8 Different Types Of Lip Filler Shapes
Lip fillers are a non-surgical means of enhancing the volume and shape of the lips. They have grown in popularity primarily because they are a quick and easy in-office procedure that requires minimal pain and little to no downtime. While most people think lip fillers deliver a single result (bigger lips), lip injections are actually highly customizable and can be used to create several possible lip filler shapes or improve lip symmetry. A skilled injector can enhance your lips via a specific shape that dramatically transforms the appearance of the mouth (and entire face).
Learn about the different types of lip filler shapes and how to decide which shape is best for you.
Lip Filler Shape Options
Natural lips come in all sizes and shapes. Lip augmentation primarily enhances this natural shape, but can also give you more volume or boost where you want it. The common lip filler shapes below can help you visualize what might look and feel best for you.
Classic: A classic, natural lip shape offers subtle, yet spectacular results. This popular style is ideal for those who have lost volume with age, as it subtly fills the planes of the lips that would naturally carry more volume.
Full: The full shape is another natural look, but with more volume than the classic. It’s best for those who want to keep the shape of their lips, but enhance the size.
Thin Outer: The thin outer keeps the outer corners of the lips thin, while maximizing volume toward the center. This shape works well for those with naturally thin, narrow lips who want to create the illusion of more volume and width.
Double Lobe Upper/Lower: A double lobe lip shape is voluminous, yet preserves the slight lip crease that runs down the center of the lip. This type of fill can be applied to either the top lip, bottom lip or both and offers a dramatic, pouty look.
Triple Lobe Upper: The triple lobe upper fills all three tubercles of the top lip. Filling each one results in a dramatically voluminous upper lip, but with three planes of volume versus two. This can result in more of a pouty, cupid-like shape.
Shelf: The shelf lip is ideal for those with thin lips and small mouths. With this shape, filler is used to enhance the top lip so that it slightly protrudes over the bottom lip like a shelf.
Gull Wing: The Gull Wing is the most dramatically angular of all the lip shapes. This shape emphasizes the points of the cupid’s bow at the center of the top lip. It gets its name from its similarity to a simple M-shaped drawing of gull wings. The gull wing is ideal for those with thin lips who would like to create the appearance of a larger mouth.
Sausage: The sausage lip shape increases the volume of both the top and bottom lip, creating a full, elongated appearance that minimizes the cupid’s bow.
Different Fillers Are Used for Different Shapes
Hyaluronic acid fillers are the safest and most popular on the market today. They come in a variety of thicknesses, which are used to alter the shape, structure or volume of the lips.
A skilled injector may recommend using more than one type of lip filler to achieve the precise results desired. For example, a thicker filler may be used to add volume to the center of the lips while a thinner filler is used to achieve balance by adding structure to the corners.
No lip filler is permanent. Hyaluronic acid fillers typically provide results that last for up to 1 year. Those seeking a large change in volume may need to have their lips refilled more often.
How Do You Know Which Lip Shape Is Best For You?
Lip filler cannot significantly change the shape of your lips. It’s best to focus on emphasizing the natural shape of your lips versus attempting to force something new.
When deciding which shape to focus on, consider the shape of your face and your other facial features. Learning about lip anatomy can also help you understand which areas can be emphasized.
It can be helpful to share photos with your injector and to look at before and after photos of their past patients. If you’re hoping to correct a recent loss of volume, bringing photos of your lips when you were younger can help your injector understand how to return your lips to their natural, more youthful shape.
Finally, choose an experienced, skilled injector and trust their recommendations. They’ll know what shape will work best with your face to give you the results you are hoping for.
Kelly Wala is a Registered Nurse with a Baccalaureate Degree of Science in Nursing from Eastern Kentucky University. As an Aesthetic Nurse Specialist for the past 10 years Kelly specialized in a full complement of non-surgical aesthetic services such as facial injectables, laser and light therapy, body contouring, and skin care. Kelly was the first in Texas to perform the Injectable Threadlift. Kelly is a Faculty trainer for Allergan Facial Aesthetics and Coolsculpting as well as a Faculty trainer for Galderma Facial Aesthetics and Sculptra. Aesthetics
Who new…. I thought lip fillers just make the lips larger. Never thought you could change the shape of your lips