By Tanveer Janjua, MD
Lips play a pivotal role in enhancing facial beauty. Youthful lips, often seen during teenage years, are typically full, smooth, and well-defined, without wrinkles. However, understanding the anatomy of the lips can help us better appreciate their structure and what makes them appear youthful or aged.
The Anatomy of the Lips
• Vermilion: This is the area where lipstick is applied, the colored portion of the lips.
• Vermilion Border: The boundary where the lips meet the skin, which is commonly defined using a lip liner to enhance the lip’s shape.
• Philtrum: Located just below the nose, this is a central depression bordered by raised ridges known as the Philtral Ridges.
• Oral Commissure: The corners of the mouth where the upper and lower lips meet—a key area often overlooked in lip care and rejuvenation.
• Lip Skin: The skin extending upwards from the vermilion border of the upper lip towards the nose, and downwards from the lower lip towards the chin.
The Stigma of Lip Rejuvenation
Lip rejuvenation has garnered a negative reputation, largely due to exaggerated outcomes in the media. Overfilled lips, commonly referred to as “duck lips” or “sausage lips,” have become a poster child for bad aesthetic results, especially in Hollywood. These results are often the consequence of either practitioners lacking aesthetic sense or patients insisting on excessive fillers. However, it is important to note that these extreme cases are not the norm—most patients achieve subtle and beautiful outcomes with well-executed treatments.
The Modern Era of Lip Rejuvenation
The development of Hyaluronic Acid (HA) fillers revolutionized lip enhancement. Since hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance in the body, allergic reactions are almost non-existent. Additionally, HA fillers provide longer-lasting results, typically 1 to 2 years. Popular brands include Juvederm, Restylane, RHA, and Belotero.
My Personal Approach to Lip Rejuvenation
My approach to lip rejuvenation focuses on conservative, natural-looking enhancements. The primary goal is to restore lost volume while maintaining the lips’ natural appearance:
1. Vermilion Volume: The first step involves restoring volume to the vermilion, recreating a plump, youthful appearance.
2. Vermilion Border: Next, I redefine the vermilion border to create the subtle lip roll that gives lips their contour and shape.
3. Philtral Ridges: If necessary, I recreate the philtral ridges to restore structure to the upper lip.
4. Vertical Lip Lines: For patients with deep vertical lines, I target and fill these lines individually to smooth the surface.
5. Oral Commissures: If the corners of the mouth are turning downward, giving a sad or tired expression, I inject a small amount of filler into the commissures to lift them, creating a more pleasant, happy look.
Minimizing Pain During Lip Injections
Many patients who have had lip injections know the procedure can be uncomfortable. To minimize pain, I recommend using a numbing cream and applying ice before the treatment. For more extensive procedures, I may use local anesthesia to ensure a completely pain-free experience.
A Smile You’ll Love
In conclusion, lip rejuvenation can enhance your natural beauty, restore youthful volume, and create a balanced, harmonious look—without the exaggerated results often seen in the media. With a careful, artistic approach, the lips can be rejuvenated in a way that looks natural and leaves you smiling confidently.
Tanveer Janjua, MD
Janjua Facial Surgery
www.janjuafacialsurgery.com
(908) 470-2600
