Lip filler treatments have become hugely popular in recent years. With millions of treatments being performed worldwide, there has also been much development in the method of injection.
Several years ago, lip fillers did not pay much attention to technique or lip shape. The goal was often simply to enlarge the lips, without subtle adjustments or a thoughtful approach. This frequently led to the well-known "duck faces.
Nowadays, the focus is much more on shape, balance and natural look. Fortunately, then, there are now many sophisticated techniques that are a lot more subtle. But what techniques actually exist? And what are Russian lips? What is the right technique? Below we explain a number of known techniques and give tips on how you know which technique suits you.
The classic lip filler technique is characterized by leaving behind small droplets (microboluses) or horizontal dashes of filler. This gradually fills the lip and largely preserves its natural shape. Sometimes a minor correction is done by filling in blemishes or dents, but the emphasis is not on a complete shape change.
The classic technique is an excellent choice if you are going for a very natural look, preserving your own lip shape as much as possible.
The Russian lip filler technique is a much talked about method. This technique was made popular several years ago by Russian cosmetic doctors. Through social media, the results were shared en masse, making the style internationally famous. Russian lips are characterized by full, heart-shaped lips that are clearly defined from the front but protrude less in profile.
An important difference from the classic technique is the use of tenting. This involves placing filler in multiple vertical lines through a single injection point, creating a vertical elevator. Often the focus here is on the Cupido arch to create a pronounced heart shape. This technique is suitable for clients who are going for a more striking look, sometimes a bit "made up," emphasizing a full, heart-shaped lip.
One drawback that is unfortunately seen more often with the Russian technique is filler migration. Due to the method of injection and often larger amounts of filler, the filler can shift more easily. This sometimes leads to sagging pads in the upper lip, or a thickened edge above the upper lip. Read more about filler migration and how to prevent it in our previous blog.
Because within our clinic a natural result is paramount, we do not apply the original Russian technique. Does the Russian lip shape appeal to you, but you still want to keep that natural look without much risk of filler migration afterwards? Then perhaps the Flat Lip technique is the perfect option for you!
The name says it all: vertical injections are also used in the Flat Lip technique, but for a different purpose. This involves keeping the lips flat and natural, so that they do not protrude too far forward from the side profile. This prevents an unnatural bulge.
Unlike the Russian technique, Flat Lips does not involve tenting. The filler is distributed evenly with loose vertical punctures, focusing on filling "voids" for an even appearance. All filler stays within the lip red and nothing is placed in the lip rim. This eliminates any thickening above the lip rim and keeps the risk of migration very low.
This technique is often used within our clinic and is ideal for clients who want a subtle and natural result, without the "filler lips" look.
The Swedish lip technique is a relatively new filler technique originating in Scandinavia. This technique is all about a soft and natural result, focusing on shape rather than pure volume.
In this refined technique, voids and irregularities are filled, giving the lips a more symmetrical and balanced shape. An important feature of the Swedish lip technique is that a cannula is often used. This is a narrow, hollow tube with no sharp tip that is used to insert the filler into the lip. The major advantage of this is that only one injection point is needed, which often makes the healing process milder: less swelling and bruising occurs. A needle is also used to refine details, such as the cupid's eye. This allows the doctor to create the desired shape with great precision and nuance.
The Swedish lip technique is especially suitable for clients who want a soft and natural result. This involves subtle volume enhancement, a slight accent on the cupid's arch and as little swelling or recovery time as possible.
No two lip filler treatments are exactly the same with us. Every lip has a unique anatomy and we adapt the technique accordingly. At JECT Clinics, a natural result is always our focus.
What we do with every treatment is lip balancing. This means that we always balance the lips by looking at them from a full 3D perspective: from the front, from the side and from above and below. With subtle amounts of filler, we work away small blemishes, dents and asymmetry.
The classic method, Flat Lip method and Swedish Lip method are all techniques we use (note: our doctors do not use a cannula for the lips, as more precise and accurate work can be done with a needle). Thus, the final lip shape and look are always determined by a combination of:
Are you curious about which technique suits your lips? And what lip filler might be able to do for you? Book a free consultation with one of our cosmetic doctors and get informed.
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