BLOG

The discussion in the plastic surgeon’s office is heated. Most women argued that the most important element of a person’s face are the eyes. The rest were rooting for the lip. "Sorry to disappoint those who believe that nothing can compete with the charm of the eyes," explains Evangelos Keramidas laughing, plastic surgeon, MD, EBOPRAS, “but lips provide the face with symmetry". As one of the most conservative plastic surgeon when it comes to the lips, he applies the golden rule of maintaining a specific lip ratio. "For thin lips, the difference between the upper and lower lips is half a unit (0.5 on the upper and 1 on the lower), for sensual lips it is reduced to 0.75 for the upper and 1 for the lower, for full lips it is 1 to 1 and for deformed lips, the upper lip is larger than the lower one. The golden rule lies somewhere between sensual and full lips. Again, however, the correct size of the lips depends on what suits each person’s face. Those seeking plastic surgery on the lips and use Angelina Jolie’s as a role model, are mistaken. After many years of going over the top, for the first time, it is all about naturalness. This means, yes to volume but in moderation." Or more correctly, lips that are in harmony with your features.

Silicone, fat or injectable hyaluronic acid?

A few decades ago, silicone was number one when it came to cosmetic lip surgery. Despite providing permanent results, several years down the line, the results backfired. Many were left with extra large lips that the camera lenses of the paparazzi made them look deformed. Plus, they were also faced with the problem of having injected a material that experts could not predict its behavior. That is why plastic surgeons rarely recommend silicone as a solution, even in difficult cases. Conversely, over the past years, the use of fat from the body itself and injectable hyaluronic acid has proven to be much safer. They’re both absorbable materials, but fat needs many more applications yet to prove its value - mainly due to its stability. You can never be sure about how it will be absorbed once injected, which can create several problems. It is understood that it is a natural material that causes no known allergies and reactions, and many believe that it could replace hyaluronic acid at some point, but that still remains as a theory.

Volume or lining?

The lips are different from any of the other facial features for a particular reason. They are one of the most sensitive areas that are loaded with many nerve endings. It is important, therefore, to choose the right material at the right time. As a rule of thumb, you should be over the age of 18, although many girls would like fuller lips earlier on in their lives. "Thin lips, though, are the most difficult because they require filling and re-contouring of their lining," explains Evangelos Keramidas. "Usually, hyaluronic acid is injected at two points: the white line or the red part of the lips - depending on the result you want to achieve." Both in the first and second case, volume is provided, but gradually, avoiding the excesses of supersizing. "Today, it is more important to inject the line, and emphasize the curve of the lips as opposed to adding extra volume. This is why we place more focus on the shape of the lips (the dimples of the lips), the filter (the point below the nose) at the boundary between the white and red line. Once again, we can not stress enough the importance of symmetry.’’