Thick upper lip vermilion

What it means

Height of the vermilion of the upper lip in the midline more than 2 SD above the mean. Alternatively, an apparently increased height of the vermilion of the upper lip in the frontal view (subjective).

Normal values for the height of the vermilion are available [Farkas, 1981], but measurements are not commonly used. Most clinicians determine this feature subjectively or utilize the Likert scale of Astley and Clarren [2000] (Fig. 17). The vermilion of the upper lip varies considerably among ethnic groups, and the vermilion should be compared to a population of same ethnic background. The thickness of the upper lip vermilion is sensitive to the facial expression. On profile view, a thick vermilion is more convex than usual.

Rare diseases that can present with this8

The range is how often this sign appears among people diagnosed with each disease — it is not a probability of having any of them. Many of these signs also occur in common, non-rare conditions. A sign on this page is a conversation to have with a clinician, not a conclusion.

Part of the broader category

Also called: Full upper lip vermilion · Increased height of upper lip vermilion · Increased volume of upper lip · Increased volume of upper lip vermilion · Plump upper lip · Prominent upper lip · Prominent upper lip vermilion · Thick red part of the upper lip