All About Short Philtrums: What Causes Them & If They’re Attractive

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Plus, natural ways & cosmetic procedures to get a shorter philtrum

Co-authored by Edward S. Kwak, MD and Devin McSween

Last Updated: September 3, 2025 Fact Checked

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• What is a short philtrum?
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• How to Tell You Have One
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• Causes
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• Are they attractive?
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• Ways to Shorten a Philtrum
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• Can you lengthen a short philtrum?
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• Video

|Show more |Show less

Having a short philtrum simply means that the space between your nose and upper lip, called the philtrum, is shorter than average. If you’re not sure whether you have a short philtrum or not, keep reading. In this article, we’ll go over how to tell if you have a short philtrum, what causes a short philtrum, and whether it’s an attractive feature. If you want to shorten the appearance of your philtrum, we’ll provide some ways to do that, too, with help from makeup artists, dermatologists, and plastic surgeons. Keep reading to learn more!

What does it mean to have a short philtrum?

A short philtrum means that the groove between your nose and upper lip, called the philtrum, is shorter than average. It’s considered short if it’s under 12 mm (0.47 in) long for women and under 15 mm (0.59 in) long for men. A short philtrum is typically caused by genetics, and is seen as an attractive feature.

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Section 1 of 6:

What is a short philtrum?

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1. 
   It is a shorter than average distance between your nose and upper lip. The philtrum is the raised groove that runs between the base of your nose and the top of your upper lip. Having a short philtrum simply means the length of your philtrum is shorter than average. The average philtrum length is about 12 mm (0.47 in) for women and 15 mm (0.59 in) for men. So, a short philtrum is typically under 12 mm (0.47 in) long for women and under 15 mm (0.59 in) long for men.

   • Celebrities with a short philtrum: Irina Shayk, Penélope Cruz, Hoyeon Jung, Adut Akech, Angelina Jolie, Yara Shahidi, Charles Melton, Tom Hardy

   Meet the wikiHow Experts

   Yuka Arora is a makeup artist with over 5 years of experience.

   Kelly Chu is a professional makeup artist specializing in wedding and event makeup with over 5 years of experience.

   Aanand Geria, MD is a board-certified dermatologist, clinical instructor at Mt. Sinai, and owner of Geria Dermatology.

   Lisset Tresvant is a licensed esthetician and skincare expert with over 8 years of experience.

   Edward S. Kwak, MD is a board-certified plastic surgeon and owner of ESKMD Facial Plastic Surgery.
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Section 2 of 6:

How to Tell If You Have a Short Philtrum

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1. 
   Measure the length of your philtrum and chin. Use a measuring tape or ruler to measure the length of your philtrum as well as the length of your chin (base of your bottom lip to the tip of your chin). Then, compare the measurements.

   • You likely have a short philtrum if:
     • The length of your philtrum is less than half the length of your chin. An average length philtrum is about half the length of your chin.
     • The length of your philtrum is less than 12 mm (0.47 in) if you’re a woman and less than 15 mm (0.59 in) if you’re a man.
   • If your measurements don’t fit the standards for a short philtrum, you might have an average length or long philtrum:
     • An average length philtrum is about half the length of your chin, or around 12 mm (0.47 in) if you’re a woman and 15 mm (0.59 in) if you’re a man.
     • A long philtrum is more than half the length of your chin, or greater than 12 mm (0.47 in) if you’re a woman and greater than 15 mm (0.59 in) if you’re a man.

Section 3 of 6:

What causes a short philtrum?

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1. 
   A short philtrum is determined by genetics and some conditions. The length of your philtrum typically comes down to your DNA. If your parents or grandparents have a shorter-than-average philtrum, there’s a good chance you do, too. Additionally, people with certain medical conditions are more likely to have a short philtrum, such as Cohen syndrome, DiGeorge Syndrome, and Oral-facial-digital syndrome.

   • Additionally, people with Autism disorder often share physical features, with a shorter philtrum length being one of them.
   • Most conditions that can cause a short philtrum are diagnosed after birth or in early childhood.
   • However, if you believe your shorter philtrum (or your child’s) may be due to a condition and you don’t have a diagnosis, visit your doctor. They’ll do a physical exam and run tests (chromosomal studies, x-rays, etc.) to determine if you have a medical condition.
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Section 4 of 6:

Are short philtrums attractive?

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1. 
   Yes, lots of people consider short philtrums an attractive feature. Short philtrums are seen as a sign of beauty among many people. A shorter philtrum is associated with youthfulness, as the philtrum tends to lengthen as you age. So, having a shorter philtrum can help give you a fresh and vibrant appearance.

   • If you have a longer philtrum and want to make it appear shorter, we’ll go over some natural solutions and cosmetic treatments that can help give you this look in the section below. Just know that there’s nothing wrong with having a longer feature!

Section 5 of 6:

Ways to Shorten a Philtrum

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1. 
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   Use makeup to draw attention away from your philtrum. Applying makeup is a great way to define and highlight your favorite features while concealing ones you don’t want to draw attention to. So, try out these makeup tips to help your philtrum appear smaller!

   • Apply lip liner to make your lips look bigger. Overlining your lips just a tad reduces the length of your philtrum, helping it appear smaller. Makeup artist Yuka Arora says to slightly overline your Cupid’s bow and center of your bottom lip. Then, line the rest of your lips along the natural lip line.
   • Contour and highlight your lips so they look even fuller. To get even poutier lips (and a shorter philtrum), professional makeup artist Kelly Chu suggests applying a dark contour shade directly under your bottom lip. Then, apply a light concealer or shimmery highlight over your Cupid’s bow.
   • Define and brighten your eye area. Emphasizing your eyes can draw the eye upward, putting less focus on your philtrum. Use a brown or black eyeshadow to line your upper and lower lashline. Then, apply blush high up on your cheekbones and sweep it into your hairline.
2. 
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   Opt for a short hairstyle. Shorter hairstyles add volume to the top half of your face and naturally draw the eye upwards, which can help your philtrum look shorter. Try out a short cut, like a French bob or pixie, or simply put your longer hair into an updo, like a ponytail or messy bun.
3. 
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   Grow a mustache. If you can grow facial hair, a mustache is a great way to conceal your philtrum and help it look shorter. Go for any style that you like, like the classic chevron mustache or the quirky Dalí mustache.
4. 
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   Get lip filler or a lip flip for a temporary cosmetic procedure. Lip fillers and lip flips are both non-surgical procedures that make your lips look fuller, which can help your philtrum appear shorter.

   • During a lip filler procedure: The filler is injected into the Cupid’s bow and borders of your lips to add volume and fullness. The filler usually lasts for 12 to 18 months.
   • During a lip flip procedure: Botox is injected into the edges and corners of your lips. The Botox relaxes your lip muscles, causing your lip to “flip” upward and look fuller. The Botox typically lasts for 2 to 5 months.
   • According to board-certified dermatologist Aanand Geria, MD, the most common side effects of fillers and Botox are bruising.
   • Esthetician Lisset Tresvant says it’s very important that you go to a licensed nurse practitioner or dermatologist for your injections. She says, “They’ll help you choose the right filler and guide you on frequency and safety” so you get great results.
5. 
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   Get a lip lift for a permanent surgical procedure. A lip lift is a surgical procedure that permanently reduces the length of the philtrum and lifts the lips upward, helping them to appear fuller. Your plastic surgeon puts you under local anesthesia and then makes an incision along the base of your nose. They cut away excess skin, pull up the lips, and close the incision.

   • The surgery can leave a scar under your nose, though it typically fades to a very faint line.
   • When choosing a plastic surgeon, board-certified plastic surgeon Edward S. Kwak, MD says to “make sure the surgeon is board-certified and has an affiliation with a recognized hospital.” He advises that you “ask your surgeon how often she/he performs your planned procedure” and “ask to see examples of work performed by the surgeon.”
   • Prior to surgery, Dr. Kwak says to make sure you completely understand the procedure process, including the type of anesthesia used, the healing process, pre and post operative recommendations to ensure proper healing, and potential complications.
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Section 6 of 6:

Can you lengthen a short philtrum?

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1. 
   Cosmetic procedures and surgeries may help to lengthen a short philtrum. If you have a short philtrum, you might want to make it appear longer to help your face look more balanced. Cosmetic procedures like dermal fillers, Botox, and a rhinoplasty (nose job) can potentially add length to your philtrum. Just consult with a board-certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon about the look you want to achieve to see what your options are.

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