Would 1 syringe (1 ml) of lip filler in my upper lip look natural? (Photos)

Question

I went for a consultation and was reccommended I get a full syringe of filler in my upper lip only, but I am nervous to do so because I dont want an "Instagram baddie" look, I just want to appear like I have naturally full lips. I dislike how thin my upper lip is but I worry about it being overfilled, looking bigger than the bottom lip, or looking fake.

Nelson Lee Novick, MD · Answer

At least from the photos provided, it would appear that you might achieve greater harmony of upper and lower lips via the use of a low viscosity, cohesive, malleable HA filler injected along the vermilion border of the upper lip. Doing so would at once add more subtle volume to the lower lip (so no "duck lips" or "sausage lips"), and the "flip" obtained would also lead to the appearance of a more harmonious, diminished length of the philtral columns. The result: greater proportionality between the volumes of the lower and upper lips, a more feminine flip to the upper lip, and decreased appearance in length of the upper lip. And this can usually be accomplished with less than one syringe. Hope this helps and best of luck.

Steve Laverson, MD, FACS · Answer

Hard to recommend without more information.  Lip position relative to upper dentition is an important aesthetic feature but cannot be determined from submitted photos because lips closed together in all of them.  If upper lip filler eliminates upper incisor show may be aesthetically detrimental.  Shape of lips is nice and you’ll be trading off some of your very natural beauty for upper lip volume with filler.  If the filler is hyaluronic acid it is totally reversible so not to worry if you don’t like it.  Can also trial what filler will look like with a skilled injection of sterile saline (salt water), lasts a few hours but you’ll know whether or not you want the extra volume all in your upper lip and the change in relationship with your lower lip and other features.

Yasemin Aydinli, MD · Answer

Your instinct to be cautious is a healthy one, and I want to reassure you: a natural result is determined far less by the amount of filler than by where and how it is placed, and whether the injector respects your natural lip proportions. The aesthetic ideal for most faces is an upper-to-lower lip ratio of roughly 1:1.3 to 1:1.6 &mdash; the upper lip should remain slightly smaller than the lower. The "Instagram baddie" look you want to avoid happens when this ratio is inverted or when filler is pushed into the white roll, creating a ledge or "duck" projection.
One full syringe (1 ml) in the upper lip alone is a moderate amount, and for a naturally thin upper lip it can be appropriate &mdash; but it does not need to be placed in one session. A very reasonable strategy is to start with 0.5 ml in the upper lip, focusing on subtle eversion of the pink lip (placing the product in the body of the lip rather than the border), let it settle for two to four weeks, and then assess together whether you want the remaining 0.5 ml. Hyaluronic acid fillers are also reversible with hyaluronidase, which is a useful safety net, though with good planning you should never need it.
When you choose your injector, ask to see before-and-after photos of patients with similar baseline lips, and say exactly what you told us here: natural fullness, no overfilled look, upper lip must not exceed the lower. A skilled injector will welcome that brief. Done this way, lip filler on a thin upper lip is one of the most satisfying small treatments we perform.

Viva Eve Dermatology - New York · Answer

Hi there!
This is a great question! For natural-appearing, "undetectable" injectables, and considering you have never had lip filler before, I would counsel on going slow in the first visit. This means not by syringe or quantity, but by what your anatomy can tolerate! 
Lip filler, like many other aesthetic treatments, is a highly customizable treatment that requires technique and prescision, especially considering you are looking for balance and not augmentation. Your upper lip is thin, and we want to slowly stretch the tissue rather than load it up all at once. Although it is very possible you may end up having a full syringe placed to achieve your result, it is best to take it slower in that initial visit, allow 6+ weeks of healing time, and then reconsider adding more. As always, it is best to vet your injector, look at their work, and choose someone who can see your vision in your mind!
Best,Eleni SgantzosBoard-Certified Dermatology PA

Would 1 syringe (1 ml) of lip filler in my upper lip look natural? (Photos)

Answers (4)

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