They can be planned together. Depending on the lip line and the desired extent of philtrum reduction, a Lip Corner Lift or upper lateral lip reduction (curtain line reduction) can be performed together or added. There are also techniques such as the Hybrid Philtrum Reduction that incorporate a Lateral Lip Lift. Another approach is to use AU Line lip filler to achieve the final balance and volume for an upper lip that has become plumper and elevated after philtrum reduction. Operating on the lips and philtrum separately can affect the overall facial proportions, so we view the philtrum and lips as a single aesthetic unit and design them together.