Lips Filler

What are lip fillers?

Dermal fillers are gel-like substances that are FDA-approved for injections beneath the skin, and a select group of these fillers, which have the appropriate level of flexibility for the dynamic mouth area, are used to augment the lips. Lip fillers are in the same class of dermal fillers that is used to restore lost skin volume and treat other signs of aging. Board certified facial cosmetic surgeons and other qualified medical injectors can use these dermal filler products to help you achieve a more plump, defined, or symmetrical lip appearance.

Hyaluronic acid (HA) fillers are commonly used to enhance lips; many patients are glad to learn that hyaluronic acid is a natural, supportive substance that is already present in the body. HA filler formulas bind to water, improving not just the volume of the lips but also their hydration. Lip filler results can last between 6 and 18 months; fillers tend to dissolve more quickly in the lips.

Hyaluronic acid-based dermal filler formulas used in the lips include (but are not limited to):

• Juvéderm®, Juvéderm Volbella, Juvéderm Ultra, Juvéderm Ultra Plus
• Restylane®, Restylane Kysse, Restylane Silk
• Revanesse® Versa, Revanesse® Lips
• Belotero Balance® (with or without lidocaine)
• RHA® 2, RHA 3, and RHA Redensity™

What are the elements of lip architecture?

Analyzing your lips’ architecture is a critical first step in lip augmentation with fillers. These anatomical aspects of your lips will influence where and how filler can be injected to achieve a result that is natural-looking and aesthetically pleasing. You can think of these as our guide to achieving “your lips, but better.”

• Upper lip (above the lips) — The area between the nose and lips
• Philtrum columns — Two parallel columns that connect the top lip to the nose area
• Cupid’s bow — The horizontal bow shape at the center of the upper lip, which may be more pronounced in some patients
• Vermilion lip — The visibly pigmented lip surface
• Vermilion border — The red margin of the lip
• Wet-dry border — The border between your lips and the inside of your mouth; this divides dry lips from moist inner lip tissues
• Oral commissure — The corners of the lips, which may sink and create a deficit at the corners of your mouth.