Oral Plastic Surgery (Lip and Mouth Aesthetics)

 

640. <Oral Plastic Surgery (Lip and Mouth Aesthetics)>

Oral plastic surgery refers to cosmetic and functional procedures involving the mouth, including the area from the philtrum below the nose, the lips, palate, and surrounding regions. Therefore, it is a significant field not only for aesthetic purposes but also for addressing lower facial proportions, emotional expression through the lips, image enhancement, and vital functions such as breathing, swallowing, and speaking.

The angle between the nose and the upper lip, called the nasolabial angle, affects whether the mouth appears protruded or retruded. This can be adjusted by nasal base augmentation using autologous cartilage grafting and nasolabial angle correction surgery to alter the mouth shape. When the philtrum is long, the midface appears elongated and the lower face relatively shortened, leading to an imbalance in facial proportions. This can be corrected through philtrum reduction surgery.

Aging can cause wrinkles around the lips due to frequent puckering and speaking. It is advisable to reduce expressions like pouting or habitual sucking motions. Marionette lines (drooping lines from the corners of the mouth) may result from overuse of the depressor anguli oris muscle and can reflect a tendency toward negative thinking. These lines can be improved through facelift surgery and fat grafting. If the lips are thin, lip augmentation using fillers can be performed; conversely, if the lips are too thick, lip reduction can be considered. However, because the lips are sensitive and play a role in sexual function, one must be especially cautious about undergoing surgery in this area, particularly in cases of plastic surgery addiction.

If the mouth is small, the corners of the mouth can be expanded through oral commissuroplasty. If it is large, the corners can be reduced. If the mouth corners droop, mouth corner lifting procedures can be performed, and asymmetry of the corners can be corrected through commissure asymmetry correction. However, since the corners of the mouth involve a complex interaction of muscles—zygomaticus major, levator anguli oris, depressor anguli oris, and buccinator—surgical decisions must be made with great care. A mouth corner raised on one side usually results from habitual unilateral use of the levator anguli oris muscle, often related to a smirking habit. In such cases, adopting a more positive mindset and consciously practicing lifting the opposite corner can help correct the asymmetry without surgery.

A protruded mouth may result from a habitual pushing of the teeth with the tongue. If the teeth are protruded, orthodontics is an option; if the alveolar bone is also protruded, either orthodontics or bimaxillary protrusion surgery may be required. If the gums are overly exposed when smiling (gummy smile), both orthognathic surgery and protrusion correction surgery may be performed simultaneously. In contrast, a retruded mouth may result from habits such as sucking the lips inward and can be addressed through orthodontics, nasal base augmentation, maxillary rotation surgery, or maxillary advancement surgery.

When the lips are cleft, surgical flaps are created and sutured, followed by multiple scar revision surgeries over time. Cleft lip can affect the growth of the maxillary bone, leading to misaligned teeth and occlusion issues. In cases of cleft palate, flaps are also created and sutured. Scarring in the palate can inhibit maxillary growth, requiring further treatments such as alveolar bone grafting, orthognathic surgery, nasal surgery, nasal reconstruction, and speech therapy. Such cases necessitate multidisciplinary collaboration among plastic surgeons, dentists, and speech therapists to develop a comprehensive and harmonious treatment plan.

Although various conditions like a short or long philtrum, thin or thick lips, small or large mouth, protruded or retruded mouth, drooping mouth corners, and perioral wrinkles may lead to oral plastic surgery, functional balance should always be prioritized. Surgery should only be considered after verifying if any imbalance truly exists. Additionally, one must examine emotional habits to see if emotional expressions are unconsciously manifesting through the mouth. Determining the true necessity of surgery should precede any decision.

[Oral plastic surgery is a technique aimed at improving the appearance of the facial entrance—the mouth—that is essential for eating, drinking, and breathing.]

– 640mm Growing Pine Tree –

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#LipSurgery
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#HolisticAesthetics
#MindBodyBalance
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#PositiveHabits