Research has now suggested that fuller lips may have as much to do with a woman's perceived age as the appearance of wrinkles. "The volume in your lips starts to decline as early as in the mid-30s," a New Beauty article quoted on Wed. Aug. 3rd, 2011. The question was asked, "How can you create a natural-looking, full lip without overdoing it?"

Many women are worried about getting "duck lips". We’ve all seen it. The woman with the lips that walk through the door before she does! No one wants this look! But, if the injector is experienced, natural lips can be created by adding filler in increments. The biggest problem at times, is knowing what your limits are. Some people with very small lips think they are going to be able to inflate their lips to the size of Angelina Jolie....but let's be realistic. If you have small lips, you can only enhance them to a degree. It’s not just about filling the lips. One needs to consider the entire face and understand the balance of the lips as it pertains to the rest of the face. Not all injectors have an artistic eye or understand the anatomy of the face. Finding an experienced, artistically talented injector is key. You’ll need to choose wisely.

Lips may be injected by fillers like Juvéderm or Restylane or with one’s own fat after a liposuction procedure. Radiesse, though considered a temporary filler is not recommended for lips. "I steer my patients away from permanent fillers," explains Boise, Idaho, Cosmetic Physician Brian Kerr, MD, "the patient may not like the outcome…and then they are stuck." Also, as we age our faces change as do our lips and what might be a good lip augmentation for us in our 30s may not looks so great in our 50s. Injecting the lips with temporary fillers like Restylane or Juvéderm can create beautiful full plump lips. When using Hylauronic fillers, one can reverse the process by dissolving the filler if the outcome isn't perfect.

Some clients need structure for their lips. This can often be achieved by injecting in the vermillion border around the mouth. This gives the lips a boundary. Smudged lipstick becomes a thing of the past when lips are defined. Others need fullness which can be obtained by injecting directly into the lip itself.

Downturned corners of mouth are another concern. Age and gravity can pull the corners down, giving the person a sad or angry appearance. By filling the corners of the mouth with Juvéderm or Restylane, the corners can be lifted like springs under a mattress. Support is needed to lift the corners of the mouth to a more pleasant appearance.

For those who complain about wrinkles around the mouth, sometimes a filler is not enough. Injecting BOTOX (which reduces wrinkles by relaxing the muscles) around the mouth can smooth out the wrinkles and also add some fullness to the lip, giving it a much more youthful look. If BOTOX is injected into the cupid’s bow, the lips will become slightly inverted or show more of the lip underneath. Sometimes injecting BOTOX alone is enough to give the lips the fullness they need without any filler at all.