Small mouth
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Small lips are an anatomical feature characterized by a small volume of the lip vermilion (that is, the visible, red part of the lips) and often also by a relatively narrow lip contour. The size of the lips is primarily genetically determined and results from the structure of the facial soft tissues, the thickness of the skin, and the amount of subcutaneous tissue. In some people small lips are a natural feature of facial proportions, whereas in others they may result from aging processes, which involve a gradual loss of tissue volume, a decrease in collagen and elastin levels, and atrophy of the lip vermilion. Contemporary aesthetic dermatology and aesthetic medicine offer numerous methods for correcting lip shape, as well as makeup techniques that can visually alter their proportions.
Small lips – augmentation
Enlarging small lips is one of the most commonly performed procedures in aesthetic medicine. The aim of the procedures is to increase the volume of the vermilion of the lips, improve the proportions of the lips in relation to the entire face, and emphasize the natural lip contour. Contemporary lip shaping techniques focus not only on increasing their size but above all on preserving the harmony of facial features.
The most commonly used method is the injection of hyaluronic acid – a natural polysaccharide present in the extracellular matrix of the skin. This substance has the ability to bind large amounts of water, thereby increasing tissue volume and improving hydration. Preparations intended for lip shaping are characterized by appropriate elasticity and density, which allows precise shaping of the lip contour and increasing the volume of the vermilion of the lips.
In clinical practice, different injection techniques are used depending on lip anatomy and the desired effect. The most commonly used include:
- volume modeling – increasing lip fullness by injecting the product into the central part of the lips,
- lip contouring – emphasizing the vermilion border and improving contour definition,
- projection techniques – increasing forward projection of the lips, which improves their visibility in facial profile.
Effects of the procedure primarily include:
- increased volume of the vermilion of the lips,
- improved lip symmetry,
- emphasis of the Cupid’s bow (the characteristic indentation in the middle of the upper lip),
- improved hydration and elasticity of the tissues.
Results generally last from 6 to 12 months, because hyaluronic acid undergoes gradual biodegradation in the tissues.
Lip augmentation is used not only for people with naturally small lips. The procedure is also performed for changes related to the aging process. With age there is loss of the vermilion of the lips, a decrease in collagen content, and a reduction in soft tissue volume. This causes gradual narrowing of the lips and deterioration of their contour.
In some cases other methods are also used to improve the appearance of small lips, which do not directly increase lip volume but improve tissue tension and projection.
Such procedures include, among others:
- laser rejuvenation of the lip area – laser procedures cause controlled micro-injuries to the skin that stimulate regenerative processes and collagen production. As a result, skin firmness around the lips and visibility of the vermilion improve.
- skin-stimulating treatments – procedures using biostimulating preparations or technologies that stimulate fibroblasts to produce collagen and elastin. They improve skin firmness around the lips and tissue structure, which can optically increase lip volume.
- subtle lip contouring procedures – involving delicate emphasis of the vermilion border and improvement of lip proportions without significantly increasing their volume.
One of the methods used to correct small lips is the so-called lip flip. The procedure involves injecting a small amount of botulinum toxin into the orbicularis oris muscle. This causes partial relaxation of the muscle, so the upper lip gently flips outward and becomes more visible. As a result, the lips may appear fuller, even though their volume does not significantly increase.
This technique is particularly used in people whose upper lip hides during smiling or is very thin in the central part. The effect of the procedure usually lasts about 2–4 months, because the action of botulinum toxin is temporary.
In modern aesthetic medicine particular attention is paid to a natural effect of the procedure, which consists of preserving the proportions between the upper and lower lip and matching lip volume to the anatomy of the entire face. In clinical practice, among others, hyaluronic acid lip shaping treatments offered by Ambasady Urody are used, which allow subtle correction of lip shape and improvement of their proportions.
Small lips – how to apply makeup
Makeup can significantly change the visual proportions of the lips and make them appear larger and fuller. The optical enlargement of the lips is based primarily on properly emphasizing the lip contour and using the right color palette of cosmetics.
The most important makeup techniques used for small lips include:
1. Lip contouring
A lip liner can be used to subtly enlarge the outline of the lips. It is drawn just outside the natural lip line, especially in the central part of the lips. However, excessive enlargement of the contour should be avoided, as it creates an unnatural effect.
2. Brightening the central part of the lips
Applying a lighter shade of lipstick or lip gloss to the central part of the lips creates an optical enlargement effect thanks to the play of light.
3. Shiny cosmetic formulas
Glosses and lipsticks with a satin or glossy finish reflect light, which visually increases the volume of the lips.
4. Appropriate makeup shape
In the case of small lips, very dark lipsticks are often avoided because they visually reduce the surface area of the lips.
Well-executed lip makeup can significantly improve the proportions of the face, however the effect is purely optical and lasts only until the cosmetics are removed.
Small and narrow lips.
In colloquial language the terms small lips and narrow lips are often used interchangeably, however from the point of view of facial anatomy they denote slightly different features of lip structure. Distinguishing these concepts is important both in aesthetic dermatology and in aesthetic medicine, because it affects the choice of methods for correcting lip shape.
Small lips refer to the overall size of the lips, meaning a relatively small area of the vermilion and limited volume of soft tissues. Lips can be small both in terms of width (that is, the distance between the corners of the mouth) and lip thickness. Often this is a genetically determined feature resulting from the structure of the facial soft tissues.
By contrast, narrow lips primarily mean a small lip thickness in the vertical plane. In such cases the width of the mouth may be normal, but the vermilion is thin and not very visible. Narrow lips often occur in people with naturally thin lip skin or appear with the skin aging process, when there is a gradual loss of tissue volume.
The differences between these terms can be presented in a simplified form:
| Feature of lip structure | Small lips | Narrow lips |
|---|---|---|
| Size of the vermilion | small | often normal |
| Lip thickness | small | very small |
| Width of the lips | often small | usually normal |
| Cause | most often genetic factors | genetics or the aging process |
In clinical practice both lip types require a slightly different approach when planning aesthetic procedures. In the case of small lips the goal of therapy is usually to increase lip volume and improve the proportions of the entire perioral area relative to the face. Whereas with narrow lips procedures focus mainly on deepening the vermilion, enhancing the contour and improving lip projection.
Among the most commonly used correction methods are procedures of lip augmentation with hyaluronic acid, which allow increasing lip volume and improving their proportions, as well as procedures that improve skin tension around the mouth. In some cases the lip flip technique is also used, which by relaxing the orbicularis oris muscle causes a slight eversion of the upper lip and increases the visibility of the vermilion.
