Abstract
The present study was under taken to evaluate the effects of filler injections on lip morphology changes in three dimensions (vertical, transverse, and sagittal). The subjects included 14 volunteers aged between 23 and 48 years who visited a private dermal clinic for lip enhancement with dermal filler injections. Photographs and video records were captured before (T1) and immediately after filler injection (T2) in frontal rest, frontal smiling, and lateral rest views. After one to two weeks, another set of records was taken before retouch injections (T3). These images were collected and measured using a software program to determine changes in lip morphology over time. In upper and lower lip vermilion heights at rest, lower lip vermilion protrusion, and upper and lower lip indices, there were significant differences between T1 and T2, T2 and T3, and T1 and T3. In upper lip length at rest and while smiling, upper lip vermilion height while smiling, upper incisor displays at rest and while smiling, gingival display while smiling, interlabial gap, smile index, nasolabial angle, upper and lower lip protrusion to the E-line, and upper lip vermilion protrusion, there were significant differences between T1 and T2 and between T1 and T3. There were no significant differences in intercommissural width and buccal corridors between any time points. Most static changes were gained at T3. Filler injection in the lips leads to an increase in lip length at rest and while smiling, lip vermilion height at rest and while smiling, smile and lip indices, lip protrusion to the E-line, and lip vermilion protrusion. Similarly, filler injection in the lips leads to a decrease in upper incisor display at rest and while smiling, gingival display while smiling, interlabial gap while smiling, and nasolabial angle, but it may not alter the intercommissural width (smile width) or buccal corridors.