An important attractiveness index is the chin to philtrum ratio, which can be seen when viewing the face from the front. The philtrum is the area between the nose and border of the upper lip, and the chin is measured from the border of the lower lip to its lowest point.
The chin to philtrum ratio quantifies the length of the lower third of the face. It is measured by dividing the height of the chin by the height of the philtrum. An ideal chin to philtrum ratio is 2.0-2.25. The perfect ratio is around 2.25 for men and 2.0 for women.
The chin gives balance to the lower third of the face. It makes up one of the golden ratios of the human face (1 to 1.6).
The chin, when compared to the philtrum and lips, make up a golden ratio.
But the chin should be twice as long as the philtrum. Deviating from this ratio leads to an imbalance of the face. This ratio is vital for a first impression. As the maxilla sinks due to gravity, the philtrum lengthens with age. The length of the philtrum tells you whether you have a babyface or an old face. Usually, if you have a long philtrum, your face looks older than your actual age.
The table below illustrates that the philtrum’s height varies depending on both age and gender. By the age of 90, the philtrum may recede by as much as 5 and 6 mm for females and males, respectively.
Philtrum Length and Age
Zanki et al. (2002) used measured nose length, nasal protrusion, and philtrum length from birth to 97 years. Their data for nose length illustrated that the nose continues to grow as we age. Incidentally, it also supported the observation that older people tend to have broad noses.
| AGE | 8 | 12 | 20 | 30 | 40 | 50 | 60 | 70 | 80 | 90 |
| Female (mm) | 15.5 | 16.2 | 16.2 | 16.7 | 17.5 | 18 | 19 | 19.5 | 20 | 21 |
| Male (mm) | 15.5 | 17 | 18 | 18.5 | 20 | 20.5 | 21 | 21.2 | 21.5 | 21.6 |
As you age, the philtrum length increases, and the chin to philtrum ratio decreases.
Mewing and the Philtrum
The cause of the philtrum lengthening with age is normal craniofacial dystrophy. However, proper oral posture and chewing hard foods can counterbalance the aging process. Mewing includes keeping your tongue on the roof of your mouth 24/7 with teeth lightly touching. This acts to counteract the natural force of gravity and prevents you from getting worse-looking with age. What’s more, when taken seriously, the normal craniofacial dystrophy process that comes with age can be reversed, and many people find that they look younger.
You can see that this gentleman’s philtrum improved with just one year of mewing, and he was 29 when he started. It works for adults too, provided they take it very seriously.
Over time, mewing will decrease the length of the philtrum and increase the chin to philtrum ratio. It will prevent the maxilla from sinking with age and increasing the philtrum length.
Surgeries for Chin to Philtrum Ratio
Some people are curious about philtrum surgery. It can sound attractive because the length of the philtrum can affect the length of a whole face. But changing just the philtrum can cause a mismatch of facial sections. If you would like to address the chin to the philtrum ratio, you may have to consider both components separately.
Chin
A chin helps create balance in the face. It can be augmented or diminished with dermal fillers, bone-shaving surgery, implants, etc. If you wish to undergo a surgical procedure, make sure to discuss with your surgeon that your primary concern is to enhance the chin to the philtrum ratio.
Philtrum
The vertical strip between the upper lip and the nose is known as the philtrum. The ideal philtrum length is around 1.3 to 1.5 cm for males and 1.1 to 1.3 cm for females. Some people with a long philtrum consider undergoing a philtrum reduction surgery to shorten it.
Plastic surgeons need to have a full understanding of each patient’s facial proportions. When reducing the length of the philtrum, the right size for the incision must depend on the facial balance. Also, a little miscalculation can distort the nostril, alar (cartilage in the nose), and the lip’s shape. But a competent board-certified plastic surgeon will make sure that your results are harmonious.
The size of the philtrum directly affects the appearance of the chin. Our article how to shorten the philtrum presented different ways to reduce the philtrum from mewing to surgical options.
Lips
Lips are also a factor in achieving a better chin to the philtrum ratio. Exercises as simple as smiling can prevent you from having a long philtrum caused by skin aging. These exercises stretch facial muscles. Pout your lip as much as you can.
| NON-SURGICAL UPPER LIP SHORTENING | |||
| NAME OF PROCEDURE | HOW IS IT DONE | SIDE-EFFECTS / COMPLICATIONS | COST |
| Lip Lift Using Ultrasound | ultrasound energy tightens the skin without surgery or injections- in other words- heat is used to denature collagen, so it shrinks | minor skin shrinkage may appear in the upper lip and mouth areas. | $500 to $4,000 |
| SURGICAL UPPER LIP SHORTENING | |||
| NAME OF PROCEDURE | HOW IS IT DONE | SIDE-EFFECTS / COMPLICATIONS | COST |
| Lip Cupping Method | uses a negative pressure technique combined with lip-shaper technology to provide a natural-looking shortened philtrum | the upper lip may appear thicker, and your Cupid’s bow raises | $34.99 to $120 |
| Lip Lift Surgery (Bull’s Horn) | the surgeon makes incisions or cuts under your nose | Scarring and asymmetry | $3,000 |
| Lip Advancement Surgery | removing a small amount of skin near the curve of the Cupid’s bow will shorten the philtrum | Scarring and asymmetry | $2,000 |
| The Cupid’s Bow Surgery | the surgeon will make three V-shaped incisions or cut inside the upper lip, then stitch it together. Next, the surgeon will push the flaps forward. It creates a more defined cupid’s bow and a fuller upper lip. | No visible scarring | $1,000 to $2,000 |
| Lip Lift Suspension | A suture or thread will tighten and anchor the tissue in place. This adjustment elevates the upper lip | No visible scarring | $2,000 to $3,000 |
Here is a photo of before and after the result of lip lift suspension:
One thing to remember about all these procedures is that the philtrum can always go back to its original shape and length. If the shape of our face goes through changes as we age, the philtrum does the same process. Thus, it is important to stay on top of your mewing regimen.
The modern standard of beauty includes having a proportioned face. Well-arranged facial features help make up an attractive face, and the chin to philtrum ratio contributes to this balance. If you’re unsatisfied with your ratio, there are a wide variety of options you can choose from. It’s worth fixing.
