You're Not Imagining It: Your Lips Really Do Change
By Gaby
If you've looked in the mirror lately and thought your lips look thinner or flatter than they used to, you may have wondered whether we're imagining it. We're not. It has been measured.
I started noticing it in my early 40s. I just didn't have the fullness I used to, especially in my upper lip. I love wearing makeup, and somewhere after 40 I realized I was making the lip liner work a lot harder than it used to.
What researchers found
In 2019, a study in the journal Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery used MRI scans of 200 adults to compare younger and older upper lips. In the older women, the upper lip was about 19% longer, up to about 41% thinner, and about 21% smaller in volume.
An earlier, smaller study, published in 2008 in the Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery, found the same lengthening and thinning, and photos showed less of the pink part of the upper lip. That study could not show a loss of volume. Its authors warned that simply adding volume can leave lips looking "blown up".
Where a lip flip fits
A lip flip doesn't add anything to your lips. A provider places a few small units of Botox, or a similar product, into the muscle around the mouth. The muscle relaxes, the upper lip rolls slightly outward, and more of the pink shows. Results typically last 6–8 weeks, and most people schedule touch-ups every 2–3 months. It's a small change, and that's the point.
About the word "vanity"
I don't mind the word. Liking what you see in the mirror isn't something to apologize for. And if you'd rather leave your lips exactly as they are, that's just as good a choice. Neither choice needs a defense. You don't have to give lip service to anyone, whichever way you decide to go.
If you're curious
You can browse providers near you, see estimated prices where they're listed, and ask each one how many units they use and what they charge per unit.
This article is for general information and isn't medical advice.
Sources
- Ramaut L, Tonnard P, Verpaele A, Verstraete K, Blondeel P. Aging of the Upper Lip: Part I: A Retrospective Analysis of Metric Changes in Soft Tissue on Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. 2019;143(2):440–446.
- Iblher N, Kloepper J, Penna V, Bartholomae JP, Stark GB. Changes in the aging upper lip: a photomorphometric and MRI-based study (on a quest to find the right rejuvenation approach). Journal of Plastic, Reconstructive & Aesthetic Surgery. 2008;61(10):1170–1176.