When it comes to lips, many people have similar ideas as to what makes for an attractive lip appearance. But what makes for attractive lips? If you’ve ever considered lip enhancement, then you probably have an innate opinion of how you would like your lips to look, but it’s also a good idea to know what makes for good lip contour, fullness and shape. Let’s take a look at the “ideals” of lip appearance as well as some treatments that can help you feel confident and happy with your appearance.

The Cupid’s Bow

Cupid’s bow is one of the main shapes people talk about when referring to ideal lip contour. The term refers to the curvature of the upper lip, with a defined dip in the middle, resembling the double curve of a bow. This lip contour is named after the weapon of the Roman god Cupid, and is such a ubiquitous phrase that most people have at least heard of it, even if they don’t know exactly what it is.

Lip Contour

It’s amazing how much influence lip shape and contour can have on our perceptions of their aesthetics. Lips that lack definition—with very little curve or change in fullness are generally perceived to be less pleasing than those that follow particular patterns. Aside from the Cupid’s bow, beautiful lip contour involves definition and shape.

Lip Fullness

There is a fine line when it comes to full lips. Most people agree that full lips are a positive trait, but there is such a thing as going overboard. Overfilling the lips is a trap many patients fall into, which often leads to an overinflated appearance that can leave patients with duck-like or fish-like lips. Avoiding this look is something most people who seek lip augmentation are adamant about. Ideally, the lower lip should be about 60% of lip volume, and the upper lip about 40%.

Lip Proportions

A proportion used by artists for centuries, the Divine Proportion describes the ideal proportions for lip beauty and symmetry. In addition to ideal lip volume, the corners of the lips should reach out far enough that a line drawn straight up would line up directly with the pupils. Lips should also display symmetry so that both sides are as similar as possible.

Youthful Lips

Unfortunately, much of the beauty of lips comes with youth. Over time, repetitive movements and loss of collagen and volume take their toll on the fullness of the lips and cause small lines to form around the mouth, resulting in less definition and contour. Rejuvenation is often necessary in the aging lips to restore their beauty.

Lip Enhancement Options

The good news is that if you’re dissatisfied with some aspect of your lips’ aesthetics, whether that’s fullness, contour, youth, or symmetry, there are several options available to you for enhancement. The most popular lip treatment is with soft tissue fillers, an injectable treatment that lasts about six months each treatment. The procedure is simple, easy, and non-invasive, requires no downtime, and is extremely versatile, with the ability to make significant improvement in the lips. However, the temporary nature of the procedure is a drawback that some people would rather avoid. Fortunately, there are also several surgical options, which a skilled plastic surgeon should be able to offer. No matter what option you are interested in, you should always seek help from an expert.

Talk to a Facial Plastic Surgeon

There is a great deal of artistry involved with lip enhancement, and while many people elect for the simple procedure of lip injections, the treatment still takes expert-level skills to produce a good outcome. Only a board certified facial plastic surgeon has the expertise to give patients consistently good outcomes. Because many treatments are only temporary, it is also important to choose a doctor you trust and have rapport with.

Dr. Rami K.Batniji is an experienced, board certified facial plastic surgeon with expertise in facial rejuvenation. If you would like to discuss your options for lip enhancement with Dr. Batniji, call Batniji Facial Plastic Surgery in Newport Beach (949-650-8882) or Beverly Hills (310-467-2180), CA to schedule your consultation today.