Thin, dry, and wrinkled lips

How Do Lips Change with Age?

Youthful lips feature well-defined borders, a full vermilion, and prominent philtral columns. With aging, the depletion of collagen and underlying subcutaneous fat causes the vermilion to thin and curl inward, the borders to blur, and vertical perioral lines to become increasingly visible (exacerbated by smoking or frequent use of drinking straws), while downturned oral commissures create a sad appearance. Naturally thin lips, on the other hand, are present from youth and are often more proportionate to the overall face than people realize.

Why Do Injected Lips Look "Fake"?

Three common mistakes include: injecting excessive volume into the vermilion, making the lips overly puffy and disproportionate to the face; using an overly firm product or placing it in the incorrect anatomical layer, resulting in stiffness and visible nodules; and effacing the natural vermilion border, creating a "duck lip" appearance. The natural upper-to-lower lip ratio in Asians is approximately 1:1 to 1:1.3; attempting to make the upper lip as large as or larger than the lower lip is the primary cause of an unnatural look.

What Can Lip Augmentation Achieve?

Soft, lip-specific HA dermal fillers help redefine the vermilion border, restore modest volume to the central portion, subtly lift the oral commissures, and provide hydration for a smoother lip surface. For vertical lip lines, micro-doses can be injected directly into the creases, or skin boosters may be used; for lips that curl inward, specific techniques can gently evert the lip border. The product gradually degrades over 6–12 months — because the lips are highly mobile, filler metabolizes faster here than in the cheeks.

What Determines a Natural Result?

A conservative volume of product (usually under 1 ml for the initial session), the selection of an appropriate soft HA filler tailored for the area, injection techniques that respect lip anatomy, and maintaining balance with the nose and chin. Physicians typically prefer an under-correction approach followed by a touch-up after 4 weeks once the swelling has fully resolved, rather than injecting a large volume in a single session.

How Does BonBoz Approach Thin, Dry, and Wrinkled Lips?

A cosmetic dermatologist evaluates the upper-to-lower lip ratio, vermilion border, philtrum, oral commissures, and dynamic lip movement during speech and smiling. Treatment plans prioritize minimal volume with soft HA fillers to define the borders, restore central volume, and elevate downturned corners; vertical lines are addressed using skin boosters or micro-aliquots. The physician directly performs the injection using a needle or cannula depending on the target zone, with hyaluronidase readily available. Longevity as well as potential risks—such as bruising, lumpiness, and vascular occlusion—are thoroughly explained in advance.

When Should Lip Injections Be AVOIDED?

Lip injections should not be performed in the presence of active lip inflammation, untreated severe chapping, active herpes simplex outbreaks, existing dermal fillers of unknown origin, during pregnancy or breastfeeding, or when expectations call for excessively augmented lips that disregard facial harmony. Naturally thin lips that are already in proportion with the facial structure often require no intervention.

References

• American Society for Dermatologic Surgery — Injectables: https://www.asds.net/skin-experts/skin-treatments/injectables
• Sarnoff DS, Gotkin RH. Six steps to the "perfect" lip. J Drugs Dermatol. 2012 — https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22986777/