Full, rosy lips can greatly enhance one's appearance, but an unattractive lip shape naturally detracts from one's looks. But what constitutes the most beautiful lip shape? Take this self-assessment to see if your lips are considered beautiful.
What defines beautiful lips?
From an aesthetic perspective, beautiful lips feature an upper lip slightly thinner and subtly upturned compared to the lower lip. The corners of the mouth curve upward, the upper lip forms a bow shape, and the edge of the red lip is defined by the vermilion border. Lip thickness varies among individuals; generally, women have an upper lip thickness of 8mm and a lower lip thickness of 9mm, while men's lips are 1-1.5mm thicker than women's.The width of the mouth opening is typically measured using the vertical line of the pupil as the corner reference point.
What to do about thick lips?
For men, upper lip thickness exceeding 9mm and lower lip exceeding 10.5mm is considered thick; for women, upper lip over 8mm and lower lip over 9mm qualifies as thick lips. Thick lips are linked to genetics and ethnic characteristics, though some cases result from localized chronic infections.From an aesthetic perspective, thick lips often convey a "dull" or "unrefined" impression.
However, thick lips can be corrected through lip reduction surgery. This procedure is straightforward, minimally invasive, and yields effective, long-lasting results. Postoperative swelling is noticeable and typically subsides within 2-3 weeks.
The procedure involves making an incision at the junction between the vermilion border and mucosa of the upper and lower lips. Depending on lip thickness, a spindle-shaped or serrated section of oral mucosa and muscle is excised. The incision is then directly approximated and sutured to reduce lip fullness. Sutures are removed after 5-7 days. The incision scar is concealed inside the mouth, eliminating concerns about visible scarring.
What if lips are too thin?
If a woman's upper lip is significantly less than 8mm thick and the lower lip is less than 9mm, or if a man's upper lip is less than 9mm and the lower lip is less than 10.5mm, lip augmentation can be chosen to improve lip shape.
Compared to lip reduction surgery, lip augmentation is a minimally invasive procedure. It typically involves injecting hyaluronic acid or autologous fat to achieve fuller lips. Recovery is quick, with no disruption to daily life or work—patients can leave immediately after treatment, making it ideal for busy professionals.