Lips come in all shapes and sizes, but not everyone is satisfied with the way their lips look. Instead of turning to lip implants for additional lip volume, some patients prefer lip filler treatments because they enhance the natural shapes and contours of the lips.
So how can lip filler injections change the shape of a patient’s lips? When dermal fillers are strategically injected into certain parts of the lips, providers can add volume to that area and reshape the lips according to the patient’s desired results. Some of the most popular lip filler shapes include classic, full, thin outer, double lobe, triple lobe upper, shelf, sausage, and gull wing, among others.
Adjusting Lip Filler Shapes With Dermal Fillers
Dermal fillers are some of the most versatile injectables that help patients enhance their appearance without the need for cosmetic surgery – which is why it’s unsurprising to hear that about 3.4 million soft tissue filler treatments were performed in the country alone. Filler injections are injected in different body parts, but lip fillers are one of the most popular uses of this injectable.
How Lip Fillers Work
Lip fillers are the type of dermal filler injections specifically made for enhancing volume on the lips or erasing wrinkles in the delicate area around the mouth. They come in many different types but all of them essentially work in the same way – they instantly add volume to the lips and boost natural collagen production in the treated area before they’re broken down by the body.
Lip injections are carefully injected into specific areas of the lips to achieve the patient’s desired results. They’re also molded into particular shapes as close to what the patient wants as possible. Aside from the specific type of lip filler used in the procedure, the effects of lip fillers also depend on the amount of filler used, where it’s placed, and if there’s additional molding needed.
What the Best Fillers for Lips Are
Hyaluronic acid lip fillers are the most popular option today because they’re safe and easy to use. They also come in different formulations and thicknesses that injectors need to alter the patient’s lip shape and provide better structure to the treatment area.
In some cases, skilled injectors may also use more than one filler type to get more precise results. For example, a thicker hyaluronic acid filler might be needed on the center of the lips, but a thinner filler works better for balancing their corners.
Regardless of the filler type used for the non-surgical lip enhancement, it’s crucial to remember that no lip filler injection is permanent. Most of them last for a couple of months up to a few years before needing additional treatments.
Can I Use Lip Filler to Enhance the Shape of Natural Lips?
Lip fillers are the best option for patients who simply want to subtly enhance the shape of their natural lips. These injections add slight volume to the lips so they don’t look overdone and obvious. Providers may inject more lip fillers to achieve more dramatic results, but some patients are advised to get lip implants instead if they still want more lip volume.
Can Lip Fillers Shape Thinning Lips Due to Aging?
Aging is one of the many possible reasons why the lips start thinning. As people get older, the body loses more collagen and elastin than it can make. These two proteins found in the body help keep the skin smooth and the lips plump.
Lip fillers are the perfect solution for thinning lips caused by aging. It doesn’t require plastic surgery and the results are noticeable almost immediately. The material used in the filler injection also boosts the body’s natural collagen production, leading to long-lasting results even after the filler has been broken down by the body.
8 Different Lip Filler Shapes Popular for Women
Natural lips come in different shapes and sizes, but lip filler injections are effective in enhancing their innate shape. Here are some of the most common lip filler shapes to help you decide which one looks and feels best for you:
1) Classic
This lip filler shape subtly enhances the patient’s natural lip shape by adding slight volume, which makes it the popular choice for anyone who lost lip thickness due to age. The lip filler injection is administered into the planes of the lips so that it carries more volume and looks fuller than usual.
2) Full
Like the classic lip shape, the full shape is also another popular look that many patients love because of its natural appearance. It has more volume than the classic shape, but it’s also perfect for anyone who wants to maintain the natural shape of their lips and enhance their size at the same time.
3) Thin Outer
This particular lip shape is about keeping the outer corners of the lips thin and maximizing the lip volume towards the center. The thin outer lip shape is typically recommended to patients with naturally thin and narrow lips who want to create the illusion of more lip width and volume.
4) Double Lobe
Double-lobe lip shapes are voluminous but they still preserve the slight crease at the center of the lips. Depending on the patient’s preference and natural lip shape, the filler may be applied to their top lip, bottom lip, or both. Double-lobe lip filler injections are best for patients who want a more dramatic and pouty lip shape.
5) Triple Lobe Upper
The triple lobe upper lip shape involves filling all tubercles of the upper lip. Injecting fillers in each of them leads to dramatically voluminous lips. This shape is best for patients who want to achieve a fuller pout and a more obvious cupid bow-like appearance.
6) Shelf
The shelf lip shape enhances and adds volume to the patient’s upper lip so it protrudes slightly over the lower lip. This particular shape is recommended for patients with small mouths and thin lips to create the illusion of bigger lips.
7) Gull Wing
The gull-wing lip shape is more dramatically angular than the other lip shapes because it emphasizes the cupid’s bow of the top lip. It got its name because of its similarities to the M-shaped wings of seagulls as they fly. This lip shape is also recommended for patients with thin lips who want to make it seem like they have a larger mouth.
8) Sausage
Instead of emphasizing the cupid’s bow at the top lip, the sausage lip shape is about creating a full and elongated appearance of the lips. The lip fillers are injected in both the upper and lower lips to increase volume in both areas.
What Shape to Ask for When Getting Lip Fillers
Since lip fillers only cause subtle changes, patients are often advised to focus on enhancing the natural shape of their lips instead of forcing new shapes they don’t have the right features for. During the initial consultation with the dermal filler provider, the injector first examines the patient’s lip shape and other facial features before recommending the best lip enhancement plan for them.
Knowing about your own lip anatomy allows you to better understand which areas are best emphasized to enhance your overall appearance. If you’re only looking to restore volume to thinning lips instead of completely reshaping them, don’t forget to bring a photo of when you were younger to help the provider achieve more accurate results.
Enhance Your Natural Lip Shape With Fillers at Ethos Spa
Dermal fillers are a great way to enhance or reshape the lips. It doesn’t require plastic surgery and it works well for most patients, especially for those who only want subtle and natural-looking results.
If you’re also considering a lip filler treatment to reshape your lips, our experts at Ethos Spa are always happy to help patients achieve their desired results. We recommend lip filler shapes depending on your natural lip shape so you can get the best natural-looking pout. Call us today to book a consultation.