<Exclusive Video> How to Define Lip Vermillion Border using PDO Threads

Aesthetics of the Lips

Our mouth frames one-third of our face, and variations in the shape, size, volume and tone of our lips can have an effect on the overall appearance to the face. The general rule of thumb for an aesthetically pleasing lip is 1/3 of fullness in the upper lip to 2/3 in the lower lip, and if we were to take it a step further, the golden ratio for a pair of perfect lip is 1.4:1.6 for the height of the upper lip to that of the lower lip.

A pair of well-defined and full lips can effectively give one a more youthful, rejuvenated and attractive look. This concept is further popularised by celebrities such as the Kardashians as women and men alike increasingly seek lip augmentation procedures for fuller and plumper lips in recent years.

Anatomy of the Lips

Cupid’s Bow: Cupid's Bow has signified beauty since ancient times, and for many centuries, it has been thought that an ideal pair of lips should feature a defined and pronounced cupid’s bow supported by a rounded bulb in the centre of the upper lip. The bow should also match the upturned corners of the upper lip.

Oral Commissures: This is another important area of the lips in which defines the aesthetics of the lower third of our facial feature. The loss of fats in the corners of the lips and the tightening of muscles between the jawbone and lips as we age effectively causes marionette lines, or better known as laugh lines.

Philtral Columns: Part of a beautifully shaped lip lies in the definition and refinement of the Cupid’s Bow, and this is effectively shaped by the philtral columns. However, as we age, the philtral columns may gradually flatten and/or disappear; which in turn, causes the cupid’s bow to lose its definition, shape and contour.

Vermillion Borders: Long before aesthetic and cosmetic procedures were popular, and even today, lipsticks were and are still used to accent the vermillion borders so as to create a more defined and pronounced pair of lips to enhance one’s facial aesthetics - as not only do the vermillion borders have a prominence on the face, they also essentially shape the lips to give it its overall refined and contoured look.

Lip Augmentation - HA Fillers vs Threads

From cupid’s bow to oral commissures to philtral columns and vermillion boarders, the shape, size, volume and tone of our lips changes over time, and even more so significantly as we age. As the fields of aesthetic and cosmetic medicine continue to advance, the number of available options for aesthetic and cosmetic augmentation increases linearly.

HA Fillers: One of the most common solution for lip augmentation is Hyaluronic Acid (HA) fillers. While these fillers can effectively restore volume to help give patients a pair of fuller and plumper lips, a doctor may unintentionally overfill, thus resulting in what is better known as “duck lips”. Although hyaluronic acid fillers are reversible if overfilled, the use of these fillers may also potentially move around the injected area post-procedure, causing an unnatural look in patients.

PDO Threads: A non-surgical alternative to the use of HA fillers for lip augmentation is PDO threads. These PDO threads are specifically designed to enhance definition, add volume, and improve the youthful curves of the lips. Implanting PDO threads along the vermillion borders, allows the body to simulate collagen synthesis and production in the area while at the same time, naturally and subtly lift the lips for a more defined and refined contour as they gradually dissolve under the skin.

Furthermore, compared to HA fillers, PDO threads placed within the vermillion borders not only reduces the risk of swelling in the area, but also results in a longer lasting effect and a more natural appearance.

Lip lines can also be more easily corrected with PDO threads above the lips and the effect can last between 12-18 months on top of the visible instant results. Additionally, PDO threads will continue to improve the injected area over the next 3-4 months; building collagen in the area for a more natural and longer lasting result. There is also no risk of these threads potentially moving around the area as these sutures are designed to hold up drooping skin like a scaffold - almost like a semi-permeant lip-liner but with an extra bit of lift.

Lastly, PDO threads can also be used to define the philtral columns, as well as improve the distance between the tip of the nose to upper lip for a more youthful appearance. In the past, this could only be treated surgically with an invasive buffalo lift, but now, with the right techniques, a performing doctor can achieve and deliver amazing results in patients through non-surgical procedures without patients having to undergo the knife, thus potentially eliminating the need for general anaesthesia and any other complications that may be associated with surgical procedures.

This week, IFAAS faculty, Dr. Kwon demonstrates his exclusive techniques on How to Define Lip Vermillion Border using PDO Threads. This technique is also taught in our ever-popular Non-surgical Face Lifting Master Class globally:

Hope you have enjoyed the video and article! Stay tuned for our future posts on more techniques and information related to our advanced aesthetic and cosmetic training courses!

Resources:

https://aestheticsjournal.com/feature/lip-augmentation-1

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4645142/

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-6848191/Lip-threading-trend-tipped-fillers-nova-threads-work.html

Learn Exclusive Techniques on How to Define Lip Vermillion Border using PDO Threads with Dr. Kwon at our upcoming Hands-On

Aesthetic Training Course happening in Vancouver, Canada

IFAAS Hands-On Master Class

Korean Advanced Non-Surgical Face Lifting

June 29-30, 2019: Vancouver, Canada