Lip love: Should you rejuvenate or beautify?October 13, 2024
When it comes to facial beauty, is it really the lips that captivate us the most? Actually, no. Studies and surveys often reveal that the eyes take the crown. However, the lips do come in as a close second. Maintaining youthful, beautiful lips can significantly enhance the overall harmony of facial features.
Lips rejuvenation vs. beautification “As we age, our skin naturally loses collagen, fats, and hyaluronic acid, leading to thinner, wrinkled lips and decreased confidence,” explains Dr Chatbongkoch Khemacheewakul (pix) Dermatologist, Aesthetic Physician and Founder at Skin Dream Clinic and Chiangmai Skin Clinic in Chiangmai, Thailand. Presenting at the recent Aesthetic Medicine & Surgery Conference & Exhibition (AMSC), Dr Chatbongkoch discussed the importance of rejuvenating and beautifying Asian lips. Rejuvenation is crucial for aging lips. The process reverses signs such as volume loss, dehydration, thinning, drooping mouth corners, and the formation of marionette lines. To fully rejuvenate lips, treatment also focuses on the surrounding perioral region, restoring a youthful, full appearance. Beautification Lip beautification, on the other hand, isn't just for the aging. It's a popular procedure that enhances the natural features of lips for a more attractive look at any age. People seek this treatment to achieve celebrity-like lips, enhance thin lips by adding volume, correct asymmetry, and define lip contours. “Beauty trends for lips vary, and the ideal lip shape is about more than just achieving a ‘one-size-fits-all’ look,” Dr Chatbongkoch noted. “We need to consider individual desires and preferences.” Essential anatomy of the lips Understanding the anatomy of the lips is crucial for effective treatments. The superior and inferior labial arteries lie within the red portion of the lips. According to a 2020 study, 95% of these arteries are located in the submucosal and intramuscular layers, while only 5% reside in the subcutaneous layer. This is the recommended injection layer for lip fillers. Achieving facial harmony requires assessing ideal face and lip proportions. The “golden ratio” often used in beauty guidelines should serve as a reference rather than a strict rule, particularly since perceptions of beauty vary based on ethnicity, country, and age group. For Asians, the ideal lip ratio is typically 1:1 or 1:1.25, which differs from Western ideals of 1:1.6. Combination treatment modalities When it comes to lip rejuvenation and beautification, treatments can be approached with either a single or combination therapy. For perioral skin rejuvenation, ablative and non-ablative lasers, such as Pico and QS/Long pulsed NdYAG, are effective. Energy-based devices like micro-focused ultrasound (MFU-V), HIFU, or RF can also be used, along with botulinum toxin type A to improve the overall look. For lip rejuvenation or beautification, dermal fillers like cross-linked hyaluronic acid (HA) or biostimulators like polynucleotide (PN)+HA are commonly used. MFU-V technology heats tissue to around 65 degrees, triggering collagen contraction and promoting neocollagenesis. “A transducer is applied 1.5 mm around the lips to stimulate collagen production. We use about 50 to 100 lines, followed by dermal filler injections,” says Dr Chatbongkoch. “There are four main steps: contouring the vermilion border, volumizing and projecting the vermilion body, uplifting the oral curvature, and supporting the perioral structure.” These techniques, applied through either a needle or cannula, result in a rejuvenated, fuller, and more youthful lip appearance. |
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