“Many cosmetic lifting treatments focus mainly on facial contours and Nasolabial Fold Correction, with few paying attention to the Philtrum area” — this was what Dr. Lee Eun-jee, director of DAN-A in Myeongdong, recently shared with an international medical aesthetics media outlet.《Medical Aesthetic News》Observations made during the interview. As one gets older,Longer PhiltrumIt’s actually a sign of aging that’s often overlooked. Direct answer: This phenomenon isn’t necessarily due to a change in the length of the Philtrum itself. More often, it’s a visual effect caused by thinner lips and reduced support from the tip of the nose. By combining HIFU, fillers, and botulinum toxin, it’s possible to effectively address this aging appearance of “looking longer.”
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A 2024 study published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology found that as people age, both the facial soft tissue and bone structure experience varying degrees of retraction and volume loss. These changes directly affect the visual proportions of the lower face and perioral area, including factors such as philtrum length, upper lip visibility, and nasal tip projection. This explains why a single treatment session often isn’t sufficient to address all concerns.
Longer Philtrum: A Sign of Aging Often Overlooked in Lift Procedures
In a recent interview, Director Lee Eun-jee mentioned that many people tend to completely overlook the Philtrum when it comes to talk about elasticity or lifting treatments. But in reality, as we age, the Philtrum gradually lengthens. Coupled with thinner lips and weaker support structures at the tip of the nose, this can make the Philtrum “seem” longer than it actually is, directly affecting the youthful appearance of the entire face.
Dr. Li emphasized that his treatment goal is not merely to shorten the length of the Philtrum itself, but rather to address the visual effect of it appearing longer. This approach differs significantly from traditional methods that focus solely on Nasolabial Fold Correction and the tightening of the Apple Zone, and it’s also the aspect of this topic that’s most prone to misunderstanding.
How to deal with it? Director Li’s three-step adjustment approach
Based on the interview, Dr. Lee Eun-jee outlined three treatment approaches for this issue:
- Ulthera Prime UltraSound (1.5mm TD probe)Lifting the elasticity of the Philtrum skin is the foundation of the entire treatment plan.
- Belotero Intense fillerStrengthenes the support of the Philtrum, nasolabial angles, and nose tip to address structural hollowing.
- Precise Botulinum Toxin InjectionIt adjusts the tension of the muscles responsible for upper lip protrusion and downward corner of mouth movement, reducing the dynamic factors that cause elongation of the Philtrum.
Dr. Li emphasized that these three items are not part of a fixed package—deciding which items to remove or add depends on the depth of the tissues detected by the 3D imaging scan, as well as each individual’s overall facial proportions.
Scan First, Then Needle Placement: Why Is DeepSEE Deep Imaging So Important?
The interview featured a case that perfectly illustrates this concept of precise treatment: a patient appeared to have a larger right side of the face to the naked eye, but after using Ulthera Prime’s DeepSEE deep imaging scan, it was discovered that the actual tissue depth was exactly the opposite of what was perceived visually. As a result, Dr. Li customized different TD probe depths, energy levels, and pulse counts for each side of the patient’s face.
This case perfectly illustrates that when dealing with such signs of aging, one shouldn’t make decisions based solely on visual inspection. Instead, it’s necessary to use imaging scans to determine the actual condition of the tissues, so as to achieve a symmetrical and proportionally balanced result. To learn more about the complete technical principles behind Ulthera Prime ultrasound therapy, you can refer to our previous articles:What is the US version of Ultherapy 2.0? A comprehensive guide to Ultherapy PRIME。
About this interview
Dr. Lee Eun-jee of DAN-A in Myeongdong recently received an exclusive interview from the international medical aesthetics media outlet Medical Aesthetic News, where she shared her unique insights gained from running her clinic in Myeongdong for 14 years. This interview also highlighted Dr. Lee’s commitment to precise, personalized treatment approaches—each treatment plan is developed based on actual imaging data rather than following a one-size-fits-all routine. If you’d like to learn more about the differences between various ultrasound treatments, feel free to check out:What is the Ulthrea?And alsoHow much does ultrasound treatment cost in the U.S.?。
During the in-person consultation at DAN-A in Myeongdong, doctors typically combine DeepSEE imaging from Ulthera Prime, Vectra 3D facial scanning analysis, along with basic measurements of skin elasticity and tissue thickness, to assess each client’s specific needs—rather than relying solely on visual inspection when formulating a treatment plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the Philtrum get longer as we age?
It is mainly related to reduced skin elasticity, thinner lips, and weakened support structures at the tip of the nose. These factors can make the Philtrum appear visually longer than it actually is, without necessarily indicating any substantial change in the actual length of the Philtrum tissue.
Do I really have to get ultrasound, fillers, and Botox all three?
Not necessarily. Director Lee Eun-jee emphasizes that everyone’s facial structure and tissue depth vary, so the specific treatments needed must be determined through a DeepSEE deep imaging scan—there’s no fixed package.
What are the differences between Ulthera Prime and traditional HIFU?
Equipped with DeepSEE deep imaging technology, Ulthera Prime allows clinicians to view the detailed depth structure of the skin and tissues in real time before treatment, enabling them to adjust energy levels and pulse counts based on specific areas—or even differences between the left and right sides of the face—for greater precision than relying solely on visual assessment.
Can philtrum fillers make the Philtrum look shorter and less natural?
Professional doctors carefully determine the injection sites and dosage based on facial proportions, aiming to strengthen the support at the nasolabial angle and tip of the nose and address structural indentations, rather than significantly altering the length of the Philtrum. This approach generally avoids creating any unnatural visual effects.
How can you tell if this kind of lifting treatment is right for you?
It’s recommended to schedule a in-person consultation first, where a doctor can use imaging scans to assess your skin elasticity, tissue depth, and overall facial proportions, so as to determine which treatment combination is best suited to your condition.