Levator labii superioris is a thin muscle that inserts into both skin and the upper lip proper. It is the muscle most responsible for the snarl expression when contracted unilaterally.
| Origin | Infraorbital margin of the maxilla — just below the infraorbital foramen |
|---|---|
| Insertion | Skin and muscle of the upper lip — lateral to the philtrum |
| Nerve Supply | Facial nerve — buccal branches (VII) |
| Blood Supply | Superior labial artery |
| Actions | Elevates and everts the upper lip — the primary upper lip elevator; Deepens the nasolabial fold |
|---|
LLS is the muscle inadvertently weakened in midface botulinum injection for nasolabial fold reduction. The infraorbital nerve exits just above its origin — the infraorbital nerve block is placed at the LLS origin level. In midface lift surgery, LLS is repositioned superiorly to correct midface descent.
Visible as the upper lip elevator during snarling or expressing disgust.
Temporary upper lip droop from LLS motor fibre involvement when infraorbital nerve block solution diffuses superiorly, resolving as local anaesthetic wears off.
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