Expert Insights from Dr. Seung-Wan Tak
Hello,
I’m Dr. Seung-Wan Tak, the chief surgeon at Dr. Tak Plastic Surgery in Gangnam, Seoul, specializing in lip surgery.
Recently, there has been a noticeable increase in patients coming for corner lip lift surgery combined with lateral philtrum reduction. Interestingly, after gaining attention on Japanese social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter), we now see a steady stream of Japanese patients visiting us daily.
However, during consultations, many patients seem to lack a complete understanding of corner lip lift surgery. They’re often unclear about the procedure, its effects, potential side effects, and aftercare.
So today, I’ll provide a comprehensive overview of the procedure, sharing real patient reviews and addressing common concerns like scars, side effects, and outcomes.
As a board-certified plastic surgeon with experience performing over 1,500 lip surgeries, I’ll walk you through everything step by step.
Quick Introduction: My Credentials
Before we get started, here is a brief look at my credentials:
- Board-certified plastic surgeon (certified by the Ministry of Health and Welfare)
- Graduate of Hallym University College of Medicine
- Trained at Nagasaki National University Plastic Surgery Department
- AOCMF Facial Research Workshop Participant
- Member of the Korean Society of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgeons
- Member of the Minimally Invasive Plastic Surgery Research Society
- Member of the Eye Plastic Surgery Research Society
- Member of the Fat Plastic Surgery Research Society
Case #1: MAKINO’s Corner Lip Lift and Lateral Philtrum Reduction Surgery
In March, MAKINO, a patient from Japan, visited us for surgery. Her main concern was her downturned mouth corners, which gave her a triangular mouth and a naturally melancholic appearance even when her face was at rest.
Interestingly, she also exhibited a common characteristic of patients with downturned mouth corners: thin upper lip edges, particularly on both sides of the lip. This often makes the mouth corners appear even more droopy.
After a detailed consultation (with an interpreter, as we do for all international patients), we decided to combine two procedures: corner lip lift surgery and lateral philtrum reduction.
Here's the difference between both surgeries:
Corner Lip Lift Surgery
This involves removing a small portion of skin and muscle near the mouth corners, lifting them to create a more youthful and pleasant expression.
Lateral Philtrum Reduction
For patients with thin upper lip edges, this procedure exposes more of the hidden lip by making a small incision on the lateral philtrum and rolling the lip outward.
The combination of these two surgeries is highly effective because their incision lines overlap, and the results complement each other perfectly.
Before and After: MAKINO’s Results
MAKINO underwent surgery on March 15th. A month later, she shared her post-surgery photos with us.
- Improvements: Her mouth corners were noticeably lifted, and the thin, hidden parts of her upper lip were beautifully enhanced.
- Effects: The procedure not only improved her smile but also eliminated her resting melancholy expression. Additionally, her midface appeared smaller, giving her a more youthful, balanced look.
- Scarring: While a faint scar was initially visible along the incision line, it softened after 2–3 months. With consistent scar management, such as laser treatments and self-massage, the scar could be easily concealed with light makeup after six months.
Since MAKINO couldn’t visit Korea frequently, we provided her with detailed instructions for scar care and recommended regular laser treatments in Japan. She was very satisfied with the results and has kept in touch to express her gratitude.
Case #2: AZUKI’s Corner Lip Lift and Lateral Philtrum Reduction Surgery
Our second patient, AZUKI, also traveled from Japan. Although her mouth corners appeared slightly lifted when smiling, they drooped when her face was at rest. Like MAKINO, her upper lip edges were thin, causing her midface to appear long and her expression to seem sad.
After consultation, AZUKI opted for the same combination of corner lip lift surgery and lateral philtrum reduction. As always, we meticulously designed the surgical plan to achieve the best results.
Before and After: AZUKI’s Results
One month post-surgery, her photos showed significant improvement:
- Her mouth corners were lifted, and her lips appeared fuller and more defined.
- The thin edges of her upper lip were corrected, eliminating the droopy, melancholic expression.
- Even at just one month post-surgery, her scars were already fading well, highlighting the importance of individual healing rates and proper scar care.
General Notes on Scarring
Scars from lip surgeries are typically located along the natural border between the lip and skin, making them less noticeable. With proper care—like laser treatments and regular massage—they can improve significantly over time.
Why Combine Corner Lip Lift and Lateral Philtrum Reduction?
These two procedures are often performed together because:
- They share similar incision sites, minimizing overall scarring.
- Combining them produces a more balanced and comprehensive enhancement.
Conclusion
Today, I’ve shared two real cases of patients who underwent corner lip lift surgery and lateral philtrum reduction, along with an overview of the procedures. I hope this has addressed many of your questions.
Contact Dr. Tak Plastic Surgery
Have more questions or want to schedule a consultation? Contact us today by DMing us on Instagram or call us at 02-534-1234.
Visit our clinic:
Dr. Tak Plastic Surgery
9th Floor, 423 Gangnam-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Thank you for reading, and I look forward to helping you achieve your aesthetic goals!
#CornerLipLift #PhiltrumReduction #LipEnhancement #NaturalSmile #LipSymmetry #LipContouring #YouthfulAppearance #FacialBalance #LipSurgeryExpert #LipAugmentation #DrTakPlasticSurgery #SeoulPlasticSurgery #ScarCareTips #KoreanPlasticSurgery #LipProcedureResults #LipLiftReview #CustomLipDesign #AestheticSurgery #CombinationLipSurgery #MelancholySmileCorrection
Expert Insights from Dr. Seung-Wan Tak
Hello,
I’m Dr. Seung-Wan Tak, the chief surgeon at Dr. Tak Plastic Surgery in Gangnam, Seoul, specializing in lip surgery.
Recently, there has been a noticeable increase in patients coming for corner lip lift surgery combined with lateral philtrum reduction. Interestingly, after gaining attention on Japanese social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter), we now see a steady stream of Japanese patients visiting us daily.
However, during consultations, many patients seem to lack a complete understanding of corner lip lift surgery. They’re often unclear about the procedure, its effects, potential side effects, and aftercare.
So today, I’ll provide a comprehensive overview of the procedure, sharing real patient reviews and addressing common concerns like scars, side effects, and outcomes.
As a board-certified plastic surgeon with experience performing over 1,500 lip surgeries, I’ll walk you through everything step by step.
Quick Introduction: My Credentials
Before we get started, here is a brief look at my credentials:
Case #1: MAKINO’s Corner Lip Lift and Lateral Philtrum Reduction Surgery
In March, MAKINO, a patient from Japan, visited us for surgery. Her main concern was her downturned mouth corners, which gave her a triangular mouth and a naturally melancholic appearance even when her face was at rest.
Interestingly, she also exhibited a common characteristic of patients with downturned mouth corners: thin upper lip edges, particularly on both sides of the lip. This often makes the mouth corners appear even more droopy.
After a detailed consultation (with an interpreter, as we do for all international patients), we decided to combine two procedures: corner lip lift surgery and lateral philtrum reduction.
Here's the difference between both surgeries:
Corner Lip Lift Surgery
This involves removing a small portion of skin and muscle near the mouth corners, lifting them to create a more youthful and pleasant expression.
Lateral Philtrum Reduction
For patients with thin upper lip edges, this procedure exposes more of the hidden lip by making a small incision on the lateral philtrum and rolling the lip outward.
The combination of these two surgeries is highly effective because their incision lines overlap, and the results complement each other perfectly.
Before and After: MAKINO’s Results
MAKINO underwent surgery on March 15th. A month later, she shared her post-surgery photos with us.
Since MAKINO couldn’t visit Korea frequently, we provided her with detailed instructions for scar care and recommended regular laser treatments in Japan. She was very satisfied with the results and has kept in touch to express her gratitude.
Case #2: AZUKI’s Corner Lip Lift and Lateral Philtrum Reduction Surgery
Our second patient, AZUKI, also traveled from Japan. Although her mouth corners appeared slightly lifted when smiling, they drooped when her face was at rest. Like MAKINO, her upper lip edges were thin, causing her midface to appear long and her expression to seem sad.
After consultation, AZUKI opted for the same combination of corner lip lift surgery and lateral philtrum reduction. As always, we meticulously designed the surgical plan to achieve the best results.
Before and After: AZUKI’s Results
One month post-surgery, her photos showed significant improvement:
General Notes on Scarring
Scars from lip surgeries are typically located along the natural border between the lip and skin, making them less noticeable. With proper care—like laser treatments and regular massage—they can improve significantly over time.
Why Combine Corner Lip Lift and Lateral Philtrum Reduction?
These two procedures are often performed together because:
Conclusion
Today, I’ve shared two real cases of patients who underwent corner lip lift surgery and lateral philtrum reduction, along with an overview of the procedures. I hope this has addressed many of your questions.
Contact Dr. Tak Plastic Surgery
Have more questions or want to schedule a consultation? Contact us today by DMing us on Instagram or call us at 02-534-1234.
Visit our clinic:
Dr. Tak Plastic Surgery
9th Floor, 423 Gangnam-daero, Seocho-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Thank you for reading, and I look forward to helping you achieve your aesthetic goals!
#CornerLipLift #PhiltrumReduction #LipEnhancement #NaturalSmile #LipSymmetry #LipContouring #YouthfulAppearance #FacialBalance #LipSurgeryExpert #LipAugmentation #DrTakPlasticSurgery #SeoulPlasticSurgery #ScarCareTips #KoreanPlasticSurgery #LipProcedureResults #LipLiftReview #CustomLipDesign #AestheticSurgery #CombinationLipSurgery #MelancholySmileCorrection