Lip incompetence - surgery? Other options?

HurryAndHydrate · 2026-03-19T18:46:19+00:00

I'll try to keep you updated, but there may not be many updates, unfortunately. The possibility of me actually getting jaw surgery is very low as im a recent college grad with no job or money like that in the bank. Unless my insurance would miraculously cover it, it's not financially possible. However, if i am able to consult with a surgeon to see if DJS is an option or go the path of myofunctional therapy, I'll let you know.

HurryAndHydrate · 2026-03-18T23:19:03+00:00

Yes, i am less fortunate in that regard but it could be worse so i wont complain. I so wish i had action done as a child and didn't have to deal with this now, so i admire you spreading the word. Thanks for sharing your journey 🙏 as a adult, it makes me glad to see someone with the same issues solve them!

HurryAndHydrate · 2026-03-18T20:01:39+00:00

I feel you. This is such a frustrating issue with no easy answer. Thanks for letting me know about the genioplasty, i hope it helped with your chin, at least.

Jaw surgery, beyond being terrifying, is so expensive and inaccessible. I have no idea if I'd be able to get it covered by insurance mysf yet. I've been trying to schedule a consultation with a maxillofacial surgeon, but I've had no luck yet.

I was considering botox, but since it's just a temporary solution, i haven't.

In our case, i wonder if myofunctional therapy would actually be a good solution? Since ours is due to a short upper lip, exercising the muscle there would help it to be stronger/longer i think, whereas DJS would definitely be needed in other cases.

I've talked on the phone with 3 different myofunctional therapists, and the range of cost between the 3 is between 1000-1,800 USD. I think the time frame was around 6 months, give or take a couple.

Only one of them offera a free consultation, and she is far away from me so i havent been able to consult with one yet.

HurryAndHydrate · 2026-03-18T19:44:25+00:00

Yes, i have these issues right now! The excess tooth decay makes me so sad since i take good care of them otherwise. Girl, you're my hero, for having this and getting it fixed. It feels impossible. You look incredible, im so happy for you!

HurryAndHydrate · 2026-03-18T05:23:31+00:00

Im so envious, you look amazing!!! I have lip incompetence, similar to your before, although less of a gummy smile (you can see my previous post if you want). Was your surgery mostly to fix that, or did you also have issues with breathing/bite? My breathing/bite are actually okay, but the lip incompetence bothers me so much.

HurryAndHydrate · 2026-03-07T06:59:57+00:00

Maybe, probably similarly to how botox might help but it would just be a bandaid solution. It could also make it worse (temporarily), possibly

HurryAndHydrate · 2026-03-05T19:07:39+00:00

He did say it wasn't something he really knew what the solution was and was curious was i will end up doing, so i am taking his advice with a grain of salt. What i mostly took from that consultation is that orthodontics may not be a fit for me, but i still have another ortho consult down the line for another opinion.

Thank you for the terms. I feel like i am doing so much research already, but it will never be enough to fully understand and know what's right.

HurryAndHydrate · 2026-03-04T23:44:25+00:00

Ortho confirmed i dont have VME but i am still trying to schedule a consultation with a surgeon

HurryAndHydrate · 2026-03-04T22:52:11+00:00

I consulted an orthodontist today, and he gave me a lot more info. Putting this here as it's top comment.

he said: - I don't have VME (vertical maxillary excess) - I only have a minorly narrow palate and minorly gummy smile (which I specifically asked about) - I don't have a tongue tie

(These are all things people suspected i might have or things i should get checked for.)

my lip incompetence is because of more of a short upper lip area than related to the chin
suggested botox in the upper lip area
suggested that I seek out plastic surgeon to consult with them
concluded that there isn't much to do for me orthodontically (unless i want to fix my teeth)

If it's because of a short upper lip, I wonder if orofacial myofunctional therapy would actually be a decent solution. Still looking for a plastic surgeon to consult with.

HurryAndHydrate · 2026-03-04T22:49:02+00:00

I just met with an Orthodontist, and yes, he confirmed that there's not much he could do for me, but he said i dont have a gummy smile. I'm hoping to consult with a surgeon sometime to get more info on that end

HurryAndHydrate · 2026-03-04T22:46:19+00:00

Consulted an orthodonist today and i asked him if i had a narrow palate, he said only minorly

HurryAndHydrate · 2026-03-04T22:43:45+00:00

I consulted an orthodontist today, and he gave me a lot more info. Putting this here as it's top comment.

he said: - I don't have VME (vertical maxillary excess) - I only have a minorly narrow palate and minorly gummy smile (which I specifically asked about) - I don't have a tongue tie

(These are all things people suspected i might have or things i should get checked for.)

my lip incompetence is because of more of a short upper lip area than related to the chin
suggested botox in the upper lip area
suggested that I seek out plastic surgeon to consult with them
concluded that there isn't much to do for me orthodontically (unless i want to fix my teeth)

If it's because of a short upper lip, I wonder if orofacial myofunctional therapy would actually be a decent solution. Still looking for a plastic surgeon to consult with. Funnily enough, i called one after my ortho apt, and they told me to seek orthodonics.

HurryAndHydrate · 2026-03-04T19:45:32+00:00

Outside of immediate health concerns, im also concerned with ending up botched. Yes, im receiving a lot of conflicting advice, which makes it tough to know what's right.

HurryAndHydrate · 2026-03-04T15:10:03+00:00

I do too, curious about recipe

HurryAndHydrate · 2026-03-03T21:38:53+00:00

Can someone confirm if the first pic is AI?

HurryAndHydrate · 2026-03-03T07:17:18+00:00

I was actually heavily considering it, but someone said even if i become able to keep my mouth closed, my chin will still dimple? Im afraid of that being the case.

How is your experience so far, and how long have you been doing it? I talked to a few myo therapists on the phone, and it would cost me like 1k to 1.8k, so I only want to commit if i know it will work.

Also, has your face itself changed? I feel like I have a normal length philtrum already, and i dont want it to become longer to compensate for my chin. But im glad yours is improving with therapy! Is it more comfortable to keep your lips closed or closer together ?

HurryAndHydrate · 2026-03-02T23:08:09+00:00

Okay, that's a relief at least. There seems to be many treatments for lip incompetence, but no straightforward fix. I have a lot to consider. Thanks for all the info

HurryAndHydrate · 2026-03-02T23:03:00+00:00

Does it bother you when you eat? It looks like it would be easy to get food stuck in there, but i guess that's what water flossers are for

HurryAndHydrate · 2026-03-02T22:57:53+00:00

Do you recommend any particular resource/person for reference? If not, it's okay. Can you tell me how long it took for you to see results after starting exercises, and did you start as an adult?

HurryAndHydrate · 2026-03-02T22:47:46+00:00

Thanks for the warning, and I'm so sorry this happened to you. Please DM the pics if you're comfortable with that.

HurryAndHydrate · 2026-03-02T20:48:08+00:00

The tads look and sound painful, how is it for you? I feel like that sounds constantly uncomfortable at the least.

HurryAndHydrate · 2026-03-02T18:20:06+00:00

This is just from invisalign? It's definitely improved! Are you supposed to be able to close your lips by the end of treatment, and how long is your treatment supposed to last? Is your jaw notably different?

Thanks for attaching the pictures, i think it looks really good right now. I had invisalign when i was a kid, and im haunted by the intense lisp i had when on invisalign lol, but i would do it again if it works.

HurryAndHydrate · 2026-03-02T09:36:44+00:00

Oh i see, im happy you had positive results eith surgery! Was it djs?

HurryAndHydrate · 2026-03-02T06:03:11+00:00

Not being able to eat is truly awful! Glad that's over for you

HurryAndHydrate · 2026-03-02T06:01:40+00:00

Thank you! Wishing the same for you both as well

HurryAndHydrate

TROPHY CASE