Should You Pause the Lip Filler? New Study Finds Natural Lips are Most Attractive

Results from a new study published in the August issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery show that most people find natural-looking lips more attractive than larger, fuller or poutier lips. Using eye-tracking analysis to measure which part of the face participants spent the most time focusing on, when presented with images of a young woman versus digitally altered images with a range of various lip proportions, the results were surprising.

According to results, lip proportions of 1-to-1.6 ranked as the most attractive, garnering a score of 4.21 out of 5. The1:1.6 proportion is often referred to the Golden Ratio for lip attractiveness. A fuller lower lip was found to be less attractive, with a 2.16 out of 5 score, which goes against what aesthetic experts have long believed.

When images of the model’s natural volume lips were shown, they were ranked as the most attractive, with a score of 4.56. Pouty, fuller and enhanced lips that were 130 percent larger than the model’s natural size scored the lowest at 1.56.

At her practice, New York dermatologist Marina Peredo, MD shares a good lip enhancement will improve the patient’s natural lip shape, however, in aesthetics the Golden Ratio is what is what is typically used to determine attractiveness. “It’s been determined that the upper lip is smaller than lower lip,” she says. “The ration of 1/3 upper lip to 2/3 lower lip, or the 1 :1.6 ratio, is what we’ve come to know as the Golden Ratio found in beauty and nature. However, some ethnic groups like African Americans and Asians may have 1:1 ratio and that is beautiful as well.”

Delray Beach, FL facial plastic surgeon Miguel Mascaro, MD says attractiveness is relative but with the many lip procedures he performs the Golden Ratio also comes into play. “I find that there is no ‘one size fits all,’ he says. “It really depends on ethnicity and age of the person, but overall, a slightly fuller lower lip when compared to the upper lip tends to look best. Having good definition is key to aid in a ‘beautiful lip.'” 

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