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Consider aesthetic, physiognomic goals of Asian patients during central lip lift

A majority of Asian patients who underwent a central lip lift did so to improve their facial physiognomy, according to a recent retrospective review from researchers from South Korea.

“If a plastic surgeon plans to perform aesthetic surgery on an Asian patient, especially involving the philtrum or upper lip, the surgeon should consider not only the aesthetic perspective but also the physiognomic perspective,” Dong Eun Lee, MD, and colleagues wrote in their study. “Regardless of the aesthetic outcome, the surgeon should strive to maximize patient satisfaction.”

Lee and colleagues retrospectively reviewed the charts of 202 patients and evaluated them based on their age, the cause of a long philtrum, postoperative satisfaction, and the reason for pursuing treatment, according to the abstract.

They found that, in Western patients, a long philtrum was associated with aging, and patients between 40 years and 59 years old underwent the procedure for upper lip rejuvenation. In Asian patients, however, a long philtrum was typically called by bone retraction after orthognathic surgery or an orthodontic procedure.  Younger patients (20 years to 39 years old) underwent the procedure to correct an elongated philtrum due to two-jaw surgery. More than half of patients (52%) underwent the procedure to improve their facial physiognomy.

“The surgeon must strive to understand the cultural differences that exist between Westerners and Asians seeking treatment, especially the objective of the treatment and the level of change desired by the patient,” Lee and colleagues wrote. – by Jeff Craven

Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.