Refining the nose and lip profile

J-Curl Rhinoplasty

An acute angle between the nose and upper lipA profile with a long-looking philtrum

Precise nasolabial angle & ACR correction

Eases the protruding-mouth impression

C-curl philtrum line design

A finished profile

What is J-Curl Rhinoplasty?

A recessed area between the nose and upper lip can make the nose look lower and the expression less relaxed. J-Curl surgery adjusts this connection to refine the lip profile. For a protruding mouth appearance, it can help the profile look more balanced.

Location of the Nasolabial angle — Nasolabial angle(Nasolabial angle)
The angle where the columella meets the upper lip
Common reference ranges are approximately 90–95° for men and 95–105° for women

KOWON's surgical approach

Nasolabial angle correction can be performed without an artificial implant, depending on the individual case.

Nasolabial angle correction

ACR (columella–philtrum)

Nasal tip angle planning

C-shaped philtrum contour

kowon plastic surgery

Why consider J-Curl at KOWON?

Using a simulation to preview the planned profileDiscuss and plan the design

An incision inside the noseNo external incision scar

For a protruding lip profileA more balanced appearance

Without an artificial implantNatural-looking correction

REAL RESULT

Before & After

Refining a protruding mouth appearanceBefore & After

Nasolabial angle correctionBefore & After

Outcomes and side effects vary from person to person. Bleeding, infection, swelling and asymmetry may occur. Please consult our medical team before making a decision.

How the surgery proceeds

STEP 01

What is the ACR?

The ACR (alar–columellar relationship) describes how the alae and the columella sit in relation to each other. When the columella is short or set back, the philtrum looks longer and the mouth relatively more protruding. Designing the ACR as part of rhinoplasty changes not only the shape of the nose but the impression of the mouth area.

STEP 02

Designing the J-curl

Raising the height of the tip and the nasolabial angle and bringing the columella line forward makes the line running from the tip through the philtrum to the lip trace a gentle J. The philtrum appears shorter and the lips set further back, so the profile improves without protrusion surgery.

STEP 03

Who this suits

It can be an alternative for people whose mouth reads as protruding but for whom two-jaw or anterior segmental surgery feels like too much; whose philtrum looks long; whose tip is low and nasolabial angle acute; or whose gums or mouth stand out when smiling. Where the protrusion is strongly skeletal, we discuss the appropriate approach at consultation.

STEP 04

Managing the change after surgery

Daily life resumes 1–2 weeks after the splint comes off, and the nasolabial angle and columella line settle naturally over the 1–3 months in which swelling subsides. We follow the course with your habits of expression in mind.

KOWON Youtube

Nasolabial angle · J-curl — 244 videos in which Dr. Kim explains the technique and real cases

Video 50 · Nasolabial angle · Nasal tip (Korean original)

All Nasolabial angle · J-curl videos

Frequently asked questions

If the protrusion is a matter of impression rather than pronounced skeletal projection of the gums and teeth, correcting the nasolabial angle and ACR can improve it substantially. Where the skeletal cause is significant, we advise on the appropriate treatment after an accurate diagnosis.

Around 95–105 degrees for women and 90–95 degrees for men is generally considered natural. The right angle nevertheless depends on overall facial proportion, the mouth area and the forehead line, so an individual design matters.

Incisions are made inside the nose and at an inconspicuous point on the columella, and the scar becomes barely visible with time. We also explain the suturing and care that keep scarring to a minimum.

Go deeper with columns by the doctor

162 columns on Nasolabial angle · J-curl — the questions that come up most in the consulting room, written up by the doctor himself.

See all columns

Related procedures

Drooping Tip Correction

Drooping Tip Correction (tip muscle correction)

A tip that stays put, even when you smile

Implant-free Rhinoplasty

No implant — your own tissue alone

Consultation

A protruding-mouth look, solved through rhinoplasty

Dr. Kim Hyung-taek takes personal responsibility from diagnosis through surgery and aftercare.

Book a 1:1 consultation

Outcomes and side effects vary from person to person. Bleeding, infection, swelling and asymmetry may occur. Please consult our medical team before making a decision.