How much lip filler looks natural, and how long does it last?

Who is lip filler right for, and who should wait?

Lip filler suits people with naturally thin lips, people whose upper lip has thinned and lip border has blurred with age, and people bothered by uneven volume between the left and right sides. If the corners of the mouth have hollowed and your expression looks downturned, adding a little volume around them along with lip filler can soften your look.

On the other hand, if you have an active cold sore (lip herpes) or inflammation around the mouth, we wait until it clears. If you get cold sores often, tell us beforehand so we can consider preventive medication. It is also safer to postpone if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a big event or dental work scheduled within a few days.

If you have a particular celebrity's lips in mind, we first check together during consultation whether that shape fits your facial proportions. The same 1cc can look quite different depending on face size and your natural lips.

How are natural lip proportions decided?

Lip filler design starts with the thickness ratio of the upper and lower lips. From the front, an upper lip slightly thinner than the lower one, around 1:1.5, often looks balanced. We shift this guide based on chin length and the distance from the nose to the lips.

As important as proportion is how the lip lines are shaped. In the past, many designs sharply emphasized the mouth corners and the central peak of the upper lip (the Cupid's bow). These days most patients prefer soft, natural curves over sharp lines. Instead, they want lips that are rolled inward to be turned outward as much as possible, so more of the red part of the lip shows. Adding volume without respecting the flow of the lines can make the lips look pushed forward or blur the upper and lower borders.

We also check the profile. The upper lip usually sits slightly in front of the lower lip. Filling only the lower lip heavily can make the chin look recessed from the side. We also watch how your lips move when you smile and speak before deciding where to inject.

How many cc go in first, and how is the product chosen?

First-time lip filler patients usually start with around 0.5–1cc. Checking the shape again about 2 weeks later, once swelling is gone, and topping up only where needed gives more stable results than putting in a lot at once. Overfilled filler is more troublesome to reduce.

Lips move constantly. Filler that is too firm can feel foreign to the touch, while filler that is too thin spreads sideways more easily. So for lips we choose a product that is soft yet holds its shape to some degree, and we may use different products or depths for the border and the volume areas.

Domestic and imported fillers are both approved hyaluronic acid products, and their ability to shape the lips is not very different. The differences show mainly in feel, how long they tend to last, and the amount of accumulated usage data, so we decide together based on your budget and how long you want results to last.

What should I be careful about from the day of treatment to 2 weeks after?

Lip filler swelling starts on the evening of the procedure, peaks on days 2–3, and then gradually subsides. Bruises often show up the next morning rather than on the day itself, and most fade within 1–2 weeks.

• For the first two days, use short, repeated cold compresses wrapped in a clean towel. Don't put ice directly on your lips.
• On the day of treatment, avoid spicy and hot foods.
• For a few days, avoid pressing or rubbing your lips hard and sucking hard through a straw.
• Skip lip makeup for about half a day, and keep the needle marks clean after that.
• Avoid alcohol and sweaty exercise for 1–2 days, and saunas and hot rooms for about 2 weeks.
• Smoking can slow recovery and shorten how long results last, so cut back if you can.

What side effects can happen, and when should I contact the clinic right away?

Common reactions are swelling, bruising, soreness at needle points, and small lumps you can feel. Most lumps soften as swelling goes down, but if one remains after 2 weeks, we examine it and adjust. Hyaluronic acid filler can be dissolved with an enzyme injection, so there is a way to reverse it if you are unhappy with the shape.

Rarely, filler can press on or block a blood vessel, causing a vascular complication. If pain keeps getting worse after the procedure, or the lips or surrounding skin turn pale or show a blotchy, net-like pattern, contact the clinic right away without waiting. The sooner it is treated, the better the recovery.

Blisters on the lips may be a cold sore flare-up, so please come in for a check in that case too. Lip filler may look simple, but it is an injection into an area rich in blood vessels, so we follow up on your progress.

How long does lip filler last, and when should I get it again?

Lip filler is generally expected to last about 6 months to a year. Lips move constantly when you talk and eat, so filler tends to be absorbed faster than in other areas. Duration also varies with product firmness, the amount injected, smoking, and sun exposure.

Rather than waiting until all the volume is gone and starting over, topping up a small amount based on how much has decreased makes it easier to keep a consistent shape. However, adding more at short intervals can make the lips gradually larger, so we decide after checking how much remains.

Can filler fix dry lips with lots of fine lines?

If you have enough volume but your lips are always chapped with many vertical fine lines, a skin booster may suit you better than regular lip filler. A product such as Rejuran HB, which contains polynucleotides (PN) together with hyaluronic acid, is injected thinly into the lips to improve hydration and texture.

This approach does not change lip shape, and its effect usually lasts about 3–4 months, so it is repeated regularly. Think lip filler for shape and volume concerns and a skin booster for dryness and texture. If both apply, we plan them together in a set order.

Prices (as of the October 2026 menu)

The amount and product needed depend on your lips and are explained after consultation.

Frequently asked questions