Doctors who are new to fillers usually start by learning about the chin,

 

and then the lips.

Perhaps because of this, some people tend to think corner-of-the-mouth fillers are simple.

 

However, the lips are actually one of the most technically demanding areas compared to other regions,

and achieving a natural result requires the practitioner’s sense of aesthetics more than anything else.

 

Key Points for Natural Lip Fillers

Among the doctors I’ve observed, many would simply inject 2–3 points into the lower lip and about 2 points into the upper lip, then finish the procedure.

 

However, since each patient has different facial proportions, a one-size-fits-all approach can result in a very unnatural appearance.

Source: oculofacialarts

 

Therefore, when it comes to design, it’s essential to tailor the approach to each individual, based on factors such as:

1. Presence of asymmetry in lip volume

2. Position of the mouth corners and dimples

3. Volume and proportion between the upper and lower lips

4. Lip line (Cupid’s bow)

5. Length of the philtrum (mid-face to lower-face ratio)

6. Lip projection or protrusion

 

For patients with a long philtrum or, conversely, a long chin, the key technique is not to simply add lip volume,

 

but rather to flip the upper lip slightly outward to create the visual effect of a shorter philtrum or chin.

 

Lip Filler Before-and-After Case Examples

24.01.15 case

 

This patient came in concerned about a thin lower lip and a philtrum that appeared long relative to the width of the mouth, as shown in the photo. We also performed corner-of-the-mouth filler in combination.

 

Compared to the left photo taken before the procedure, can you see how the mouth corners are lifted and the philtrum appears shorter in the right photo taken after treatment?

 

While it's not surgery and we can't completely shorten the philtrum, it is possible to correct its appearance naturally with filler.

24.01.17 case

 

This patient was a foreign client who visited us requesting M-shaped and peanut-shaped lips — styles that are not very popular in Korea these days.

 

The Cupid’s bow line was also unclear in this case, so after the procedure, we defined the Cupid’s bow and enhanced the lips with filler to create the desired M-shape and peanut shape, as seen in the right-side photo.

24.01.17 case

 

This patient came in with concerns about asymmetrical and thin lips, as shown in the photo.

 

Since they did not wish to treat the mouth corners, we focused on defining only the Cupid’s bow on the upper lip, while correcting the asymmetry and volume of the lower lip. The result can be seen in the photo on the right.

24.01.17 case

 

This patient visited us with concerns about sagging mouth corners.

 

Given their older age, adding volume to both the upper and lower lips—as done in previous cases—could result in an unnatural appearance.

 

Therefore, in this case, we opted for corner-of-the-mouth filler along with a small amount of volume added to the lower lip to improve the appearance of wrinkles.

24.01.17 case

 

Lastly, this patient originally had sufficient lip volume, so filler was not initially recommended. However, they visited the clinic requesting fuller lips with a better balance between the upper and lower lips.

 

There was also slight asymmetry, so we performed filler correction for the imbalance, enhanced the mouth corners, and increased both upper and lower lip volume to achieve a natural finish.

 

When I perform treatments, I focus on the following order of priorities:

• Lip proportions suited to the patient’s facial shape

• The length of the philtrum and the position of the mouth corners

• Lip line and volume

• Correction of asymmetry

 

It is also essential to shape the lips according to the patient’s gender and age.

 

Since overly plump lips are no longer in fashion, the most important thing is to keep the result natural and subtle.

 

Especially with male lip filler, it’s important not to treat it the same way as female lips.

 

Most male patients come in because their upper lip is thin.

 

So instead of emphasizing volume and curves in the lower lip — which creates a feminine look — we focus on enhancing the upper lip volume to create a more masculine appearance.

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Side Effects of Lip Filler

 

The lips are not considered a high-risk area, so serious complications are rare.

 

However, two crucial points to keep in mind during treatment are:

• Do not inject too much filler

• Inject at the appropriate depth

 

If injected too deeply, there’s a chance of touching an artery beneath the muscle. In some cases, this can cause extreme swelling and bruising, where the lips can turn dark immediately.

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Adverse Case from Another Clinic

 

As seen above, if bruising occurs, it may indicate not only irritation of the artery but also swelling that could lead to surrounding skin necrosis.

 

Immediate action is required.

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Another Adverse Case

 

On the other hand, if injected too shallowly, the filler can migrate to the white border of the lips, leading to sagging. Some patients visit us complaining of this outcome.

 

This is a side effect caused by injecting the wrong amount at the wrong layer beneath the mucosa. Over time, the filler can sag, and in such cases, it must be dissolved.

 

Therefore, to achieve natural results, it's important not to inject too much into shallow layers all at once.

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Summary in 3 Points

 

1. While the injection itself may be simple, techniques such as flipping the philtrum or lifting the corners of the mouth require experience.

2. For natural lip filler, the design must suit each patient’s unique facial structure.

3. Though not highly dangerous, injecting the correct amount at the correct depth is most important for aesthetic results.

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This concludes the information about lip filler procedures.

 

I hope this post is helpful to many of you.

 

If you have any questions, feel free to leave a like or comment — I’ll be happy to respond personally.

 

Thank you!

 

📍 Primi Clinic
3F, 52 Seongsuil-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul, South Korea

 

📍 Primi Clinic
서울특별시 성동구 성수일로 52 3F (Primi Clinic)